The sampling project Adventures in Stereo formed from the ashes of the short-lived 4AD label band Spirea X, which included vocalist Judith Boyle and former Primal Scream member Jim Beattie. The duo formed Adventures in Stereo in the mid-'90s with Simon Dine, who created the group's music -- girl group-inspired miniatures reminscent of the work... [+] Read More

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More apt to cite stately rock paragons Burt Bacharach and Brian Wilson as their inspirations than Derrick May or Aphex Twin, the French duo Air gained inclusion into the late-'90s electronica surge due chiefly to the labels their recordings appeared on, not the actual music they produced. Their sound, a variant of the classic disco sound coaxed... [+] Read More

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More apt to cite stately rock paragons Burt Bacharach and Brian Wilson as their inspirations than Derrick May or Aphex Twin, the French duo Air gained inclusion into the late-'90s electronica surge due chiefly to the labels their recordings appeared on, not the actual music they produced. Their sound, a variant of the classic disco sound coaxed... [+] Read More

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Beagle was a Swedish guitar pop quintet led by vocalist/songwriter Magnus Borjeson and guitarist Calle Hakansson. Officially formed in 1991 after its members met in school, Beagle secured a record deal on the strength of the first two demo songs it recorded. Sound on Sound was released in 1992 and helped kick start the Swedish guitar pop scene,... [+] Read More

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Like their countrymen the Cardigans and Komeda, Sweden's Cloudberry Jam drew from an eclectic pool of influences -- the vintage Motown sound, cool jazz, even a hint of Latin American music -- to hone their own distinctive brand of elegant, finely-textured lounge-pop. Formed in the town of Linköping in 1991, the group comprised vocalist Jennie... [+] Read More

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Cinematic pop duo Dusty Trails teamed former Luscious Jackson keyboardist Vivian Trimble and onetime Breeders bassist Josephine Wiggs. The two first met in 1993, when Luscious Jackson supported the Breeders on their European tour; two years later, when Trimble teamed with bandmate Jill Cunniff in the side project Kostars, the duo tapped Wiggs to... [+] Read More

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Swedish pop trio Eggstone was formed in the city of Malmö in 1986 by singer/bassist Per Sunding, guitarist Patrik Bartosch and drummer Maurits Carlsson; following years of steady touring and a handful of demos, in 1991 the group issued its debut single "Bubblebed," soon after teaming with producer Tore Johansson to record the EP Shooting Time.... [+] Read More

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Taking cues from Suede and Smiths, as well as the Byrds and the Lovin' Spoonful, Geneva carved out a distinctive, idiosyncratic niche in the post-Brit-pop territory of late '90s British indie-rock.

Geneva formed in 1992 in Aberdeen, Scotland when Andrew Montgomery (vocals) and Steven Dora (guitar) met and began writing songs... [+] Read More

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An easy-listening trip-hopster similar in style and intent to his countrymen Air and Dimitri from Paris, Kid Loco has an even stronger kinship with the long tradition of French pop characterized by Serge Gainsbourg. Otherwise known as Jean-Yves Prieur, he began playing the guitar at the age of 13 and played in several French punk groups during... [+] Read More

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We’re going to make a prediction: Operator will be one of the best new bands in Austin over the next year. Not only does the group bring a sound that is totally unique to the Austin scene (a feat in-and-of itself), they’re also hitting on an emerging revival of airy, synth-driven beats that simultaneously rocks and mesmerizes. Like Ladytron or... [+] Read More

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Though the Japan pop duo Puffy may be relatively unheard of in the U.S., they have achieved superstar status in Japan. Puffy, who are Yumi Yoshimura and Ami Onuki, originally busted onto Japan's pop music scene back in 1996 with their hit single "Asia No Junshin." Regularly appearing in magazines and on TV (even hosting their own show), Puffy... [+] Read More

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Though the Japan pop duo Puffy may be relatively unheard of in the U.S., they have achieved superstar status in Japan. Puffy, who are Yumi Yoshimura and Ami Onuki, originally busted onto Japan's pop music scene back in 1996 with their hit single "Asia No Junshin." Regularly appearing in magazines and on TV (even hosting their own show), Puffy... [+] Read More

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Though they're based in Berlin, the witty pop group Stereo Total draw bandmembers and musical influences from across Europe. Vocalist/guitarist/drummer Françoise Cactus is French and vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Brezel Göring is German, and the group has included members from Italy, Scotland, and Bohemia. Their 1995 debut album, Oh Ah!, on... [+] Read More

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