It's a really good album - the use of instrumentation and arrangement works so well, underpinning the songs - not swamping them. The choice of material, holding her to border ballads, means there is no room for the modern material (some of which has been very "samey" on her recent albums). Vocally, "Hughie the Graeme" has more fire than you usually expect from her particular style - but the vocal detachment's still there.   Personally, I find it a wonderful thing - like Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, Norah Jones, the cool, intelligent Tabor approach is a refreshing antidote to more emotionally extreme performances (many of which are also fantastic, don't get me wrong) - but it really is down to personal taste. Don't think any other person's views will really decide you more than getting to audition a copy from the library or something.