While they emerged in 1999 amid an avalanche of hype, longtime Brit journalist Cliff Jones's Gay Dad nearly matched the impossible level of expectations with an inviting blend of atmospheric pop. For a band founded by a music writer, there was little air of pretension about Gay Dad's creations--simple songs blending light spiritualism with subtle sci-fi themes. Jones's wispy vocals lent the whole affair an extra bit of surrealism. While their output was slim, they continued to perform off-and-on for over a decade.