Amp is an English group based around the core members Richard Walker and Karine Charff. Walker was a member of a band in Bristol called The Secret Garden that incubated a number of groups including Flying Saucer Attack and Third Eye Foundation. In 1992 he left the band singles from Amp began to come out on a number of small English labels and a debut album called Sirenes was released in 1996 on the Wurlitzer Jukebox label in the UK and a short-lived American label called Petrol. Walker made some guest appearances on Third Eye Foundation recordings, and Matt Elliot did a TEF remix of Amp music for the In Version album. A London-based, live Amp unit coalesced around Walker and Charff with Walker's bandmate from The Secret Garden, Gareth Mitchell, joining on guitar. Amp contacted kranky when their American label dissolved and began work on a new studio album in summer 1996.