The idea for the album began in 1997 when
4AD founder Watts-Russell approached a number of the label's musicians with the idea that each act would find another person or band to collaborate with on three songs. The recordings would then be released on 4AD as a monthly series of EPs. Germano worked on and recorded several tracks with the
alternative country band
Giant Sand. However, Watts-Russell was unhappy with many of the recordings and scrapped the idea. Germano and the members of Giant Sand liked the results and had enjoyed their collaboration, and despite the label's lack of interest, they recorded a full album in less than a week. Managers for Germano and Giant Sand made a deal with
Thirsty Ear Recordings to release the album as a one-off project under the name
OP8. Giant Sand's lead vocalist
Howe Gelb briefly considered a follow-up OP8 album with
Juliana Hatfield following her vocals on the track "Temptation of Egg" from the band's 2000 album
Chore of Enchantment. He said in a 2001 interview that he loved "her voice so much I don't want to hear the other instruments so much as just to hear her sing." However he eventually abandoned the idea. ==Reception==