The album's songs were written while the band toured the United States in 2006.

Gary Langan also returned to mix the album after working as a sound engineer on The Lexicon of Love and producing Beauty Stab.

AllMusic described Traffic as "the album that ABC fans were probably hoping for in 1985" and considered that Fry's "lyrical mastery was back in place" in the album's songs which showed "an elegant mix of soul and style".

[1] All songs written and composed by Martin Fry, Chuck Kentis and David Palmer.

[4] A poll on the band's MySpace page[5] considered that "Life Shapes You" would make the best second single but in fact "Love Is Strong" was selected.