German-Afghan singer Simin Tander received the German Record Critics’ Award in 2016 for her ECM album with pianist Tord Gustavsen, and last year was nominated for the German Jazz Prize in the Vocal category. The Wind draws on the folkloric heritage and poetry of Afghanistan (via her father), and while she draws on poems from Spain, Italy, England, and Norway you would not necessarily cotton on to this (apart from the sprechgesang delivery on ‘Nursling of the Sky’, in English) as her musical centre and expressivity is largely moored in a Mid-Eastern concept that presumably has its roots in an idealised vision of Afghanistan.

Still, it’s their loss and our gain that this ethereal, haunting music won’t be heard in her father’s homeland. More World Music than jazz, Tander’s voice nevertheless exudes charm and is not without fascination. Bansal’s violin circles her melodies in divine counterpoint while use of electronic ‘effects’ are well executed on ‘Interlude - I Te Vurria Vasà Glow.’ However, ‘Side Caught,’ with its soft funk bass line, somehow intrudes the mood of thoughtful introspection and melancholy rather as if the next door neighbour has suddenly ramped up the volume of their hi-fi and opened all their windows.