This recording by the vocal chamber trio of singer-violinist Zawadzki, double bassist Mullov-Abbado and multi-instrumentalist Thomas is a meeting of like-minded artistic spirits. Originally formed in 2017, this is their first recording together as a trio and while their previous projects as individuals have tended to hop around stylistically, their diverse specialisations are what they have musically in common.

The ensemble sound is extremely focussed, as the trio have delicately carved out their own identity over the last couple of years and it proves a perfect fit for ECM. It's a delicately free-flowing, spacious, still-of-the-night affair with a sensitive less-is-more approach to ensemble dialogue.

This collection of poetic folk song material showcases the London-born Zawadzki's excellent grasp of French, Polish, English, Latino-Spanish and Jewish Ladino in song, the latter making up half the repertoire. Her phrasing is sophisticated yet instinctive and she injects drama, playfulness and tenderness into the songs with an acute awareness of meaning as well as the sound and silence around her.

Standouts include the opening Ladino traditional ‘Dezile a Mi Amor’ which starts with medieval Vielle string drone, turns into a village-dance with an otherwise barely-used drum, before Mullov-Abbado's succinct jazz bass solo; ‘Gentle Lady’ with its original melody written by Thomas, inspired he says, “by Gregorian Chant, the silent sound of resonant spaces, harmonically static but very free, with multiple time dimensions at play.” Set to a short verse by author James Joyce, it offers a profound message about lost love and mortality, while the iconic Venezuelan songwriter Simon Diaz’ pastoral ‘Tonada de Lune Llena’ tells of a man's humorous wrestle with nature. An exquisite recording that penetrates a little deeper with every listen.