Mantarochen’s new cassette release, Cut My Brainhair, is one of those releases you should immediately place on your music radar. It’s a dark, glimmering jewel built upon post-punk, goth rock, darkwave, and synthwave elements, and then wrapped in tape hiss and cold beauty. The Leipzig-based band delivers eight tracks that feel like they’ve been unearthed from a lost vault of 1981, yet nothing here sounds outdated. Instead, Mantarochen breathes fresh air into classic forms. They walk a fine line between icy detachment and melodic intimacy, and they do it with stunning precision. From the onset, Cut My Brainhair commands attention with its glomy, dark mood. The opener, an eerie, ambient intro, sets the tone like fog creeping over a neon-lit pier. From there, the cassette descends into rhythmic pulses, glistening synths, sharp guitar lines, and hypnotizing vocals. And the vocals are a true highlight. Melodic and melancholic, they are delivered with a ghostly coolness that suits Mantarochen’s sonic output. There is no need for theatrics, it’s a vocal performance that tells stories with restraint and control. But make no mistake, these vocals guide the record from scratch to finish. They give these songs their emotional shape. They lift every arrangement and provide clarity in the haze.
The guitars are angular, jangled, and at times distorted. They weave their way through each track like a blade through the smoke. The riffs are sharp, the harmonies eerie, and the progressions surprisingly detailed. There are hints of many renowned bands from the eighties yet Mantarochen crafts their own path by delivering many impressive signature moves. The guitar work unquestionably carves mood from melody and shapes the environment from noise, making this marvelous cassette even more appealing to the ears. The synthesizers are also an essential element in this sonic equation. This is where Mantarochen fully embraces the darkwave and synthwave spectrum. The synths are lush, textural, and often unsettling. Pads swell like haunted winds, melodies creep in and out of focus, and small sonic details sparkle at the edges. These sounds round out their aesthetic. They add warmth where the guitars cut cold. They fill space where silence might otherwise hang too heavy. This balance between electronic and organic feels so organic. Also, each bassline is carefully crafted, never content to simply follow the root note. The bass dances, broods, presses against the drum machine and locks into the synths. It’s the glue that binds Mantarochen’s sonic layers together. It is present, powerful, and pulsing. Without it, the songs would float away. With it, they have gravity.
The expertly programmed and deeply effective drumming propels this collection of songs to new heights. Every break, fill, and accent is placed with purpose. The patterns are dynamic, yet restrained. They shape the songs’ momentum with subtlety and strength. From steady, minimal pulses to more complex percussive structures, the drum programming supports and uplifts the entire ensemble. This rhythm section keeps the darkness moving forward. Cut My Brainhair doesn’t just sound good, it’s also beautifully composed. Each track is well-structured, tightly arranged, and thoughtfully paced. Songs build and release tension with precision and finesse. Transitions surprise without feeling jarring. Every sonic element has its place. This is not a band lost in reverb. This is a band in control of every echo, every delay, every swell of synth, and every clang of chord. There are many tracks where the entire band shines. “Not A Rabbit,” “Steamy Nights,” “Shadow,” “Count The Dust,” and “Desert exemplify how guitars jangle with dissonant charm, the synths shimmer and brood, the bass swells like a tide, and the vocals float above it all with ghostly precision. These are songs you can dance to or disappear into. One of the most remarkable aspects of Cut My Brainhair is its cohesiveness. Despite the varied influences, post-punk’s bite, goth rock’s gloom, darkwave’s melancholy, and synth wave’s nostalgia, Mantarochen never sounds scattered. They sound like a band that knows exactly what they want to say and exactly how to say it. There is clarity in their gloom and direction in their haze.
The cassette format suits this music perfectly. There’s something tactile about hearing these songs on tape. The hiss, the warmth, the slight warble, it all adds to the mood. It feels more like an artifact than a product. It gives a timeless allure to this material. This release is stunning. For a cassette, the sound is sharp and full. The mix is balanced, detailed, and dynamic. The band has clearly taken great care in both the recording and the arrangement process. Nothing sounds over-polished or synthetic, yet everything is clear and intentional. The aesthetic is lo-fi, but the craftsmanship is high. All these qualities showcase Mantarochen’s dedication to the craft. Their earlier 7-inch hinted at this potential. This cassette confirms it. They are not simply participating in a genre revival. They are pushing these forms forward with grace and grit. Mantarochen summons the ghosts of early eighties underground music, but they speak with a unique voice. This is music for late nights, long walks, and dimly lit rooms. It’s a soundtrack for modern melancholy and it’s one of the best underground releases of the year. Head to It’s Eleven Records for more information about ordering.
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