In autumn 2002 a Toronto-area band coalesced after guitarist Ronnie Morris began recruiting players for a new project. Drummer Jeff Scheven and Colwyn Llewellyn-Thomas signed on first, after which Scott Kaija joined as second guitarist and Ronnie Morris shifted to bass. The configuration solidified once Nirmala Basnayake, a friend already present at the group’s earliest rehearsals, became lead singer. Her vocals, styled after Debbie Harry, drew strong responses at Toronto gigs throughout the opening months of 2003. An appearance at the North by Northeast Festival helped the band win acclaim from local critics, leading to a contract with Paper Bag Records, the imprint behind Broken Social Scene and Stars. Early the following year they issued their debut EP, History, a seven-track collection of dance-oriented material. Headline dates followed, along with support slots for Franz Ferdinand and others. In 2005 the group crossed Britain with fellow Canadian act Death from Above 1979. Their second album, X-Amounts, appeared in March 2006.
