Orton and Kihlstedt wisely chose not to try replacing the irreplaceable. Instead, they took the situation as an opportunity to broaden the palette of musical colors available to them. Dropping the word "trio" from the group name, Tin Hat added not one but three new players to the mix-all brilliant instrumentalists of tremendous virtuosity and imagination, and distinctively idiosyncratic composers in their own right.

Joining Kihlstedt (violin, viola, trumpet violin, voice, piano, celeste, bowed vibes, bass harmonica, ukelin) and Orton (guitar, dobro, banjo, piano, pump organ, auto-harp, bass drum, bass harmonica) on The Sad Machinery of Spring are: Ara Anderson (trumpet, baritone horn, piano, pump organ, toy piano, celeste); Ben Goldberg (b-flat clarinet, alto clarinet, contra alto clarinet); and Zeena Parkins (harp).

One of the most striking things about The Sad Machinery of Spring is that although no fewer than five different composers are represented here, the work speaks with a powerfully unified voice, without obscuring the vivid individual personalities of the players. Carla Kihlstedt reflects on that achievement: "Although we've given it room to shift organically with the new lineup, the history of the group still shows through. I've been a fan of Ben's writing and playing for at least 10 years, and though the tunes he wrote for this record fit seamlessly into the Tin Hat 'sound', I can absolutely recognize them as his. This is true of Ara and Zeena as well. Everyone has stretched to find a place in the band, but also, the band has stretched to encompass the new chemistry..."