NOT QUITE BY INTENTION

No one remembers whose idea it was, but in the spring of 1997, Gabe, a high school sophomore, pitched it in a letter to his college freshman friend, Michael: the two would join a few others to form a cover band of immemorial group The Cure.

Like any plans for summer activities, these changed. When enthusiasm for covers ebbed, the several would "find a scrap yard" and record metal hitting metal, in the tradition of band Einsturzende Neubauten. Then something else. As summer approached, novelty having long passed, Michael and Gabe were the only two left interested.

The pair settled on recording electronic music inspired by contemporary favorites.