by Jason Ankeny The chamber pop quintet matt pond PA is led by eponymous singer/songwriter Matt Pond (previously of Mel's Rockpile), who formed the group upon relocating from New England to Philadelphia. Also featuring guitarist/bassist Josh Kramer, cellist Jim Hostetter, violinist Rosie McNamara-Jones, and drummer Sean Byrne, the band debuted in 1998 with Deer Apartments and won top honors in the Unheard? unsigned bands competition sponsored by online retailer CDNOW. Sophomore effort Measure followed in 2000, garnering comparisons to a stripped-down version of the Cure, and the I Thought You Were Sleeping EP appeared in spring 2001. Within the next year, the band shifted its roster to include Mike Kennedy (drums), Matt Raisch (bass), Jim Kehoe (guitar), and Eve Miller (cello) -- the latter member from experimental outfit Rachel's -- alongside Pond and Hostetter. A third album (and the band's first on Polyvinyl), The Green Fury, was released in spring 2002 while Pond also took on duties writing music for the Oxygen Network. The Nature of Maps followed several months later, marking the band's third release in two years. In 2003, Pond left Philadelphia for Brooklyn, and eventually met the rest of the band that would ultimately become the strongest lineup of matt pond PA since its inception. Brian Pearl (guitars/piano), Dan Crowell (drums), and Daniel Mitha (bass) joined Pond for the recording of Emblems, which was released on Altitude in May 2004. Shared dates with Keane and Ted Leo & the Pharmacists followed until the end of the year. Prior to releasing their fifth album, the seasonal EP effort Winter Songs was issued in January 2005. Several Arrows Later, which also included the debut of cellist Dana Feder, followed in October. Tours dates with Liz Phair and Guster also coincided with its release. In early 2006, Mitha departed matt pond PA and was replaced by Steve Jewett. A limited-run EP, If You Want Blood, was released the following summer, and the band returned with a new full-length album, Last Light, in September 2007.