The songwriting is on a very high level, and it´s obvious Kawashima has some classical music education/training, because the keyboard arrangements and the keyboard performances in general are seldom heard this sophisticated in heavy metal music. The musicianship is strong and while everything is performed with great skill and precision, Sigh generally perform their music with a great organic touch, which is further enhanced by the organic sounding production. The tracks and the album in general take many left-turns along the way, and the listener is kept on his/her toes throughout the 63:35 minutes long playing time. It´s not an easy listen and most listener´s will probably need more than one listen to decide what they think of the album. The use of classical music themes and orchestral sections are also quite dominant in the soundscape. There is omnipresent use of vintage keyboards/synths/organs and additional features like ghostly choirs, percussion, the odd programmed/electronic section, saxophone, and atmospheres which range from eerie darkness to almost sunshine psychadelic happiness ("A Sunset Song" is an example of the latter mood). While the heavy metal elements in the music are relatively traditional in nature, the band make sure that everything else on the album is challenging to the listener. The latter is the only feature on the album, which links the music on "Imaginary Sonicscape" to the band´s black metal past, because nothing else on the album is extreme metal related in any way. The basis in the music is fairly traditional heavy metal riffs/leads/harmonies and rhythms, and Mirai Kawashima´s snarling raspy vocals in front. "Imaginary Sonicscape" tops them all though as Sigh take their adventurous songwriting approach to new creative heights. The three-piece lineup who recorded the predecessor is intact on "Imaginary Sonicscape".Īlthough Sigh originally started out as a black metal act, they soon began to experiment with their sound and the last couple of preceding releases have been increasingly progressive/experimental. It´s Sigh´s first release on the label after they left Cacophonous Records, as a consequence of what the band felt was bad promotion for "Scenario IV: Dread Dreams (1999)". The album was released through Century Media Records in July 2001. "Imaginary Sonicscape" is the 5th full-length studio album by Japanese progressive/experimental metal act Sigh. Thanks to Prog Geo, Wilytank, UMUR, Unitron for the updates Buy SIGH - IMAGINARY SONICSCAPE music The Japanese release has a bonus track, Born Condemned Criminal, indicated by * in track listing.Ī double LP release of this album was scheduled for 2002 from Metal Fortress entertainment, which was also supposed to have the bonus track, but thus far it has never materialized. Mirai Kawashima / Fender Rhodes, Hammond, Minimoog, Yamaha acoustic piano, Hohner Clavinet, Yamaha string machine, Roland Vocoder Plus, other keyboards, sampling, programming, modulator, effects, Speak & Spell, recorder, melodeon, bass, vocal, etc. Satoshi Fujinami / drums, tambourine, triangle, bongo, handclap, suspended cymbal, bar chimes, vibraslap Shinichi Ishikawa / Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Takamine acoustic guitar, Yamaha RX5
Dreamsphere (Return to the Chaos) (6:51)Ĩ.
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