It was the third recording by her Anti-House quintet, the first band that she formed on her relocation to New York with guitarist Mary Halvorson, pianist Kris Davis, bassist John Hébert and drummer Tom Rainey.

[1] The All About Jazz review by John Sharpe states "Each cut abounds with abrupt switches in mood and tone delivered with such aplomb and invention that rather than seeming forced, the changes take on an aura of inevitability.

"[2] Selwyn Harris of Jazzwise noted that, in relation to the group's previous recordings, "it's clearer that Laubrock has a relationship with her band members built on trust and mutual understanding, so enabling a democratic approach to the ensemble in which no one voice speaks louder than the other."

He wrote: "A mood, an anchor in the music is established before ensemble roles shift causing unpredictable changes in shape or narrative; spacey, pointillist or eerie contrapuntal contemporary chamber classical episodes can lead to something with the crashing insistence of thrash metal.

"[6] In an article for JazzWord, Ken Waxman noted the "careful dynamics" and "musical interconnections" present on the album, and wrote: "the CD's defining track is 'From Farm Girl to Fabulous Vol.