Album Review: Kishi Bashi - Sonderlust

After rating Kishi Bashi's Lighght as the best record of 2014, this writer was excited yet apprehensive approaching his follow-up, Sonderlust.

There's no need to worry. The violin virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist has managed to create a lyrically richer and more accessible album than Lighght without sacrificing his integrity nor left-of-centre sound. Sonderlust is as close to the middle as Kishi Bashi (real name Kaoru Ishibashi) has come. Incorporating more drum programming aligns the sound closer to the music of Grizzly Bear, Ishibashi also wears his Beck influence on tracks like the jazzy Who'd You Kill. All in all, Sonderlust is overwhelmingly joyous.