Originally treated as a side project for Lorelei bassist Stephen Gardner, Chessie was his way of experimenting with the guitar while involving his fascination with trains. Gardner started recording in 1994, toying with his six-string and assorted loops to create unique instrumental noise-pop. After Lorelei came to an end in 1996, Gardner had more time to focus on Chessie, and in 1998 Drop Beat Records released his first full-length Single Series. Continuing the relationship with Drop Beat, Gardner followed with second album Meet in 1999. The following year, Gardner added Ben Bailes to the group, and in 2001 the duo issued Overnight, an album which finished highly on many critics' year-end polls. It took quite a few years for the follow-up, Manifest, to come out, however, reaching the public in the winter of 2008 via Plug Research. ~ Mike DaRonco