151a

Composer and master multi-instrumentalist, violin virtuoso with the band Of Montreal, former lead guy for Jupiter One, and Berklee Music alumnus are but a few of the headlining credits on Kishi Bashi’s résumé. He has a heavenly pop voice, and his solo performances—using a plethora of instruments and sampling gear—are something to experience. Stepping into the solo spotlight with his debut, <i>151a</i>, he wears all his talents modestly on his sleeve at once, turning out songs that are by turns gleeful and celebratory, fragile and soaring. There are glistening, orchestral tapestries, like the dreamlike “Manchester” and “Intro/Pathos, Pathos,” which is built on some of the most beautiful, evocative vocal layering to ever adorn a pop song. There are also washes of lush, cinematic mystique (“I Am the Antichrist to You,” “Wonder Woman”), and joyful, handclap-led moments that sparkle with <i>joie de vivre</i> (“Bright Whites,” “It All Began with a Burst”). Kishi Bashi displays both the dramatic sensibilities of Rufus Wainwright and the unique pop heart that drives Of Montreal, while harmonic treasures like “Atticus, in the Desert” exude the grace of Fleet Foxes.