This latest trio offering from Tord Gustavsen, which welcomes bassist Steinar Raknes into the fold, vibrates between the introspective and the dramatic in rich and singular ways. Scene-setting opener ‘The Circle’ sees Gustavsen exploring a modal melodic line of beguiling simplicity, with the trio’s sotto voce approach creating an atmosphere of hushed intimacy.

In the striking ‘Findings/Visa från Rättvik’, Gustavsen’s pianism ranges from rhapsodic, single note runs to powerful block chords, with Raknes and Vespesta adding plenty of colouristic detail. The pianist’s brief nod here to Jan Johansson’s classic 1964 album, Jazz på Svenska, is deftly done. Set against a pedal point which appears to shift in and out of focus, from the opening perfect fifth stated in the piano, the title track emanates a sense of timelessness. ‘The Longing’, on the other hand, radiates a hymnic quality, as if articulating the words of some hidden text. The heartfelt, understated ballad ‘Stream’ elicits a beautifully sculpted solo from Raknes, while in ‘Ritual’ his heavily treated sound is suggestive of a violin one moment, an electric guitar the next.

This impressive collection concludes with a brace of vignettes from two fellow Norwegian composers, ‘Fløytelåt/The Flute’ by Geirr Tveitt and ‘Vær sterk, min sjel’ by Egil Hovland. With acclaimed sound engineer Stefano Amerio at the controls, the recording – made in the Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI, Lugano – is exemplary in its detail and dynamic range.