First found in the linear-improvising Dishwasher_ trio, Dutch electric bassist Heuvel also works with Aka Moon drummer Stéphane Galland, and now makes her solo debut. Entrenched on the Belgian scene, she’s gathered a band that will probably call itself Sonic Hug when it goes out on tour.

Heuvel opens with a vocal number, the first of three, sounding somewhat like [alternative folk-rockers] This Is The Kit in her sensitivity. A tender folk mist curls around the glade. It’s atypical, as most of the tunes will be instrumental. Heuvel’s resonantly harmonic bass style is reminiscent of those fretless 1970s masters Percy Jones or Bill MacCormick. Sam Comerford is best when choosing tenor saxophone or bass clarinet from his arsenal, while Henrik Lasure commands the contrasts of acoustic piano and Hammond.

Space is savoured, as the expertly sequenced tunes gradually rise on a curve of graceful activity. There’s a gentle examination of texture, with organ key-shards and tenor soft-drag, magnified for an intimate reed-sound. With ‘Kusjeswekker’, they move towards a hymnal Tord Gustavsen character, then ‘Luchtsteen’ has a soulful and lyrical tilt, steam amassing, with a captivating speed-switch on piano, sliding across the beat. Sonic Hug’s solos really explore the territory, licking the walls of each tune, as another hike in pace governs ‘Pingi’. ‘Kwartleven’ is mysterious and enquiring, with a hesitant development, this band sympathetically feeling their way along a dark passageway, a team possessing maximum responsiveness.