Bond Story

As early as 1980, at either ends of the earth, Bond has begun. In Perth, Australia, a five-year-old Haylie Ecker has been given her first violin, and is displaying the kind of nimble fingered virtuosity which will continue to astound her tutors throughout her childhood. A couple of thousand miles across the coast, in Sydney, Tania Davis is being bribed with chewing gum and plastic farmyard animals to practise her first notes on both violin and piano. In Cardiff, Wales, Eos (pronounced Ay-os) is also toying with her first bow, while on the other side of the UK, in Hull, Gay-Yee Westerhoff is eyeing up the piano, although as soon as she is big enough to hold it, she'll have switched to her favoured cello.

Laden with prestigious awards picked up almost at will during their musical apprenticeships, the four sexy, sassy, and spectacularly-gifted young women have each begun to dream of a bigger prize - the reinvention of the classical string quartet. Introduced to each other by the legendary concert promoter Mel Bush, the girls began to share their vision: there will be no stiff bow ties or flowing black dresses, and neither will the performers be sat down in front of reams of sheet music at the mercy of a magisterial conductor. Instead, they will be a breath of complete fresh air - although classical in its instrumental make-up, the quartet will not be constrained by any existing genres or traditions. Symbolising their unity and the ambition of their masterplan, the four girls give themselves the collective name Bond.

Bond begin recording a series of mostly original works (composed by, among others, Magnus Fiennes.) Standard classical procedures go out the window as the four brilliant performers enhance the compositions using both well-honed technical skills and innate flair. Their arrangements are laced with tinges of everything, from trance and house music to Salsa and traditional East European folk songs - the result is dramatic, compelling, sexy and sparklingly original.

Signed by Decca, Bond's mission is universal. Unconstrained by convention, appreciation of their music is international and ageless, requiring no prior knowledge of classical composers, no dress code, and no Prom-style snobbery. And as naturallyt alented and expertly-trained performers, Bond refine their onstage act behind closed doors, secretly becoming a breathtakingly charismatic live unit.

Bond released their first single 'Victory' in September 2000. Written by prolific Croatian composer Tonci Huljic, 'Victory' is a dramatic, explosive debut, featuring a unique combination of musical traces from all five continents.

Bond released their second single as a double-A side, featuring 'Viva' and 'Wintersun'. 'Viva' originally mixed by DJ Del! is a real mixture of modern dance and classical Vivaldi brought together extremely well. 'Wintersun' meanwhile has a slightly toned down dance feel to it, with excellent parts played infallibly by each member of the group.