Even as only a modest fan of the widely acclaimed Journey OST, I've found myself enamored from first listen with this piano arranged album, Transfiguration. The solo piano seems a perfect fit for the lonely atmosphere and spartan visuals of the game, and Laura Intravia's arrangements add a steady emotional pull that for better or worse was only occasionally felt in the original. (Long-time VGM fans might even notice an occasional resemblance to classic Motoi Sakuraba arranged works like Beyond the Beyond.)

Closing the album is a performance of the OST's closing vocal "I Was Born for This", sung by Intravia herself. With only solo piano as accompaniment and no added production there's nothing to mask the vocals, and they are divine. From a performance perspective in particular it's one of the most beautiful you'll hear in a game soundtrack.

The album is short at only 28 minutes but has been priced extremely reasonably to match. More importantly, there's not a moment of filler to be found - every note feels like an important step in this almost spiritual musical journey. Of all the albums from the year, this is the one I'm most likely to sit down to, close my eyes, and relish in its entirety.