"The title is a real word which, according to Phillips, means "moving counter-clockwise, spiralling backwards", a fitting umbrella for a set of songs inspired by what he describes as "the things that eat away in the late hours." And while the singer-songwriter stresses that the subject matter responds specifically to modern times, the alt. Americana of the music harks back to his formative years fronting Grant Lee Buffalo ... protest songs have rarely been so polite in their persuasiveness"

"All told, it's a finely wrought collection that could appeal to fans of The Decemberists or Vetiver as much as some of those longer-in-the-tooth bands, and proof for those of us who need it that we're not alone, that other intelligent people think the world is going to hell in a handcart but as it goes we can at least enjoy a good tune or two"