Bloom has been turning out brilliant albums since the late 1970s and, for all that time, has played only soprano. Her uniquely warm and rich tone conveys a wealth of emotion and, despite her frequent adherence to a melodicism that's eminently traditional, her invention also encompasses more abstract sounds. Virtuoso bassist Helias has been around even longer, and has played with everybody including on at least four albums with Bloom. This, as far as I know, is their first duo outing, a format that is highly suitable for the lockdown situation in which these 11 tracks were recorded over a period of months. As well as the overall lyricism created by Bloom's lines, there's considerable variety within a programme that includes effects such as the bass's bow and upper partials (sometimes combined, as on the closing section of ‘Magic Carpet', which coincidentally starts with Bloom playing the opening phrase of Chick Corea's ‘Matrix'). The track ‘Drift' is one of several where Helias takes the lead, with Bloom sounding almost like pan-pipes, while the long, episodic ‘Roughing It' ends with a bluesy relaxation that recurs in ‘Pros And Cons'. This is an absorbing recital that certainly repays the listener's attention.