The duo of Eric Tingstad & Nancy Rumbel draw their musical inspiration from everyday life. Whether it's their fondness of nature ("Oaks", "Secrets of the Big Sky") or their penchant for fairytale-esque subjects ("Shadow Dancer, The Children's Garden"), Tingstad & Rumbel consistently deliver a sense of serenity.

The relaxing tones of Tingstad's steel guitar and Rumbel's elegant oboe have unquestionably won these two artists a loyal following. But the restraint in the group's performance on tracks such as "The Eyes of Amelia" steer their music towards suitability for a doctor's waiting room rather than the Top 10 New Age charts.

But American Acoustic does have several sparkling moments. The mandolin and piano on "Don Juan" lend a much-needed folky edge and there's no denying that Tingstad's elegant guitar plucking on "The Children's Garden" is outstanding.