CD Reviews
THE MOTHMEN
The Mothmen have been knocking around the county the last couple of years, even opening for the Trebels’ 40th anniversary show 18 months ago at the Casbah. The six-piece rock combo draws on members from some of San Diego’s best and most legendary bands from the 1970s and ’80s—and while the gorgeous songs on its new EP have that instant familiarity a good melody innately possesses, what they present here is nothing like any of their previous bands.
They feature a pleasing meld of dance-ready 1960’s rock sounds—a bit of mod, some Merseyside, a little garage band, even hints of surf—melded with classic R&B rhythms.
On their debut release, a self-titled four-song EP, the band shows a confident ability to take all those retro influences and turn them into something new and fun.
The opening track kicks off with either a theramin or a nice approximation before a razor-sharp guitar lead lays out the melody. Recalling late-1950s Mickey Baker, it’s a hard-edged R&B instrumental with a great hook and that shows off the two-guitar attack of Pete Miesner (The Crawdaddies) and Chris Davies (The Penetrators).
“Can’t You See I’m Trying?” feels like a lost single from the early 1960s, with its soaring harmony vocals, the jangling guitar lines, and the gorgeous melody. Lead singer Ray Brandes has matured and mellowed since his early years in the Tell-Tale Hearts, the 1980s retro outfit he fronted. Here, he lets the song unfold on its own terms, relying more on the richness of his voice than he might have on previous projects.
“I Know You’re in Love Again” is another Brandes original, first heard on his 2001 compilation Matter of Time. The arrangement here is more relaxed, with a richer arrangement that gives more space to the guitarists. The lyrics still tell the story of heartbreak, but it’s got more of a pop sheen to it.
The EP closes out with “The Party’s Over,” with a rich, Merseyside style three-part lead vocal coupled to a country-influenced guitar. It all fits together perfectly—and that hook-laden melody is the sort of thing that can get stuck in your head indefinitely.
The rhythm section of Ron Silva (The Crawdaddies) on bass and Craig Packham (The Palominos) on drums is so perfect, it’s easy to not even notice them. But the beat is always perfect, whether its R&B or pure rock ‘n’ roll. Likewise with Philly transplant Mark Boyce, who formerly toured with G. Love and Special Sauce. You might miss his soulful playing the first listen or two, but everything he does sets a perfect foundation for Brandes and the guitarists, whether it’s a tasty fill or the perfect harmony.
The Mothmen not only possess a singular style, but each member brings something special to the mix. Add that to four strong songs, and this is one of the more auspicious debuts to come out of San Diego in some time.
