Important Technical Features

• Use of interesting studio techniques e.g. splitting the guitar signal into three to create chords
• A balance of ‘big’ studio production techniques with smaller and more controlled use of vintage equipment on some album tracks
• Guitar effects e.g. distortion

The Album

• Songwriter Matt Bellamy said the band wanted to be free from distractions so that they could “concentrate, spend time and be surrounded by different musical influences”.
• However, progress was slow and had they difficulty deciding which songs to include. More work was completed in New York City at Avatar Studios and Electric Lady Studios in New York, and at a studio in Italy.
• Muse Album Notes
• Bassist Chris Wolstenholme said writing and recording was more relaxed than previous albums, as the band had no deadline. Costey wanted to capture Bellamy’s “personality” as a guitarist, saying: “I wanted to make a record where you could hear his fingers on the strings, and you could hear his pick hitting the strings.”
• Bellamy said it was the first time Muse made an album without being concerned about how they would play it live. It was also the first time they learned about studio technology, having previously left its use to engineers. The “Map of the Problematique” riff was written on keyboard; at Costey’s encouragement, Bellamy recreated it on guitar by splitting the guitar into three signals, which were processed with pitch shifters and synthesisers.
• “Soldier’s Poem” was “quite unlike anything [Muse had] ever done before”. The song had been written for Absolution, but was rewritten for Black Holes, with new lyrics and a new arrangement inspired by “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley.
• Drummer Dominic Howard said they were originally going to record it with a “massive, epic” approach, but then decided to strip it down and record it in a small studio with vintage equipment and a few microphones.
• Muse were pleased with the result and Howard described it as a “real highlight”, describing the vocals as “some of the most amazing vocals I’ve ever heard Matt do”.