Piano Figures (2004) is vintage Benjamin: these 10 pieces are pithy, not just short, with processes involving repetition and variation as well as contrast that promote satisfying memorability: and despite various allusions to other kinds of music – what composer today can or would want to avoid such connotations? – what stays with you is distinctive rather than derivative.

Though “conceived for the hands of young pianists”, Piano Figures is not exactly straightforward technically, especially in terms of rhythm, and despite the apparently artless titles – No 9 is “Around the Corner” – the music can explode into some quite startling juxtapositions without losing its basic thread. This recording is a useful reminder of the composer’s own pianistic skills and Nimbus provides good sound by way of marking his 50th birthday in 2010.

Given that what we have is so enjoyable, it seems sad that the disc runs for only 13 minutes. Dance Figures, the orchestral companion piece to Piano Figures, was included on an earlier Benjamin release (11/08) but another, rather more substantial recent work – Duet for piano and orchestra – is so far unrecorded and would have fitted nicely here.