Video: Kishi Bashi- "Manchester"

KISHI BASHI \\ MANCHESTER LIVE \\ OFFICIAL VIDEO from HOLY COW FILMS on Vimeo.

'I haven't been this in love in a long time,' could describe the similarly infatuating way that Kishi Bashi's tender voice enters your ear, floods your brain with beautiful euphonious melodies, and leaves you with the feeling that you're floating on air. "Manchester" starts off with layered harmonies that sound as if you're being privy to a religous rite. Mimicking birdsong, the violin arrangements duck and weave above the sentimental words of Kishibashi, which is merely a moniker for K Ishibashi, a member of local favorites of Montreal. "Manchester" is a cut off of his upcoming album, 151a, which he will promote when he goes on tour with Deerhoof, of Montreal, and Swedish darlings Loney Dear. Fittingly, Kishi Bashi played a free show at the WUOG station lobby on Valentine's Day, where he melted hearts as his voice and the sweet sounds of his strings sailed over the airwaves. Here's a link to his live set in the lobby and his interview afterwards with our own local music director, Will Guerin.

-Lori K.

'Paralytic Stalks' Album Review

of Montreal 
Paralytic Stalks
Polyvinyl
February 2012

of Montreal- Malefic Dowery

The eleventh full-length from of Montreal is definitely a new step in direction for Barnes, foreshadowed by the experimentation on the previous thecontrollersphere EP. Paralytic Stalks trades in the glammed-out funk of the last two of Montreal albums for explorations into new sonic territories like no-wave and ambient music, even dabbling in country on "Wintered Debts." There are still moments where Barnes channels his inner Bowie and can captivate the listener despite the experimental approach taken here, but the jubilation and hypersexuality heard in False Priest and Skeletal Lamping aren't here, the lyrics instead being more emotionally naked and personal like on Hissing Fauna, except here it actually sound like he's on the verge of a breakdown. The album is completely cohesive as well, each song being comprised of smaller vignettes and every track flowing into the next without interruption.

-Richard H.