Japanese singer, songwriter. and composer Ichiko Aoba has announced Luminescent Creatures, her long-awaited followup to 2020's Windswept Adan. The new album is out February 28th via hermine / Psychic Hotline, and Aoba has shared the lead single, "Luciférine."

Listen below:

Luminescent Creatures forms a sort of narrative successor to Aoba's previous record. Windswept Adan was a pseudo-soundtrack to an "imaginary film," and the new LP was born out Aoba "wondering what happened after the protagonist of Windswept Adan disappeared along with the music of the island’s inhabitants. What would be left?:

According to a press release, Aoba was heavily inspired and influenced by the ocean, including the sea surrounding Japan's Ryukyu Archipelago, where she was conducting field research. She began taking note of the shifts in coral growth, and how the islands were being "battered by climate chanhge."

Aoba explains:

“I feel unable to resist the pull of the ocean ... but know how easy it would be for my small body to be swallowed by the sea.”

The lead single introduces the "central theory" of Luminscent Creatures – that of bioluminescence, which is when organisms can naturally emit light. This is especially found in deep-sea creatures, and Aoba positions bioluminescence as "the earliest form of communication."

Luminescent Creatures is out Feberuary 28. Preorder here. Find the full tracklist below:

1. COLORATURA
2. 24° 3' 27.0" N 123° 47' 07.5" E
3. mazamun
4. tower
5. aurora
6. FLAG
7. Cochlea
8. Luciférine
9. prisomnia
10. SONAR
11. 惑星の泪 (Wakusei no Namida)

Aoba will also be going on a world tour, starting in China, traveling through Europe, and winding up in North America. In the US, she will be accompanied by the Wordless Music Quintet at various select dates.

Mon. Feb. 24 - Hong Kong, CN @ Xi Qu Centre, Grand Theatre [with Musicians from HK Phil]
Wed. Feb. 26 - Seoul, KR @ Sky Arts Hall
Thu. March 6 - Taipei, TW @ Zhongshan Hall
Mon. March 10 - Barcelona, ES @ Paral.lel 62
Tue. March 11 - Valencia, ES @ Teatro Rambleta
Thu. March 13 - Milan, IT @ Auditorium San Fedele
Sat. March 15 - Zurich, CH @ Mascotte
Tue. March 18 - Hamburg, DE @ Laiszhalle
Wed. March 19 - Berlin, DE @ Urania (Humboldtsaal)
Fri. March 21 - Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg (Grote Zaal)
Sun. March 23 - Groningen, NL @ Oosterpoort
Tue. March 25 - Antwerp, BE @ De Roma
Thu. March 27 - Paris, FR @ La Trianon
Mon. March 31 - London, UK @ Barbican [with 12 Ensemble]
Wed. April 2 - Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
Fri. April 4 - Gateshead, UK @ The Glasshouse
Sat. April 5 - Glasgow, UK @ City Halls
Thu. April 17 - Honolulu, HI @ Hawaii Theatre
Sat. April 19 - Vancouver, BC @ Chan Centre
Sun. April 20 - Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Mon. April 21 - Seattle, WA @ The Moore
Wed. April 23 - Oakland, CA @ Fox Oakland
Sat. April 26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern [with Wordless Music Quintet]
Sun. April 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern [with Wordless Music Quintet]
Tue. April 29 - Scottsdale, AZ @ Scottsdale Center
Thu. May 1 - Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
Sat. May 3 - St. Paul, MN @ Fitzgerald Theatre
Tue. May 6 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Wed. May 7 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Fri. May 9 - Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre
Sat. May 10 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
Mon. May 12 - Boston, MA @ Berklee Performance Center
Wed. May 14 - New York, NY @ Kings Theatre [with Wordless Music Quintet]
Sat. May 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Miller Theatre
Sun. May 18 - Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre
Thu. May 22 - Mexico City, MX @ Teatreo Metropolitan

The Needle Drop may earn an affiliate commission via purchases on ticket links through this article.