Formed by Andrew Weatherall and Keith Tenniswood in 1996,[3] following the dissolution of Weatherall's the Sabres of Paradise, Two Lone Swordsmen released material on the record label Emissions Audio Output, run by Weatherall.[1] However, the small nature of the operation limited the duo's success and they subsequently signed to Warp.[1]
Two Lone Swordsmen's debut studio album, The Fifth Mission (Return to Flightpath Estate), was released in 1996.[4] 1998's Stay Down was placed at number 22 on Pitchfork's "50 Best IDM Albums of All Time" list.[5]Tiny Reminders (2000) was placed at number 19 on Pitchfork's "Top 20 Albums of 2000" list.[6] The duo released From the Double Gone Chapel in 2004.[7][8]
On 17 February 2020, Weatherall died due to a pulmonary embolism at the age of 56.[9] Weatherall's death marked the end of Two Lone Swordsmen, as Tenniswood decided to fold the group.