This is the hinge around which our career pivots.

The turn of the century found us without a settled label partner. In the nine years between our last Siltbreeze record (Tusk - 1997) and our first on Ba Da Bing (Vain, Erudite and Stupid - 2006) we released three albums and one 'early years' compilation. One album was on San Francisco's finest - Starlight Furniture, and the others were on our own Language Recordings. But most of the work went into this monster. In the four years we worked on this there were numerous sessions, and few public performances, in fact for over 18 months we were not seen in public at all, a record even for us.

During this period our working processes were also morphing. The Tascam porta-studio ceased to be our main technical mainstay, much of this was direct to open-reel two track or digital video camera. It includes our longest continuous take up to that point (the splendiferous SpeederBot) as well as frankly baffling blurts like Realisation con Slider and weird minimal electonica (Fake Electronics, naturally). In the last year numerous work and reference tapes were assembled, eventually resulting in the twelve tracks you see here. 130 minutes of barely-organised chaos.

Originally a double CD in handmade gatefolds using vintage book-binding card, the set sold briskly but was met with critical indifference. We were described as lazy, overly-reliant on electronic devices, lacking direction, 'no songs' ... all of which seemed self-evidently true and scarcely grounds for condemnation. It was as though we had finally found a 'new direction' that could alienate even our own fans.

Breakthrough!