[1] After playing several times in London (the first of which included a visit and constructive critique from Damon Albarn)[2] Octopus were spotted by Levitation drummer David Francolini.
He passed their demo to Food Records boss Andy Ross, who signed the band, releasing their debut single, "Magazine" in March 1996.
[1] While retaining the four-piece creative core, the band onstage had by now expanded to an octet with the addition of trumpeters James Donaldson and Andrew Blick (the latter also of Blowpipe), pianist Mike Servent and harmonica player Nick Reynolds (son of Great Train Robber Bruce Reynolds).
Cameron Miller (bass guitar, replacing Steven McSeveney) joined the group after the recording of the album.
A fourth single, "Jealousy", reached number 59, and proved to be Octopus' final release, the band splitting up in 1997.