Buttering Trio is a group from Tel Aviv Yafo, Israel, who have now been releasing music for over a decade. That said, it has been six years since their last full-length album, Threesome. There have been some singles, remixes, touring, and different solo and side projects since then, but fans have been waiting for the proper follow up to that album. Well, the wait is finally over with the release of Foursome.

Buttering Trio consists of Beno Hendler on bass, KerenDun on vocals and saxophone, and Yuval Havkin aka Rejoicer on keyboards. To make this a proper foursome for the album, they brought in Amir Bresler on drums, who has played with various combinations of these musicians in groups like Apifera and L.B.T. This is to say that the chemistry is not thrown out of balance with his addition. Instead, he slides right in and fits the group like a glove. If you’re not familiar with Buttering Trio, they are much in the same vein as Moonchild, with a love of neo-soul, trip hop, and jazz combining to make these really beautiful and intimate compositions that make for a perfect sultry late night soundtrack. KerenDun has a great voice, and much like many of her peers working in the subgenre of neo-soul, she never tries to do too much with it. It’s all about good tone, memorable melodies, and drawing you in as a listener while she stays within the sound of the ensemble. The group is so tight, and their arrangements are so smart, it often feels like the music is much lusher than just a trio or quartet. Their longstanding chemistry alongside their musical ability also allows them to really feel the music just let you feel the soul of these grooves, which in turn just draws you further into the album.

Foursome is exactly what you want from a group like Buttering Trio. They are back to doing what they do best, but they also get just a little boost from the addition of Bresler on drums. It’s a smart and sexy album with great musicianship.