Iarla Ó Lionáird's voice is both powerful and sweet, and he has a mastery of the traditional Irish sean-nós singing style that makes this an album to treasure. Most of the songs on the album are slow, haunting renditions that transport the listener on an Ethereal journey. Iarla has chosen a mix of accompaniment to back his voice; some of the songs are a cappella, but most have either a traditional Irish drone (e.g. Uilleann pipe drones) or some simple electronic drone or backing that enhances the Ethereal quality of the album. Only one song on the album has a rhythm section.As a traditional singer, I found Iarla Ó Lionáird's vocals to be magical; for example, there are many renditions of "Aililiu Na Gamhna" out there, but I found myself captivated by the relaxed but intricate version on this album.If you're looking for a strictly traditional sean-nós album, this isn't it; the electronic effects on some of the tracks might distract a dedicated traditional listener. But if you're looking for an engaging ethereal album that just happens to be firmly rooted in Irish tradition, "The Seven Steps to Mercy" is a gem.