Lighght

AlbumMay 13 / 201411 songs, 37m 14s
Art Pop Indie Pop Psychedelic Pop
Popular

Kishi Bashi’s sophomore album entitled "Lighght" (pronounced "Light") continues and expands the sound of his critically acclaimed debut, "151a". "Lighght" takes its title from the one-word poem by minimalist poet Aram Saroyan. As Kishi Bashi explains, "The poem's blatant assault on literary convention and classical form was attractive to me." It is apparent that such an approach informed the new album, which has both broadened and redefined his classical foundations. "Though I have studied classical composition, I prefer to take an unconventional path when it comes to creating and thinking about music," says Kishi Bashi. Though violin remains his primary instrument and songwriting muse, Kishi Bashi has expanded his palette to include more diverse and nuanced instrumentation. 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). LIsten and enjoy!

9 / 10

Of Montreal violinist Kaoru Ishibashi’s second album is a staggering monument to fun.

7.5 / 10

K Ishibashi actualized his joyous rooftop pop with sophomore effort Lighght.

Jupiter One co-founder and frequent Of Montreal merrymaker K Ishibashi's second go-around under the Kishi Bashi moniker is as lavish and fanciful an affair as its flamboyant cover art would suggest, offering up a bountiful 14-track set of dense, multi-hued indie pop confections that lands somewhere between the clubby, blissed-out glow of "Sleepyhead"-era Passion Pit, the bedazzled Icelandic fairy realm of Jónsi, and the neon green fields of the Teletubbies.

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