A producer, a multi-instrumentalist, and one of the founding members of early post-rock band Trans Am, Phil Manley recorded a solo album under his own name in 2011 and titled it Life Coach. The album was made up of the same minimal Krautrock sounds that Life Coach (the band) would go on to craft, but relied heavily on drum machines and Manley's overdubs. When it came time to record a second volume of Life Coach, Manley enlisted drummer Jon Theodore (Mars Volta, Golden) to replace the electronic drums. When additional guitarist Isaiah Mitchell was brought in as lead shredder, the band was complete. A debut album, Alphawaves, was released on Thrill Jockey in 2013. ~ Fred Thomas