Well, this is certainly unusual.

Bright Light Bright Light, aka Rod Thomas, whose debut full-length, Make Me Believe In Hope, arrives this spring, is releasing a series of EPs featuring solo piano versions of tracks from the forthcoming album — “The blueprints of the songs as it were,” the London-based synthpop artist explains. Even more uniquely, as part of this stripped-down pre-LP promo phase, the alternate takes have been recast as duets with fellow artists. “I’ve been lucky enough to record with some of my most favorite musicians, and some of the most lovely people I’ve met.”

Blueprints 1, released to iTunes yesterday, features vocal assists from Sunday Girl, Allison Pierce (The Pierces), Del Marquis (Scissor Sisters), and Stefan Storm (The Sound Of Arrows). Two of the EP’s four tracks were previously released in original electro-pop form: “Cry At Films” (with Del Marquis on guitar and backing vocals) was the B-side to Bright Light Bright Light’s 2010 debut single, “Love Pt. II,” while the brilliant “Disco Moment,” released last year, was one of the Top Tracks of 2011. Earlier versions of “Blueprint,” which gives the EP project its name, and “Debris” can be found on MySpace and YouTube, respectively.

Distilled to just piano and voices, Blueprints throws Bright Light Bright Light’s pop songcraft into stark relief. Stripped of synths and beats as counterbalances, there’s no escaping the often uncomfortable emotions that form the very core of his still-melodic tunes. Highly recommended, this EP is winter’s perfect sonic complement.

For the launch party at New York City’s Cake Shop last night, Bright Light Bright Light performed the entirety of his new album in this same stripped-down fashion. One of his Blueprints guests, Del Marquis, joined him on stage for “Cry At Films” (hat tip to According To G for posting the video):

Here’s the tracklist for Blueprints 1:

01 “Blueprint” (with Sunday Girl)
02 “Debris” (with Allison Pierce of The Pierces)
03 “Cry At Films” (with Del Marquis of Scissor Sisters)
04 “Disco Moment” (with Stefan Storm of The Sound Of Arrows)

Purchase Bright Light Bright Light – Blueprints 1 via iTunes.