Stealing from the campy styles of Echo & the Bunnymen and the infectious sounds of the Boo Radleys, Liverpool's Space were formed in 1993 by Tommy Scott (vocals/bass), Jamie Murphy (guitar), and Andy Parle (drums). The band inked a contract with the indie label Gut Records before issuing Me and You Versus the World in 1996, but it was the release of "Female of the Species" one year later that helped Space truly establish themselves on the alternative rock scene. By the time of the kitschy single's release, keyboardist Franny Griffiths and vocalist Dave "Yorkie" Palmer had also joined the group, and Space were enjoying favorable success with their Universal Records debut, Spiders. Already a massive hit in the U.K., "Female of the Species" also gained traction in America via college radio and MTV. A tour of the U.S. followed in mid-1997; however, it wasn't as bright as the band and critics had hoped.