We heard an early version of “Philosophize In It! Chemicalize With It!” last August, when violinist/singer/loop-experimentalist Kishi Bashi released it as the A-side of a then-new 7″, but an updated, more robust version of the song now serves as the lead single for his forthcoming sophomore album, Lighght. In any form, the track is a total joy: Kishi Bashi’s delirious melodies, multi-tracked vocals, and soaring violin are capable of producing a sensation very similar to actual chemical intoxication. The song’s new animated video does a nice job capturing the acid-peak qualities of Kishi Bashi’s music, and it’s released in conjunction with new tour dates, both of which are below. I encourage you to check out the song and video, and I especially encourage you to see the guy when he plays your town, because it’s a really magical experience.

Kishi Bashi tour dates:

03/22 – Slingshot Festival – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
04/01 – The Grey Eagle – Asheville, NC
04/02 – Zanzabar – Louisville, KY
04/03 – Radio Radio – Indianapolis, IN
04/04 – Mission Creek Festival – The Mill – Iowa City, IA
04/05 – Middle of the Map Festival – Kansas City, MO
05/07 – Spanish Moon – Baton Rouge, LA
05/08 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, LA
05/09 – Mohawk – Austin, TX
05/10 – Fitzgerald’s Upstairs – Houston, TX
05/11 – Club Dada – Dallas, TX
05/13 – The Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
05/14 – 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
05/15 – The Irenic – San Diego, CA
05/16 – The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
05/17 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
05/19 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
05/20 – The Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
05/21 – Fortune Sound Club – Vancouver, BC
05/23 – Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
05/24 – Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO
05/25 – Bricktown Music Hall – Oklahoma City, OK
05/26 – The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
05/27 – Ready Room – St. Louis, MO
05/29 – Memorial Union Terrace – Madison, WI
05/30 – Fine Line Music Cafe – Minneapolis, MN
05/31 – Metro – Chicago, IL
06/01 – Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
06/02 – Virgin Mobile Mod Club – Toronto, ON
06/03 – The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA
06/04 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
06/05 – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
06/06 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
06/08 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
06/09 – The NorVa – Norfolk, VA
06/10 – Motorco Music Hall – Durham, NC
06/11 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
07/12 – Bunbury Music Festival – Cincinnati, OH

Lighght tracklist:

01 “Debut – Impromptu”
02 “Philosophize In It! Chemicalize With It!”
03 “The Ballad Of Mr. Steak”
04 “Carry On Phenomenon”
05 “Bittersweet Genesis For Him AND Her”
06 “Impromptu No. 1″
07 “Q&A”
08 “One Upon A Lucid Dream (In Afrikaans)”
09 “Hahaha Pt. 1″
10 “Hahaha Pt. 2″
11 “In Fantasia”

Lighght is out 5/13 via Joyful Noise. Pre-order it here.