The group elected to divide the project into two parts: one of rock songs, and the other of "orchustic" (orchestral/acoustic) songs augmented by a 40-piece symphony. "It's still a pop album," Moulding said. "It's not like 'XTC Meets the London Philharmonic." They found a label, Cooking Vinyl, and a producer, Haydn Bendall, who previously engineered the band's debut EP "3D EP" (1977) and had significant experience in recording orchestras. Prairie Prince, who drummed on "Skylarking" (1986), returned for the sessions. It soon became apparent that the band did not have the funds to record all the material they had.