East meets west in classical guitarist Simon Thacker’s latest project and if the programme as a whole didn’t achieve a satisfying confluence of influences, there was much to suggest that this nonet could have a life beyond its current Scottish Arts Council Tune-up tour and planned CD.

The main focus fell on two new commissions, one in either half, which gave contrasting but complementary accounts of how the group can sound. Nigel Osborne’s The Birth of Naciteka, written in 10 sections that often flowed into one another, approached the meeting of Carnatic and Hindustani traditions, western strings, guitar and percussion with a light touch.

Its attractive ambience, helped by percussionist Iain Sandilands’ effective bowed waterphone and supple marimba playing, appeared to draw more on sound than notes as the piece moved at times almost glacially through a 24-hour cycle and yet it left a decidedly hummable final section in the ears. A piece, I suspect, that will reveal more with repeated listening.

Whereas Osborne was preceded by a duet from Carnatic violinist Dr Jyotsna Srikanth and tabla player Sarvar Sabri that overshadowed what followed in terms of passion, grace and fire, the string quartet’s reading of John Blackwood McEwen’s Butterfly Dance set the scene for Shirish Korde’s Nada Ananda.

Taking its cue from guitarist John McLaughlin’s Indian adventures, this meaty offering called for much string bending from Thacker, featured marvellous interaction between Thacker and Srikanth and culminated in the kind of strikingly intricate, powerful unison playing from all involved that made McLaughlin’s group Shakti such a thrill.

Star rating: ***