Formed in Brussels in 1980, Isolation Ward centred around musicians Stéphane Willocq and Jean-Pierre Everaerts. Following gigs at venues such as Plan K, the sextet recorded haunting classic Lamina Christus as their first single, produced by Peter Principle of Tuxedomoon, and released by Les Disques du Crépuscule in April 1982. Following live dates with diverse artists including The Birthday Party, Antena, 23 Skidoo and Siouxsie and the Banshees, the band released their second Crépuscule single Absent Heart a year later.