Longtime members of maximalist fusion ensemble Snarky Puppy, Bill Laurance and Michael League, have established unexpected new ground in their collaboration as a duo. Eschewing intricate song structures and soloing virtuosity, the pair’s 2023 debut Where You Wish You Were was a tender exploration of quietude on piano and oud.

Their latest offering Keeping Company is quieter and more intimate, plumbing the space between the notes to produce a remarkable 11 tracks of dexterity and restraint. Opener 'Katerina' acts as a bridge to the oud-led Arabic-folk referencing melodies of their debut but as the record progresses it explores new ground. 'You' interweaves whispers and vocalisations with Laurance’s moving, plaintive chords, while 'How Does It Feel' swings deeply through League’s electric bass playing and 'Where You Wanna Go' deftly channels Robert Glasper-style soul melodies.

Thanks to their dynamic restraint, each track artfully draws the listener in, producing a close atmosphere of being in the room with Laurance and League at the moment of creation itself. And as they play, we sense that these aren’t compositions aiming for perfection or flair but for something far more brave: sincerity.