Following the 1997 breakup of Henry's Dress and a short stint alongside Go Sailor, Amy Linton began experimenting with a four-track and original solo songs inside her own home studio. She found she possessed plenty to express, and in a distinctly catchy style. The Aislers Set made their first appearance with Terrible Things Happen, released by Slumberland in 1998. Although that record remained mostly a Linton solo project rounded out by contributions from capable friends, she had assembled a full band by the time of 2000's The Last Match. Guitarist/vocalist Wyatt Cusick, bassist Alicia Vanden Heuvel, drummer Yoshi Nakamoto, and keyboardist Jen Cohen—all longtime participants in the Bay Area indie scene who had previously played with Track Star, #Poundsign#, Scenic Vermont, and the Fairways—rounded out the lineup.
Reviewers and listeners alike celebrated The Last Match for its engaging combination of girl group and Phil Spector stylings with solid indie sensibilities, while confirming Linton's abilities as a singer, guitarist, and producer. The Aislers Set completed several tours behind the album, among them their initial European excursion. Occasional live dates and compilation tracks followed before How I Learned to Write Backwards arrived in February 2003. Suicide Squeeze issued the CD edition while Slumberland handled the LPs. Produced once more by Linton at home, Backwards marked another strong achievement for her and the group. They spent that summer and early autumn on the road with Yo La Tengo and added dates with the Shins in November and December. By 2004, assorted obligations and practical matters placed the band on hiatus, ending regular performances and plans for new recordings. They still convened from time to time for rare shows or special events. In 2014, Slumberland and Suicide Squeeze collaborated on remastered reissues of the band's long-unavailable albums, leading the Aislers Set to arrange several concerts tied to the campaign.
