Hailing from Long Beach, California, Crystal Antlers first captured attention in 2008 through their initial recording, the EP, which Ikie Owens—recognized for collaborations with the Mars Volta—produced, highlighting a fusion of psychedelic, garage, and prog rock elements. The lineup featuring Jonny Bell on bass, vocals, and woodwinds, Andrew King handling guitar and organ, Victor Rodriguez on organ, Kevin Stuart at the drums, and Damian Edwards providing percussion, quickly gained notice for their unconventional performances and drew parallels to Comets on Fire alongside Les Savy Fav. Appearances on the F Yeah Tour of 2008 followed, leading to a contract with Touch & Go Records that August. Discussions around a debut album emerged in 2009, culminating in the April release of Tentacles, which marked the final Touch & Go output prior to the label's 2009 closure. Crystal Antlers then issued Two-Way Mirror independently via Recreation Ltd in July 2011, at which point Cora Foxx had taken Rodriguez's place. Innovative Leisure put out their next effort, Nothing Is Real, in autumn 2013, presenting the group reduced to a trio absent Foxx.
