The lasting impression that lingers on from this disc is of a perfect blending of eight voices to complement an imaginatively chosen programme. The singing of Voces8 is impeccable in its quality of tone and balance, and the sopranos preserve the vocal line when necessary by not using strong consonants. They bring a new dimension to the word ‘ensemble’ with meticulous timing and tuning without a conductor. Instrumental strands weave into the choral texture seamlessly and thoughtfully. The cello takes the sound of the trumpet in Steal away, the harp accompanies the slumber song of the ‘slow swinging seas’ in Kipling’s poem ‘The Seal Lullaby’, set to music by Whitacre, and the saxophone sings the eloquent main tune in Quanta qualia by Patrick Hawes. It’s a revelation to hear such an intimate take on Bruckner’s Os justi and Voces8 seem totally at ease with the contemporary ‘Where I sleep’ and ‘Underneath the stars’. Further contrasts are offered by the ecclesiastically scented Second Eve and the vocalise ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ from Saving Private Ryan. This is easy listening of the highest calibre, beautifully recorded.