Containe was the reflective indie-pop side project of Versus bassist Fontaine Toups and Connie Lovatt, a veteran of groups including Alkaline and the Pacific Ocean. The duo formed in September 1993 when Versus was unable to play a scheduled performance in honor of the fanzine Chickfactor; although Toups briefly considered performing a solo set, she instead enlisted the aid of Lovatt, and the group was born. Originally dubbed Contain as a more subtle combination of the two women's names, the "e" was accidentally added by Chickfactor co-publisher and Enchante label head Gail O'Hara for a promotional flier; in 1994, Enchante issued the duo's superb debut I Want It All, a morosely beautiful EP spotlighting their sweet melodies and angelic harmonies. Only Cowards Walk Like Cowards, a more rock-oriented full-length release which featured Versus' Edward Baluyut on drums, followed in early 1997. ~ Jason Ankeny