Based in Atlanta, Mantissa began in 2001 as the duo of Brian McGrath and Nathan Jones. With the help of members of the Fairline Parkway (another Lazyline band), the two recorded a track for the Lazyline compilation, "The Ladder Failed."

Soon after, mostly by chance and without songs to record, the two found themselves in a friend's studio recording Mantissa's debut full-length, "Building A Working Model."

Given Mantissa's interest in studio trickery and experimentation, this was long before they thought about playing out live. And in fact the two thought that Mantissa would remain forever a studio project.

The record is reminiscent of slow-core melancholy pop and has been described as "like that guy from Crooked Fingers singing over The Arab Strap," and "like a combination of The Notwist and Red House Painters."

Jeff Clark of Atlanta's Stomp and Stammer has said of the album: "Ten disconnected dispatches for lost, lonely souls everywhere, these are simple, melodic poptones achieved with not-so-simple means, built upon spidery minimalism and occasionally atypical percussion."

Perhaps that is the best description yet.

[Update] Nathan went on to help co-found Goodnight Records and is now living in New York City.