Kishi Bashi: Room for Dream (EP)

    The album I have been listening to the most lately, four songs that comprise Kishi Bashi's self-recorded Room for Dream (EP) on the Aerobic International label. The EP was released in May of 2011, and includes perhaps two of the best songs I've heard this year. Kishi Bashi, or K. Ishibashi, is a touring member of of Montreal, which is how I stumbled upon his work (I heard of Montreal's "Forecast Fascist Future" from their album The Sunlandic Twins (2005) and was intrigued, but most of the rest of their later music is not quite my style). A Seattle native, he also has played violin for Regina Spektor, Katy Perry and Sondre Lerche. Finally, he founded and sings for the New York based band, Jupiter One, whose compositions I've listened to a few times and enjoyed.
    The four track EP is comprised of (1) "Manchester" (2) "Bright Whites" (3) "Conversations at the End of the World" (4) "Evalyn, Summer Has Arrived" (feat. Kevin Barnes). The style fluctuates from more melodic and lyrical with different styles of violin/cello used (pizzicato, harmonics, etc. much in the style of Andrew Bird and Own Pallett) to upbeat folk oriented rhythmic music. "Manchester" swarms with violin flourishes, some sort of synthesizer that sounds like a dulcimer or harpsichord (but I know that is not the right instrument or description) and looped violin with a killer melody that just feels free and optimistic. Midway through is the best part of the song, when the pizzicatos twinkle and the strings sort of sound like an accordion bellows moving in and out. Very cool technique used, and effectively beautiful. Track 2, "Bright Whites" has a folkish dance atmosphere, with synth, lots of guitars, and some of that Japanese influenced 16-bit Nintendo sound almost (but more updated). Some lyrics are in Japanese too, I assume. Next, "Conversations at the End of the World" is beautiful and mellow, but with plenty of arpeggiated figures accompanying underneath and in between verses. The blend of strings is lovely and evocative. Ending with "Evalyn, Summer Has Arrived", Kevin Barnes, headman of of Montreal is featured on vocals. This track is also more upbeat, with a folk quality reminiscent of eastern or Mediterranean Europe perhaps, and has a really cool 80s sounding synth, dance house section mid way through that starts slow and builds nicely along with the strings bringing the song back to the main chorus to finish.
    Check out the song "Manchester" under the 'Monthly Sample Tracks'. Also here is Kishi Bashi's bandcamp where you can hear the entire EP. Enjoy!