Karine Polwart's third solo album is a dark and intimate affair, which marks a quiet public return to traditional Scots song for the award winning singer-songwriter. This is where her musical career began almost a decade ago, as a member of folk groups Malinky and, subsequently, Battlefield Band. And, in private, the songs have never lost their power. The pared down arrangements of ballads and love songs on this album feature little else than sparse piano or guitar accompaniment, with the odd daub of atmospheric colour. Instead, the performances showcase Karine's warm and earthy vocals and assured storytelling.