This Newcastle, England-based quintet comprises Paul "Scooby" Smith (b. 13 March 1979, Billingham, Stockton on Tees, England; vocals), Duncan Lloyd (b. Derby, Derbyshire, England; guitar), Lukas Wooller (b. England; keyboards), Archis Tiku (b. 1977, Bombay, India; bass) and Tom English (b. Germany; drums). The band formed almost in the reverse of that order. Tiku and Lloyd were singing their own material but needed a focus on stage, a need that continued even after forming Maxïmo Park with English and Wooller. Paul Smith was spotted playing guitars in a band called the Twins by English's girlfriend, who recommended him to the drummer. Smith took some persuading to make the step up to singer, but join he did and the band started gigging in Newcastle pubs and clubs in 2002.
The band's angular style, with spiky melodies and lyrics suggesting the influence of Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, caught the attention of Warp Records head Steve Beckett in 2004. They were signed despite presenting an obviously different style than the label's usual leftfield electronica. Their first album had Paul Epworth at the helm, the producer already having worked with Bloc Party and the Futureheads. The singles "The Coast Is Always Changing", "Graffiti" and "Apply Some Pressure" helped the band's profile grow, with the latter track earning the distinction of the world's first online editable ring tone in February 2005. In the late spring of that year A Certain Trigger was released, containing the sing-a-long track "Going Missing", which followed a re-released "Graffiti" into the upper regions of the UK singles chart. "Apply Some' Pressure" was re-released and followed suit, the quintet cementing their reputation on the back of several ebullient live performances. The band was nominated for the prestigious UK Mercury Music Prize in 2005.
