The Late Cord

John Mark Lapham and Micah P. Hinson, who both spent their formative years near one another in Abilene, Texas, first crossed paths in 1999 when mutual acquaintance Brandon Carr introduced them. Lapham, already performing with experimental indie rock group the Earlies, joined forces with the emerging singer/songwriter Hinson to jam and lay down unfinished tracks. Between his commitments to the Earlies, Lapham continued shaping the material into what the pair would later name the Late Cord. He also secured Hinson a recording contract with Sketchbook for his individual work. Although each pursued separate releases through their other endeavors across subsequent years, the duo kept their shared Late Cord recordings in mind. Eventually Lapham presented the project to 4AD, which released their debut Lights from the Wheelhouse in July 2006. The five-song EP blends reflective acoustic passages with electronic textures, featuring Hinson on lead vocals while both musicians play an assortment of instruments.