Becker, a Northwestern University Ph.D. who grew up in Seattle, had two album releases as Post Office, 1996's Public Displays of Affection and 2001's Chris Stamey-produced Fables in Slang on the indie label Spade Kitty Records while based in New York. He then relocated to Chicago and launched Le Concorde, employing brothers Ellis Clark and Tom Clark of Epicycle as well as Ed Tinley and Dave Cotini as collaborators in the recording studio. His first release under the new moniker was the 2004 EP Le Concorde, followed the next year by the full-length Universe and Villa on March Records. For his next record, the 2007 EP Suite, Becker began working in Los Angeles with former Scritti Politti keyboardist Mike Gamson. The results were to Becker's liking and he kept Gamson on as a collaborator for the next album, House, which was released by Le Grand Magistery in 2010. Along with longtime musical partner Tinley, legendary Chicago house music producer Vince Lawrence worked on the album, which was the project's sleekest and most pop record to date. ~ William Ruhlmann