Bringing together goths, shoegazers, techno aficionados, and minimal wave enthusiasts, Tropic of Cancer's unique sound draws from all of these scenes while also drawing in their followers. Formed in 2007 as a collaborative project between Camella Lobo and her partner Juan Mendez, the duo surprised many with the release of their first single, "The Dull Age," in 2009. Released on the British label Downwards, it stood out from the grinding, industrial techno sound that the label had previously released since its inception in the mid-'90s, with its mix of reverb-drenched drumbeats, shoegazy synths, and hushed vocals. Focusing on his own solo output and his work with techno collective Sandwell District, Mendez eventually decided to leave the project, with Lobo taking full creative control. ~ Rich Wilson