The 35-year-old Japanese pianist moved to Norway 10 years ago, and has recorded one previous album with this trio and also appeared under the leadership of Thomas Str⊘nen and Christian Meaas Svendsen’s group Namaka. Her title track, which appears last in this 35-minute programme, adequately mirrors its name with extremely spacious and predominantly sotta-voce interplay, while the opener ‘Ruins’ begins (in typical ECM fashion) at sub-zero volume, presumably in order to draw in the potential listener. Despite the evocative naming of the seven tracks, there’s nothing so blatant as a melodic statement to be found anywhere, and the subliminal interaction is implied rather than felt. Tanaka’s touch is carefully graduated between gentle and firm, and it’s perhaps interesting that, while both bass and drums occasionally employ extended techniques, the use of the piano is entirely by conventional means (no strumming of the innards here!) The whole experience sounds like an attempt to 'go avant-garde, but don’t frighten the horses'.