The double album will mark ten years since Wolf's debut studio album, Lycanthropy and will contain re-recorded, acoustic versions of chosen songs from the previous ten years. The first disc, Sundark, will feature "more solitary darker material", while the second disc, Riverlight, will include "songs of hope and relationship". Buffy Sainte-Marie co-wrote the new version of "Hard Times" after they met in Barcelona during the recording session.
Wolf wrote a letter to talk about the album. In the letter, he says, "I thought It was time after a decade to take a moment to document what these songs have grown up to be while I’ve been travelling them around the world." "There was a conscious rebellion on this album against the digital age of auto-tune and mass produced electronic landfill music. I want to present at my 10 year anniversary a musical biography." He also cites Stephan Micus, Shirley and Dolly Collins as influences to the album.
The album was recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios. Gabriel also lent his Bösendorfer grand piano, Bodhrán and Hammered dulcimer to Wolf.
The album artwork was shot at Hilles House in Gloucester, a country mansion looking over the River Severn, the former home of baroque composer John Blow and fashion designer Isabella Blow.
The house is known for inspiring the renowned, late fashion designer Alexander McQueen.[