Kishi Bashi Announces 'Lighght' LP, Shares New Song

BY Alex HudsonPublished Mar 5, 2014

A month ago, pop violinist Kishi Bashi looked back on his 2013 tour with a picture disc live album. Now, Kishi Bashi is back to focusing on new material, since he's announced that he has an album on the way this spring. Lighght is due out on May 13 through Joyful Noise Recordings.

Lighght, which is pronounced simply "light," takes its unusual name from a one-word poem by Aram Saroyan from 1965. The album follows Kishi Bashi's 2012 album 151a, and it apparently expands the sound of that acclaimed debut with more diverse instrumentation.

A press release notes, "Bright and soaring avant-pop songs are prevalent, as are Eastern-tinged arrangements, gentle ballads, Philip Glass-inspired improvisations, and more than a few moments that flirt with '70s prog (in the tradition of ELO or Yes)."

The bizarrely fantastical album cover is above, while the tracklist is below. Scroll past that to stream the intricately orchestrated, giddily upbeat baroque-pop tune "Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It!"

See Kishi Bashi's upcoming U.S. tour schedule here.

Lighght:

1. Debut - Impromptu
2. Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It!
3. The Ballad of Mr. Steak
4. Carry on Phenomenon
5. Bittersweet Genesis for Him AND Her
6. Impromptu No. 1
7. Q&A
8. One Upon a Lucid Dream (In Afrikaans)
9. Hahaha Pt. 1
10. Hahaha Pt. 2
11. In Fantasia

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