Kishi Bashi's sophomore album builds upon the musical ideas he introduced in his first studio album, 151a. A classical violin virtuoso-turned-songwriter, Kaoru Ishibashi continues to use the violin as his main instrument and source of inspiration. In Lighght, he plays with the conventions of both classical music and pop music by layering, distorting, and looping violin sounds in experimental ways. He also utilizes synthetic keyboards and different kinds of percussion to add dimension behind his characteristic singing voice, which Kristofer Lenz describes as "clear, high, and beautiful."[8] Each song is distinctive and complex, ranging from the upbeat, dance-inspired "Carry on Phenomenon" and "The Ballad of Mr. Steak" to the sweet and simple love song "Q&A" and the seven-minute psychedelic, atmospheric conclusion "In Fantasia".
Upon its 2014 release, the album generated favorable reviews from most critics. It received a critic score of 71 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[9] On popular music review website The Line of Best Fit, reviewer Danny Wadeson wrote of the album, "Put bluntly, every song herein are overbrimming with frenzied brilliance," and concluded by stating that Kishi Bashi has "produced his finest work to date."[10] Other reviewers had less favorable opinions. Kristopher Lenz of music blog Consequence of Sound thought the album missed the mark, expressing that there is "simply too much questionable fluff surrounding the good ideas."[8] Despite disagreements, reviewers seem to agree that Kishi Bashi's sophomore effort has been successful in defining his signature sound.
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