The San Francisco-based Deerhoof might be established as a four-piece ensemble, but the heart of their music comes from a frantic bass-and-drums improv set up. Renowned for absorbing varied musical influences and channelling them through each new album, they're comfortable combining catchy indie pop with avant-garde noise rock. Despite at first favouring an eclectic approach to instrumentation and a willingness to experiment in the studio, 2002's Reveille and 2003's Apple O' marked the band's first attempts to establish a more cohesive and accessible sound.