Monaghan as being "in some ways it marks a return to their Mellowosity days, with electronic backtracks underlying relatively traditional themes repeated hypnotically. However, the PBF of today is much slicker and studio-savvy than the fresh-faced fellas on that first album. That's not to say they've lost their freshness and spark: their music may now be dressed in linen and cashmere rather than homespun wool, but the pattern is still tartan and tweed, and the colours still hit you between the eyes like a musket ball." Allmusic said the album "saw the band return to a somewhat more ambient sound". The album has melodies inspired by idyllic places in Scotland whilst the inspiration behind "The Naughty Step" was described by Peter Morrison as after the band's trombonist Rick "had done something naughty... everybody laughs. "Like, he dank most of the rider." Graham said, "look, Rick, that's you on the naughty step. You've done such and such."" Festivals for All also noted that, with Dust, a vocal element began developing in the band's sound. When they interviewed bassist Innes Hutton, he said "we’ve always had debates within the band whether we should develop more along that line and in the future we might do more projects with singers and others and develop something original with them." Northern Irish piper Jarlath Henderson contributed piping to several tracks such as "The Naughty Step" and the album's closing track "Room 215", a track which combines elements of African music, territory that had explored in different styles on their third album Welcome to Dun Vegas (2003), and was also described as "Caribbean craziness" by one reviewer. "Dun Brae", named after a broch on Skye, an ancient pre-celtic tower associated with faerie folk, starts with a funky guitar intro, followed by slow fiddle and banjo, before a whistle and fiddle play a catchy minor jig. Drums and electronic effects follow and the pipes take up the melody with pipe band style percussion. This is followed by a host of synthesized sounds mimic seagulls, weather, radio, whales and other maritime phenomena, a drop back to electric guitar and congas, a South Pacific soundscape, then gentle fiddle reminiscent of Fingal's Cave, then it finishes. The album contains gentler tracks such as "Spigel and Nongo" and "Passport Panic", feisteir tracks such as "Abhainn a'Nathair" and "The Naughty Step" and, as one reviewer described it, "extra weirdness" on "Marx Terrace".