Monkey Swallows the Universe is an acoustic/indie band from Sheffield, England. MSTU is centred around its founders, Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori, who formed the band around 2004 after meeting at the University of Sheffield. In the band's first incarnation they both sang and played acoustic guitars with Gori adding extra touches with instruments such as the recorder and glockenspiel. The band later expanded to include Catherine Tully on violin, Andy George on cello and Rob Dean on drums. Nat Johnson became the main singer and song-writer. In 2006, the band released its first album The Bright Carvings on the small independent record label Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation. The band has been featured a number of times in Sandman magazine. In July 2006 MSTU released "Science" (b/w Happiness & Florence) as a CD single, and on 7" vinyl (b/w Happiness) also on Thee SPC.