Hauschka is a composer, songwriter and experimental musician who has brought an exciting new perspective to the prepared piano a technique for getting new sounds from the acoustic keyboard by resting pieces of paper or drumsticks on the strings of the instrument. Abandoned City was recorded in Hauschka's home studio in a burstof creative energy following the birth of his first son. The songs were recorded using nine microphones. Six recorded the sounds coming from the piano strings through an analogue console feeding directly into a computer to preserve the instrument's full, warm sound.