British accordionist has involved himself in a number of experimental projects over the years, most notably with the acoustic folk trio . He's no stranger to haunting melodies and tones of darkness, but he achieves a truly impressive level of bleak austerity on the ghost-themed project . Though billed as a solo outing, is a collaboration with U.K. singers ( ) and along with Swedish nyckelharpa (a type of Scandinavian fiddle played with keys) player , and was first developed as a stage show commissioned by the eclectic Opera North in Leeds. In assembling his conceptual folk opera about ghosts, murder, and the spirit world, dipped into Britain's eternal traditional folk song collection The Child Ballads. Between his original compositions and additional material uncovered by and , becomes a melancholic journey through the shadow country as narrated by the two singers set to a backdrop of spare sound effects (aided by co-producer of ), 's eerie accordion tones, and the otherworldly exaltations of 's strange fiddle. Brooding and intense, this is an impressive set from some of British folk's brightest talents, and its theatrical blend of the experimental and traditional is truly original. ~ Timothy Monger