Port O'Brien began as the bedroom recording project of Van Pierszalowski and Cambria Goodwin. As the songs grew legs and spread among friends, live performances became inevitable. Sprouting from the isolated coastal village of Cambria, California (yes, her namesake) the band collected kindred spirits along the way and has blossomed into a full band. The band released ALL WE COULD DO WAS SING in the summer of 2008. As 2009 began, the band started to prepare songs for what was to become threadbare. What started as a light-hearted and loose effort quickly turned into a dense, introspective work following the tragic loss of Cambrias younger brother. They started recording at their friend Jason Quevers living room studio in San Francisco. The songs were given a certain warmth and intimacy that couldn't be achieved in a larger space. The sense of comfort they found gave them the ability to fully realize the weight of the songs. "In the Meantime" explores the desire for contentment in tumultuous times. "High Without the Hope" bookends the album, illuminating the emotion and sense of loss that was felt throughout the recording process.