A jazz interpretation of "Ruins" was recorded by the Michel Edelin Quintet [fr] with spoken texts by John Greaves and released on their 2019 album, Echoes of Henry Cow.
Frith said the idea of the palindromic structure of rhythmic patterns in the middle of the piece came from French composer Olivier Messiaen.
But he added that the "obvious deficiencies in the writing" were overcome by group's "energetic conviction" which revealed "unexpected qualities" in the work.
[3] Frith remarked, "it would be interesting to have another shot at it with [violinist] Carla Kihlstedt", but added "I doubt if I'll ever have the energy or motivation to go that far".
All subsequent CD releases of Unrest by East Side Digital and Recommended Records restored the original mix.
[7] Piekut described "Ruins" as "sprawled" but "intuitive" having "two solos around a chamber music core" with "the whole thing bracketed by rock intro and outro".
Frith's stereo guitar configuration was the same he had used during Henry Cow's Greasy Truckers Live at Dingwalls Dance Hall recording.
"[24] Writing in The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock, Paul Stump described Henry Cow's "emotional range" on "Ruins" as "symphonic":[25] At the serene heart of the long and funereal [instrumental], the horns gravely soliloquise while the viola contributes its own sorry narrative in the misty chromatic landscape.
Frith's gentle violin and viola work further dispels notions that Cow music was exclusively abrasive and discursive; there is languour here, too.