After sharing his collection of recordings with Marcus Eoin of Boards of Canada, Eoin recommended Bibio to American indie label Mush Records, who signed Wilkinson in 2004. He adopted the name Bibio from the name of a black and red fly his father used on fishing trips in Wales. Wilkinson's university recordings from 1999 to 2003 formed the basis of his debut album "fi", released in February 2005. Sophomore album "Hand Cranked" was released March 2006, and continued in a similar style, seeking to emulate the sound of mechanical music boxes using antique instruments.