The band consists of Charlie Fink (vocals, guitar), Doug Fink (drums 2006-2009), Tom Hobden (fiddle), Urby Whale (bass), and Fred Abbott (guitar/keys 2009- ) and after a few singles, released their debut album, Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down in August 2008. Emmy The Great sang for short periods with the band and the brass accompaniment on the CD is provided by Jon Carvell (trombone) and Sam Kinrade (trumpet). Lillie Flynn (sister of singer Johnny Flynn) and Rebecca from Slow Club have also filled the role of female vocalist during tours. Until mid-2008, Laura Marling was a member of the band and performed with the band as her schedule from her solo touring allowed and performed the background vocals on the band's debut album. Marling left the band shortly after ending her romantic relationship with Charlie Fink several months after the release of Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down. They have been compared to Neutral Milk Hotel, Bonnie Prince Billy and Belle & Sebastian, and the band cite both punk rock and folk as influences. Their name is a marriage of the title of one of the band's favourite films, The Squid and the Whale, and the director of said film's name (Noah Baumbach). They are also avid fans of the film director Wes Anderson, who helped produce The Squid and the Whale alongside Baumbach; the group's e-mails, and many of their MySpace blog posts, are signed "Sic Transit Gloria", a phrase frequently used in Anderson's film Rushmore. The band performed on Jeremy
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