It consists of Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt's Jay Farrar and Varnaline's Anders Parker.
Their debut album, Death Songs for the Living was released on October 31, 2006 by Transmit Sound/Legacy Recordings.
Farrar had originally intended to record a new Son Volt album, but that project was postponed in favor of these songs.
Allmusic praised Death Songs for the Living as Farrar's best effort since Son Volt's 1995 Trace.
The album is described as "strong, deeply felt, and speaks of a genuine commitment to keeping the folk tradition alive through a willingness to challenge its structures".