Elastica

Elastica formed in London in 1992 around Justine Frischmann, who had briefly been a member of Suede before leaving to form her own band. The sound was immediately distinctive: tight, angular post-punk riffs influenced by Wire and the Stranglers, delivered at speed with Frischmann's deadpan cool at the centre. They became one of the most talked-about bands in Britain before they had released an album.

The self-titled debut (1995) was a phenomenon — it entered the UK charts at number one and became the fastest-selling debut in British history at the time, overtaking Oasis's 'Definitely Maybe'. The songs were short, sharp, and completely assured: 'Connection', 'Stutter', 'Line Up', 'Car Song'. Nothing outstayed its welcome. It was Britpop's most economical masterpiece.

The follow-up proved elusive. Frischmann's relationship with Damon Albarn, the pressures of fame, and various personal difficulties slowed the band to a near-halt. Members came and went. The second album took five years to arrive and when it did, 'The Menace' (2000) was a more experimental, less immediate record that divided the fanbase.

Elastica disbanded in 2001, leaving behind a legacy built almost entirely on one perfect album and a handful of brilliant singles. Frischmann has remained largely out of the public eye since, pursuing a career as a visual artist in Colorado. The debut album has aged extraordinarily well — its influence on subsequent generations of British guitar bands is audible everywhere.