Speaking to the MAIL last week guitarist Kev spoke with excitement about the band's breakthrough and the hard times they faced in getting to this point. Mahogany Gaspipe emerges from the hard times, kicking and screaming into a world breathing fresh life into experimental funk.

And having waited so long, it's a joy to see Mahogany Gaspipe emerge as the perfectly constructed body of work it is.

Five tracks, each perfected in their own unique way, take listeners on a voyage of discovery, of hope, of progressive funk and all round goodness.

Get your copy this Saturday when it's launched at Glasgowbury.

Niall Kerr takes a listen to a album that's been a long time
coming - but well worth the wait.


One - Cacophany

Setting the pace is key and within the first 30 seconds of Mahogany Gaspipe, Cacophony paints a grand picture of what's to come.
We know what kind of qualified musicians the band Mantic are and if I'm being honest to myself I'm initially just letting the music flow over my head, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Victoria's vocals. She's the front of house, the one that fans will be looking towards for accessibility; essentially Mantic's spokesperson.
And as if easing her in, the opener is strongly instrumental as the sound does most of the talking, breaking into full band hysteria establishing a party atmosphere even before Victoria opens her mouth. When she does, the power exuded is like a second wind, playing out like an instrument itself.

Two - The Erotic Abseil

This funky little number could just as easily be at home in the repertoire of stalwarts like the red Hot Chili Peppers.
This recorded version has been relaxed from that of the live one and of a whole is the 'least best' song on the album which by no means diminishes it.
Victoria doesn't really let her voice off the leash as much as you feel she could but all around her, her bandmates are getting lost in a sea of psychedelia

Three - Pilgrim

A song to get everyone in on the action, Pilgrim's dance like deck opener reveals perhaps the most accessible and radio friendly song of the album.
Short punchy injections of vocals are surrounded by a swirling whipped up intensity of guitar and drums.
The pace drops to a sleazy instrumental murkiness four minutes in giving the boys a chance to recuperate before building it all back towards the climax and proving over half way in that if ever you doubted Mantic - this is the type of answer you get.

Four - DaDa

The idea has been there for a while, attacked by different combos of helms-men but resonated best under the guidance of Miss Geelin.
Her clever and witty vocals are stitched together with intricacy and a great deal of detail lifting Mantic to whole new heights of ability and respect. It all comes together beautifully in DaDa as Mantic grasp their future with both hands.
The echoed mad-cap choir like ending pushes towards the album's climax with one last ace up its sleeve.

Five - S.O.R.R.O.S.

The crazy clown laugh at the end of DaDa signals the separation between two very different sides of the band. Whereas the first four tracks are very much of the style we all know from Mantic, SORROS raises the bar to unimaginable heights.
Listening to the 8+ minute classic, it's hard not to imagine this being eaten up by commercial radio and infecting millions.
No less enthralling or huge, SORROS is a wonderously majestic piece of music born out of reservation slowly lifted to life by break out choruses.
This should become Mantic's signature tune and listening to it behind tight headphones, is as blissful as it gets.
Mid-way through, the solos are immense and you can almost feel the band giving it one last push, forgetting time lost or wasted, embracing all things new, all that's here now and all that's here now is one of the finest songs you should hear this year.

Result: The five tracks incorporate a broad spectrum of all within the Mantic camp as the super seven combine to make Mahogany Gaspipe one of the most original and exciting records produced.

Rating: 7/10