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==Background==
After releasing the minimalistic ''[[Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow]]'' in 2008, [[Hammock (band)|Hammock]] wanted to create an album with "a very full atmosphere"<ref name = synchonation >{{cite web | last = Andujar | first = Carlos | url = http://synconation.com/interviews/trying-to-feel-the-winter%E2%80%A6-a-conversation-with-hammock/ | title = Trying to Feel the Winter... A Conversation with Hammock | work = Synconation | date = 2010-12-10 | accessdate = 2010-12-29 }}</ref>\. ''Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow'' was designed by band members Andrew Thompson and [[Marc Byrd]] to be played in a live setting. "After creating something so limited, we wanted to be more open to approaching a bigger production with this album," Thompson said.<ref name = silent>{{cite web | last = Benson | first = Nikki | url = http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/367/ItemID/3563/Default.aspx | title = Interview: Hammock | work = The Silent Ballet | date = 2010-08-15 | accessdate = 2010-12-29 }}</ref> "It wasn't like an intentional reaction to ''Maybe'' rather it felt like a natural progression of what we wanted to do at the time", the band commented. "As an artist, that's the voice you have to follow."<ref name = synchonation />
==Music==
The band described ''Chasing After Shadows... Living with the Ghosts'' as "[their] most bombastic record so far",<ref name = apunk /> though Byrd noted that some songs are completely ambient.<ref name = silent /> The band described the album as "more organic",.<ref name = apunk >{{cite web | last = Alia | first = Lueda | url = http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1877522 | title = Hammock 08.26.10 - Interview | work = AbsolutePunk.net | date = 2010-08-26 | accessdate = 2010-12-29 }}</ref> featuring real drums, a horn section and a string quartet in addition to the cello parts which feature on previous albums.<ref name = silent /> Byrd and Thompson both regard the album as "different"<ref name = silent /> to their previous releases, with Thompson describing it as "a natural step forward, the right way to go".<ref name = silent />
Byrd and Thompson were inspired by the landscape of the [[Deep South]], where they both grew up, and from "an understanding of the impermanence of life. When we look at this aspect of the human experience straight in the face we have a greater appreciation of life but at the same time we also experience a deep sense of melancholy."<ref name = apunk /> They cited atmospheric artists such as [[Brian Eno]], [[William Basinski]], [[Stars of the Lid]], [[Cocteau Twins]], [[The Church (band)|The Church]] and [[The Cure]] as influences, in addition to more cinematic acts, including [[Sigur Rós]], [[Max Richter]], [[Johann Johannsson]] and [[Arvo Pärt]].<ref name = apunk />
===Composition===
''Chasing After Shadows... Living with the Ghosts'' was written by the band by introducing "almost every idea we have"<ref name = synchonation /> and then "[criticizing themselves] to death".<ref name = synchonation /> Byrd and Thompson started with over 50 song ideas, which they narrowed down to the 12 tracks which appeared on the album.<ref name = silent /> Byrd noted that over time, they had become better at "trimming the fat",<ref name = silent /> by shortening pieces and sometimes removing entire songs from the album. "One of the best things about working on Hammock is that there is no ego here - we don’t get our feelings hurt when an idea is not working," he said. "We just cut it and move on to the next one."<ref name = silent />
Byrd was responsible for naming most of the album's songs. He drew from poetry, film, literature and "[his] own thoughts and experience",<ref name = silent /> writing names down as they came to him. Track titles were then paired up with songs at the end of the album's production.<ref name = silent />
==Release and promotion==
''Chasing After Shadows... Living with the Ghosts'' was released on May 18, 2010 in the US and June 14, 2010 in the UK.<ref name = popmatters /> The band made outtakes from the album available online.<ref name=outtakes>{{cite web|url=http://hammockmusic.com/chasing |title=Hammock Music > Chasing After Shadows... Living with the Ghosts and Outtakes (2010) |work=[[Hammock Music]] |accessdate=2011-04-29 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511152853/http://hammockmusic.com:80/chasing |archivedate=2011-05-11 |df= }}</ref> A limited edition of the album, featuring a photobook and four-track EP titled ''[[North West East South]]'', was also released.<ref name = nesw >{{cite web | url = http://hammockmusic.com/nwes | title = Hammock <nowiki>|</nowiki> Music > North West East South (2010) | work = [[Hammock Music]] | accessdate = 2011-04-29 }}</ref> The album's title described "only seeing the shadow of things and not their reality".<ref name = apunk /> "Living with the Ghosts" symbolizes the idea of living with memories or losses.<ref name = silent /> The band stated that the use of ellipsis "both continues and separates a thought."<ref name = apunk />
Hammock collaborator Thomas Petillo created the album's artwork while travelling through the Deep South with Byrd and Thompson. The figures floating in water were photographed at [[Hot Springs, Arkansas]]. Some described the cover as "morbid";<ref name = silent /> however, Petillo intended the cover to represent rebirth.<ref name = the405 >{{cite web | last = Lopez | first = Samuel Valdes | url = http://thefourohfive.com/articles/3993 | title = Hammock // The 405 Interview | work = The 405 | date = 2010-09-29 | accessdate = 2010-12-29 }}</ref> A music video for the song "Breathturn" was made by David Altobelli. Altobelli chose "Breathturn" from one of several songs sent to him by Byrd and Thompson. He then sent a treatment for the track to Byrd and Thompson, who "loved it",<ref name = silent /> noting that the final video did not differ significantly from the initial draft.<ref name = silent />
The band scheduled one show in June 2010 in support of ''Chasing After Shadows... Living with the Ghosts''; however, it was canceled due to the [[2010 Tennessee floods]].<ref name = silent /> This show was rescheduled to September 11, 2010 in Hot Springs. Byrd and Thompson were augmented onstage by Matt Slocum.<ref name = allmusic>{{cite web | last = Burleson | first = Ryan | url = http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/with-their-ambient-project-hammock-two-industry-veterans-pull-fresh-breath-from-the-ether/Content?oid=1902314 | title = With their ambient project Hammock, two industry veterans pull fresh breath from the ether | work = Nashville Scene | accessdate = 2011-04-29 }}</ref> Byrd stated that the band wanted to go on a full tour, but had no definite plans.<ref name = silent />
==Reception==
| rev5 = ''[[PopMatters]]''
| rev5Score = {{rating|6|10}}<ref name = popmatters >{{cite web | last = Reed | first = Ryan | url = http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/127453-hammock-chasing-after-shadows...living-with-the-ghosts/ | title = Hammock: Chasing After Shadows...Living With the Ghosts | work = [[PopMatters]] | date = 2010-07-30 | accessdate = 2010-09-26 }}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The Silent Ballet]]''
| rev6Score = {{rating|8.5|10}}<ref name = thesilentballet>{{cite web | last = Nguyen | first = Mac | url = http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Reviews/2010/tabid/159/ctl/Details/mid/633/ItemID/3364/Default.aspx | title = Hammock - Chasing After Shadows... Living With the Ghosts | work = [[The Silent Ballet]] | date = 2010-05-16 | accessdate = 2011-08-06}}</ref>
}}
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