Recording and production What Were You Hoping For?

hunt (pictured in 2012) pursued raw guitar sound album.

hunt began working on tracks follow-up project in 2008. 2 songs sessions, moving targets , eyes pearls , included on hoping for?. after setting own label in 2009, hunt began new process hoping for?, writing , recording songs 10 months. in interview chicago tribune, said of expectations album s recording: wasn t sure wind being sonically. love bach cello suites, love punk music, love old blues, negro spiritual quartets, muddy waters need love. there simplicity bite connects music, growl in cello timbre in muddy s voice. wanted simple music, bite, on lay lyrical shenanigans.

hunt played several instruments, including guitar, keyboards, drums, bass synthesizer, , electronic drum. when finished writing , recording demos, hunt began album s primary recording sessions @ santa fe tracking station in los angeles. hoping for?, hunt pursued harder edge , rawer aesthetic featured on previous work. wanted explore self-described gnarly guitar sound inspired work of muddy waters , stooges 1973 album raw power. hunt attempted sound in past, encountered discouragement management. discussed direction album in interview boombox, stating [i]t wasn t punk music. more trying capture growl of cello. me nasty can get. s beautiful sound me. when people talk distortion on guitar, hear same thing growl of cello. hunt wanted take advantage of newfound feeling of artistic freedom , lack of concern on marketability.

hunt approached recording sessions differently on previous records. rather guiding personnel through replicating demos album, allowed members of backing band improvise parts. songs, hunt recorded drummer ruth price, percussionist , engineer melissa mattey, , keyboardist , programmer peter dyer. price , dyer had auditioned him @ musicians institute in hollywood , had toured hunt. rehearsed price approximately 2 weeks before recording final tracks in order adjust more rock-based dynamics, including different set of tempos, chord changes, , faster time cadences, wanted songs. price adept in playing both loose , tight drumming styles songs. hunt , band inspired recording artists curtis mayfield , iggy pop, said brought kind of intelligence along rawness. bold. didn t give shit. like, s attitude m feeling right now. feel ve shed music grew with.

they subsequently recorded basic tracks, , hunt approached peter dyer create backing soundscape tracks. hoping for? later mixed melissa mattey. hunt has cited minimalist recording process hands off approach ... far on album , calling approach musically adept stringently unique. people might describe futuristic.