William Barton’s newest release is a work that he was commissioned to write by the Omega Ensemble, who perform it here alongside him. It’s also part of a performance by the Sydney Dance Company that just wrapped up in November this year and knowing that this had a dance component really helps to lend the music a muscular, physical edge.

Barton dedicates the piece Gift – Our Breath of Life to “to the memory of one’s breath, the first breath we take as we are born into this world, and the last taken”, and notes that here “each musician becomes the breath for one another, exchanging energy. As our earthly horizon arks to a peak in the sky we breathe – we breathe for the memory – we breathe for our loved ones”.

Back in 2022 I reviewed Barton’s Heartland album, a didge-and-violin set that I found rather aimless although there were bright spots throughout. I’m pleased to report that Gift – Our Breath of Life is much...