South London's Part Chimp quickly became associated with noisy, distorted, and loud textures after forming in 2000. Tim Cedar handled vocals and guitar, Jon Hamilton played drums, and Nick Prior took bass, all emerging from the brief indie-rock project Ligament. The group played its initial concerts that December and soon expanded its heavy, feedback-laden approach by recruiting guitarist Iain Hinchliffe. A March 2001 opening slot for Mogwai at London's Shepherds Bush Empire resulted in a deal with the Scottish band's Rock Action Records.
John Cummings produced the debut album Chart Pimp, issued in 2003, where the volume was driven to extremes and drew parallels to My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr., and Sonic Youth. Following a John Peel session, original bassist Nick Prior exited and Kling Klang's Joe McLaughlin stepped in for the follow-up. Cummings again handled production on I Am Come, which earned widespread praise for its crushing blend of sludgy guitars, distorted vocals, and pummeling drums. Ex-Ikara Colt bassist Tracy Bellaries joined in 2008, after which the band returned to its own Dropout Studios to cut the third album, Thriller, released in 2009.
Part Chimp dissolved amicably in 2011 as members turned to separate endeavors. Five years later the lineup reconvened for concerts that proved strong enough to warrant another recording. Rock Action issued the resulting fourth studio album, titled IV, in April 2017.
