Comprised of guitar/drums/keyboards/vocals switch hitters Amy Franz and Hayley McKee, the pair met in 1996 while attending an all-girls Catholic high school. In 2008, the twosome relocated to Melbourne to form the band, releasing a self-titled single the following spring that introduced audiences to their Breeders-esque harmonies and raw-edged arrangements. For their full-length debut, Fifteen, released in 2010 on Aarght! in Australia and HoZac in the U.S., Franz and McKee explored emotional territory dating back to their adolescence, as well as themes of heartbreak and freedom with a subtle political subtext. A U.S. tour featuring a stop at Gonerfest, as well as opening for artists such as Foo Fighters, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and Best Coast back in Australia, further raised the band’s profile. As the duo began planning their next album, they took time to work on expanding and refining their sound, working with tone and dynamics to craft a more nuanced approach. That work paid off on the much improved Crosswords, which was produced by Mikey Young of Eddy Current Suppression Ring and released by Dot Dash and Remote Control in late 2013.. ~ Chrysta Cherrie