In many places and ages, the spring equinox has ushered in a new year. At the heart of this album, Jonathan Dove’s seven-song cycle The Passing of the Year celebrates a journey through the year as reflected in nature. Dove’s music plays to VOCES8’s strengths of faultless tuning, crystal-clear enunciation and a ravishingly blended sound from the eight singers. Through it all, his musical voice never fails to entrance. Elsewhere, some equally well-chosen pieces, embracing choral favourites by Fauré and Britten, trace the church year. It’s all breathtakingly well recorded.