It was the band's first album following the departure of Linda McRae, to whom the final song "The Hammer and the Bell" is dedicated.

It was also the band's most directly folk-influenced album in many years, as "Canadian Skye", "Rites of Man", "Circus" and "The Hammer and the Bell" are all arranged partly around traditional Celtic jigs and reels.

The album was recorded in England at Presshouse studios owned by Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre.

Barre appears on the album as a guest musician, along with Ric Sanders of Fairport Convention, Donald Shaw and Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, and Martin Bell from The Wonder Stuff.

Although the album was well received by critics, it was not widely promoted by the label, and sold poorly compared to the band's other 1990s efforts.