Wild Beasts

England's Wild Beasts were founded as a duo in 2002 by Hayden Thorpe (guitar, vocals) and Ben Little (guitar). Originally called Fauve, the group was joined by drummer Chris Talbot in 2004 and changed its name to Wild Beasts. After recording a self-titled EP, Tom Flemming was recruited as Wild Beasts' bassist and the band relocated to Leeds, where its breezy pop sound and Thorpe's theatrical falsetto (both of which were akin to the style of fellow Brit Mika) earned the group a dedicated local following. Wild Beasts released a number of singles on Bad Sneakers Records (which they signed to in 2006) before signing with Domino Records in 2007. Their debut album, Limbo, Panto, was released in July 2008 in the U.K. and that fall in the U.S. It was followed in 2009 by Two Dancers, again on Domino. For 2011's Smother, the group recorded in an isolated area in North Wales and reunited with co-producer Richard Formby.