Biography
The UK quartet features Abrar Hafiz on bass, Wasif Husain on drums, Dom Bouffard on guitar and Michael Frankel on vocals. Its members first assembled while still at school in London, cycling through several earlier line-ups before locking in the definitive roster. Hailing from the capital’s Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Algerian communities, the group absorbed influences that stretched from rap through punk to raga, and its high-octane gigs plus hybrid sound soon drew coverage from the music press. Warner Brothers Records moved quickly to sign them; produced by Chris Sheldon, whose credits include the Foo Fighters and Feeder, the band’s self-titled 2000 debut confirmed the promise that had surrounded them. Although reviewers drew parallels with Asian Dub Foundation and Rage Against The Machine, the outfit never functioned as agitpop. Instead it fused raga, funk and pop elements with Bouffard’s slashing Stooges-inspired riffs and Frankel’s insistent vocals, which recalled Bad Brains’ H.R., while its lyrics generally addressed romantic concerns. The record earned widespread critical approval, opening the door to support tours with Pitchshifter, the Workhorse Movement and the Bloodhound Gang as well as a circuit of European festivals. Progress halted abruptly in 2001 when the label dropped the band without explanation. Retaining a loyal audience, however, the musicians kept delivering vigorous shows across London.