Hollis' discipline during the recording is well noted; Jess Harvell of "Pitchfork" noted that "the recording process has long been described as one of the most arduous and prone to control freakitude ever." Wyndham Wallace of "The Quietus" said that "what went on in that studio strengthens the belief that Hollis was on a crusade to push boundaries and perfect his art on an even grander scale than "Spirit of Eden". Furnished with the opportunity to fulfil his most extreme creative instincts." Often working in darkness, "there was an effort to create a vibe in the studio sympathetic with the feel of the album," as Aspden recalled, and the band removed clocks from the walls, covered up the windows, "set up oil projections on the walls and ceiling, and used no other light apart from a strobe," to create a suitable atmosphere for recording.