It was produced by Christopher Braide and features a duet with Beth Ditto of indie rock band Gossip on the track "When the Comet Comes".

Almond explained the situation to Simon Price of The Quietus, stating "it was only afterwards that I realised where I knew Chris Braide from: he'd sung backing vocals on the Soft Cell reunion album Cruelty Without Beauty, and I'd passed him in the corridor".

[3] Braide lured Almond back into songwriting by sending him three instrumental tracks, "hoping to change his mind about retirement", a plan that worked when "all three were met with resounding enthusiasm".

[7] Record Collector gave the album full marks in their review, stating ""Marc's distinctive vocals have rarely sounded richer and warmer" and that The Velvet Trail is "a release up there with Almond's best".

[8] The Guardian calls the album "straight-ahead pop, with big choruses and melodies" and comments that "Almond's voice....is still enthralling"[2] The review in The Observer states that Almond's "first set of original material in five years is an impressive affair" and adds that "Almond is at his best on the compelling torch songs that have long been his stock in trade"[9] The PopMatters review site states that "The Velvet Trail is a complete and coherent artistic statement" and that it is "only more special for its rarity"[4] On MusicOMH they find it a "strong and often stirring album, and the voice sounds fantastic".