Mantaray

Hailed within the UK’s Brand-new Wave Of THE BRAND NEW Wave movement in 1994, Mantaray certainly are a mod-influenced trio from Braintree, Essex, whose apparent punk reference stage, even right down to their matches, was the Jam. Led by Chris Latter (vocals, electric guitar), their initial discharge was one monitor, ‘Sad’, in the Brutal Panda Information’ ‘Shagging In The Roads’ compilation 7-inches. This was accompanied by ‘Insomniac’s Wish’ and ‘Adoration’, the last mentioned prefacing the group’s debut recording, which was packed by poppy but still highly politicized tunes. Two of the, ‘Wardrobe Hetro’ and ‘If You Had been A Woman’, centered on homophobia and gender prejudice, while ‘Greatest Living Spirit’ attacked pop’s transient ideals: ‘I’m the best living spirit… this week.’ Their main label debut for Fontana was disappointing, nevertheless, leaving many commentators wondering if the music group would survive the backlash against Britpop.