Based in New York City, this US experimental rock band was formed in 2004 by Tyondai Braxton (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Ian Williams (guitar, keyboards), Dave Konopka (guitar, bass) and John Stanier (b. 2 August 1968, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; drums). The quartet boasted a venerable musical background, with Williams (Don Caballero), Stanier (Helmet, Tomahawk) and Konopka (Lynx) all veterans of the experimental rock field, while Braxton's father is avant garde jazz musician Anthony Braxton.
The band's early sessions did not deviate too far from the instrumental rock blueprint established by, in particular, Don Caballero and Lynx, drawing on math rock, progressive rock and electronica in an inventive and largely concise and controlled fashion. The music from these sessions was released in summer 2004 via three separate labels. First up were the two-track 12-inch "Tras" and the EP EP C, on the Cold Sweat Records and Monitor labels respectively. The 30-minute B EP followed via Dim Mak at the end of the year. The two EPs were re-released on Warp Records at the start of the following year, while the quartet worked on its debut album. Released in May, Mirrored was the first release by the band to feature proper vocals. The dense, convoluted sound on the album did not always connect, but when it did ("Atlas", "Race In") the effect was stunning.
