“I originally wanted to see if I could bring the koto into a more or less ‘traditional’ set-up with guitar, bass and drums,” explains Michel Benita of the instrumental composition of his band Ethics. To play the koto, a traditional Japanese stringed- instrument, Benita wanted Mieko Miyazaki, a charismatic player who “thinks both ways, eastern and western”, he adds. “This ‘double culture’ quality that she has is essential to the music of this band.” That perfect integration of the koto’s natural language is key to the steadily flowing inspiration of River Silver, which seamlessly melds Benita originals, a Miyazaki composition (‘Hacihi Gatsu’), a Norwegian art song (‘Lykken’) and a British folk tune by Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell (‘Yeavering’). Thanks to Philippe Garcia’s deft drumming, which is deployed in the service of heightening the different moods rather than driving a rhythm, there’s a pervasive air of stillness about the session.

The flavour is otherwise largely determined by the interplay between Miyazaki’s koto and Matthieu Michel’s gorgeously gleaming, melancholy-tinged flugelhorn work, which calls to mind Miles and Kind of Blue.