Omoiyari - Vinyle Blanc

Description

Omoiyari is Kishi Bashi’s fourth album, following the acclaimed 151a (2012), Lighght (2014), and Sonderlust (2016). Drawing inspiration from harsh historical lessons, Omoiyari reflects the tumultuous socio-political climate of contemporary America. Kishi Bashi saw parallels between the current US administration's incessant talk of walls and bans and the xenophobic anxieties that led to the forced internment of Japanese Americans in the months following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He therefore immersed himself in this period, visiting former penitentiary sites and listening to the testimonies of survivors, all while developing musical concepts. The unique creative process behind Omoiyari was documented in a film slated for release in early 2020. The powerful conceptual elements of Omoiyari are carried by Kishi Bashi's mesmerizing musical score. Moving away from his former loop-based production model, he adopted a more collaborative approach to recording, incorporating contributions from other musicians for the first time, such as Mike Savino (aka Tall Tall Trees) on banjo and bass, and Nick Ogawa (aka Takenobu) on cello. Kishi Bashi's spectacular signature violin soundscapes remain an essential component of his style, but Omoiyari focuses primarily on his songs. Although Omoiyari's theme is rooted in 1940s America, the album's message is timeless. By exploring the emotional lives of innocent Japanese Americans unjustly incarcerated, Kishi Bashi hopes to evoke a sense of empathy, or omoiyari, in all who listen to the album.