"Scottish and Scandinavian folk musicians au fait with American jazz/blues, plus an American bluesman au fait with Scottish and Irish traditional music ... The Scandinavians add a further layer of musical complexity by bringing traditional Scandinavian elements into the mix ... "In The Pines" is an example of fatalistic Scottish folksong refracted beyond recognition by the rich musical culture of the American South, transforming into the American Goth of traditional bluegrass ballads. The fear and grief in Eric Bibb's bluesy, anguished vocal is spine-tingling. "Lament For The Children" re-interprets Pàdraig Mór MacCrimmon's 17th Century Scottish piobaireachd as a modern jazz improvisation, with the saxophone replacing the bagpipes, to haunting effect. "St. James Infirmary" is another traditional American ballad of Scottish origin. Here it is spliced with a whirling-dervish rendition of the traditional Irish jig "Farewell to Ireland", with hypnotic Berber-sounding percussionandteh wild skirl of Scottish bagpipes. You can hear the Berlin crowd's enthusiastic appreciation throughout. I agree with them!".
