[Reaper16]

20. Sigh – In Somnophobia

Sigh, those crazy bastards from Japan, are one of my favorite bands. They always, always, bring some fresh, inventive musical concept to their albums. This new one explores dreams, which is not an uncommon theme in their music, but it does so though the lens of circus music. Seriously. This album sounds like circus music meets Camel’s “Lady Fantasy” – which means I love it intensely. This is the best Diablo Swing Orchestra album ever, and I mean that only positively. Sigh takes on dark ambient and drone a bit during the albums middle section, and that falls flat for me. But the album’s bright, insane, jaunty beginning and ending sections are strong enough to land this album in my top 20 favorites for the year. I am genetically disposed to liking prog bands that marry ambition with killer guitar solos. This album’s best moments do exactly that.