Formed by Mehdi Safa and Tom Harriman of post-hardcore group Mahumodo (1997-2003), based in the US and the United Kingdom, *shels self-released their debut album 'Sea of the Dying Dhow' on June 18, 2007 on their own imprint shelsmusic. Second album "Plains of the Purple Buffalo" was released on July 11 2011 on shelsmusic.