Track 5 recorded at Club Ralph, London Kore Studios, London and RAK Studios, London.Track 4 recorded at Club Ralph, London The Crypt Studio, London and Rokstone Studios, London.Track 3 recorded at Club Ralph, London Downtown Music Studios, New York Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Alabama RAK Studios, London and Tileyard Studios, London.Track 2 recorded at Club Ralph, London Metropolis Studios, London RAK Studios, London and Westlake Studios, Los Angeles.Track 1 recorded at Club Ralph, London Metropolis Studios, London.Maxwell Cook – additional strings arrangement.Adam Stokes – assistant strings engineer.Jason Pebworth – keyboards, programming.George Astasio – keyboards, programming.Jon Shave – vocals engineer, keyboards, programming.John Costello – assistant vocals engineer.Julian Bunetta – producer, drum programming, programming.David Simpson – assistant vocals engineer.John Ryan – backing vocals, guitar, producer, programming.Collin Kadlec – assistant vocals engineer.Keith Gretlein – vocals engineer, engineer.Romans – vocal production, backing vocals.Mark Knight – assistant vocals engineer.FRED – producer, keys, synths, drum programming.Alex Robinson – assistant vocal engineer.Mike Horner – vocals engineer, strings engineer.Greg Eliason – assistant engineer, assistant vocals engineer.
Ray Charles Brown Jr – engineer, vocals engineer.Luke Patterson – percussion, drums, additional drum programming.Grace Chatto – producer, cello, bass, synths, backing vocals, mixing, grand marimba.Mark Ralph – producer, mixing, rhythm acoustic guitar, guitar, programming.Jack Patterson – producer, mixing, piano, synths, vocals engineer, MIDI guitar, keyboards, trumpet, guitar synth, bass synth, flute, baritone saxophone, accordion, programming, electronic wind instrument.We've been making it over three years, during which time we've all experienced love in our lives in different ways brotherly love family love romantic love crazy all-consuming love the pain of love turning into something different or dishonest and, of course, in Rockabye, unconditional motherly love." Critical reception Several days later, they announced the title, track listing and artwork, as well as a statement on the themes: "The album looks at many different kinds and stages of love. In September 2018, the group revealed through their social media accounts that they had been working with Rita Ora, and that recording for the album was finished. The album was part-recorded at The Crypt Studio, London. It was kind of this tropical, plastic-y, mournful sound, whereas his songs were more from the Rather Be world." A track was also recorded featuring Chatto's "childhood idol" Gwen Stefani but it "fell through", which Chatto called "devastating". Jack later told The Guardian that a collaboration with Elton John did not make the album because the band "realised there was a sound developing in a certain part of the Venn diagram of the album and we wanted to push that. Some of them are about breaking up, like 'I Miss You' and 'Tears', which are both on the album." While our second album, with the lyrics anyway, are more serious. But our second one is nearly done – hopefully early next year." Cellist and vocalist Grace Chatto also explained that the album would be "more serious" as well as more "dancey" than 2014's New Eyes, saying: "I think the first album was a lot more light-hearted.
Speaking about the gap between albums, bassist and saxophone player Jack Patterson told Fault magazine in late 2017: "It just takes us so much longer to create each piece of music.