The duo was originally conceived by Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson, who were both former members of the band Common Children. Hammock released their debut full-length, Kenotic, on their eponymous label in 2004; The Sleepover Series, Vol. 1 followed one year later. Hammock's profile was heightened in 2006 during the Winter Olympics when NBC played several of their songs during coverage of the figure-skating competition. Darla signed Hammock later that year, and the band's third album, Raising Your Voice... Trying to Stop an Echo, emerged in November.

Hammock's fourth full-length, Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow, came out in 2008. The album, which was a studio recording of music written to perform at the overseas debut art exhibition of Jónsi & Alex, found the duo striving for a more stripped-down, minimal sound. Released in 2011, the Longest Year EP reflected the trials and tribulations -- including the flooding of Byrd's home -- the band experienced in 2010. In late 2011 they released Asleep in the Downlights, an EP recorded with Steve Kilbey and Tim Powles, both alt-rock veterans and members of Australian band the Church. ~ Margaret Reges