Inspired by slowcore and math rock, Helium formed in Boston in 1993 with guitarist/vocalist Mary Timony (ex-Autoclave), drummer Shawn King Devlin (ex-Dumptruck), and bassist Brian Dunton (ex-Dumptruck, and later replaced by Polvo's Ash Bowie). The band's esoteric sound was a modern minefield of jagged chords and dreamy distortion, with Timony's girlish, determined voice waxing feminist and fantastic atop the fuzz. After two LPs, three EPs, and four critically acclaimed singles the band split in 1998. Timony would go on to a lush solo career, as well as forming Libraness, Wild Flag, and Ex Hex.