PRE

by Jason LymangroverAfter abandoning their previous vocalist and their former name, the London-based no wave noise-rockers PRE formed in 2005 with animated singer/shrieker Akiko Matsuura, a daredevil known for taking the stage in only her underwear and falling down face first. Her unorthodox spastic antics and vocal style worked well with the band's thrashing song shards and atypical lineup of two bass players, a drummer, and guitarist. Only a few months after PRE's first show, they released their debut EP, Treasure Trails, and followed it up with a few split 7" releases with AIDS Wolf, Dmonstrations, Bardo Pond, and Comanechi (with Akiko on the drums). As the band's popularity escalated, avant-garde noise connoisseurs Skin Graft Records took notice and released the band's full-length debut, the aptly named Epic Fits, on September 4, 2007.