The Amnesia Quartet formed in January of 1994 as a house band for their local Phoenix bookstore/show space known as the Metropophobobia (meaning fear of Phoenix). Original members Peter Ragan and David Oliphant would play two weekly sets of improved jazz and noise that was mixed with a digital manipulation of tape loops and samplers. By 1995, Joe Willie Smith and Alan Jones became apart of this troupe as they added woodwind instruments such as flutes, saxophones, and clarinets to the band's percussion, guitars, and a live TV, amongst whatever else they could make noise out of. By the time the Metropophobobia closed its doors in December of 1999, Agni Records had released The Amnesia Quartet's first album entitled Cat Head Chimes, which was a recording taken from several of their weekly improvised live sets. ~ Mike DaRonco, All Music Guide