[2] Modwheelmood are named after the mod wheel, a controller typically mounted on the left hand of the keyboard.
Subsequently, much of Enemies & Immigrants was conceived and recorded by Alessandro Cortini "in hotel rooms across the world" while touring with Nine Inch Nails throughout 2005 to 2006 in support of their 2005 album With Teeth.
[10] Beginning in June 2009, coinciding with their West Coast tour, Modwheelmood released Pearls to Pigs physically as a CD, limited-edition vinyl, and on download cards sold at concerts.
Cortini was encouraged by his family at an early age to develop an interest in music, and prominent influences of his include the Beatles, Cat Stevens, Francesco De Gregori, Depeche Mode, Alva Noto and Brian Eno.
"[5] Buddyhead Records described Modwheelmood's sound as "alternative pop electronica"[11] while also being "a stimulating departure from the typical laptop based bands who label themselves as 'electronica'.
"[3] Due to their use of analog synths, sparse, raw and ambient guitars and soft, falsetto-like vocals, Modwheelmood have often been compared with Radiohead.
In a review of Enemies & Immigrants, Allmusic's Jason MacNeil states that Modwheelmood's electronic style "seem[s] to come from a slightly different angle than bands like Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode.
"[12] Prefix Magazine's Chris Sahl, however, is more critical, stating that "Modwheelmood paradoxically sounds like no other band and is almost entirely derivative.