If Grief Could Wait ECM****

Musical alchemist and ECM founder Manfred Eicher has struck artistic and commercial gold in the past with what might be termed "early music cross-overs", most spectacularly when Officium– saxophonist Jan Garbarek's haunting collaboration with the Hilliard Ensemble – became required background music for the chattering classes in the mid 90s. This luminously delicate collection of songs may well be destined for the same dinner parties, but don't let that put you off. Susanna Wallumrød, best known for her Magical Orchestra, delivers a suite of stately 17th-century baroque songs by Purcell, interspersed with gothic ballads from Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake, with such purity of tone and spine-tingling conviction, it's as if they were intended for one another. Arranged for a trio of early instruments by adventurous Swiss harpist Giovanna Pessi, the music is fresh yet timeless. See ecmrecords.com.