Singer Angie Hart first gained notice through her involvement with Frente, the alternative pop group based in Melbourne. The band came together in 1991 and put out the EP Clunk ahead of its full-length debut, Marvin The Album, which arrived in 1992. Domestic success followed from several hit singles at home, among them “Labour Of Love,” which helped drive strong sales for the record. Internationally, the breakthrough arrived via the band’s folk-tinged reinterpretation of New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle.” Frente released one further album, Shape, in 1996; it received less enthusiasm and the group disbanded quietly in early 1998. Hart subsequently launched a new project, Splendid, alongside her husband, guitarist Jesse Tobias, whose résumé includes stints with Alanis Morissette and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The two had first crossed paths years earlier when Frente supported Morissette on a series of Canadian shows. Splendid issued its debut, Have You Got A Name For It, in 1999; although the album drew positive notices, it struggled to connect with audiences. By 2002 Splendid had entered an indefinite hiatus while Hart developed a planned solo effort and recorded a contribution for a Paul Kelly tribute collection.
