The latter resemblance was even more pronounced early on, when the group employed a drum machine that gave it a slight industrial flavor reminiscent of Godflesh. Oil Seed Rape was the brainchild of one W. Travis, who formed the band as a one-man home-recording project in rural Gloucestershire, and named it after the yellow flowering plant cultivated in the area. Travis started selling his demo tape in local record stores, which led to an expansion of the group's lineup to a trio format. Oil Seed Rape relocated to Norwich in 1992, where they played their first live gigs, and then moved to London in 1993. There they recorded a session for legendary DJ John Peel, and released an EP on the indie label Jackass called Paid. The EP made the U.K. indie singles charts and paved the way for their only full-length, 6 Steps to Womanhood, issued later in 1993. Several personnel shifts ensued, and onetime Terminal Cheesecake drummer Simon Doling eventually joined. The group remained functional until 1995, after which Travis returned to his one-man-band roots and eventually resurfaced as Action. ~ Steve Huey