Tycho - Awake

Down to earth is a phrase that’s probably used far too often, but Tycho’s music is so down to earth that it practically embodies the term. Scott Hansen’s eternally chilled-out sounds strike a certain chord; they sound like a million voices despite containing absolutely none. Approaching his records with a slow, ever-evolving lurch, he’s been tinkering around with his sound ever so slightly over the years, which all culminated in the gorgeous ‘Dive’. His latest, the shimmering ‘Awake’, is a continuation of that, but presented in a much pithier manner.

Cutting the fat off almost entirely, ‘Awake’ is around 15 minutes shorter than ‘Dive’. This works in its favour, allowing the beauty to immediately make itself present, rather than taking time to unravel. This may sound like a negative considering his expansive soundscapes were given a bevy of space in which to breath before, but it allows for much more frequent moments of tranquillity. The waves of organic and electronic breeze together effortlessly, as if to further bolster the qualities of both halves.

If a comparison has to be made regarding Tycho’s sound, it’s that of the most relaxing walk in the countryside conceivable. The soft electronics resemble a cool wind, whereas the percussion thuds recall footsteps – the analogies to made with nature, and in general beauty, are pretty much endless.

The imagery conjured with the elements on display is dreamy, and recalls childlike wonderment. The record surprises far more frequently than his previous material, despite never straying too far from his initial sound. The closer ‘Plains’ in particular, foregoes his usual gorgeous builds, in favour of a muted climax that sounds like Brian Eno mixing up his cables. Scott Hansen has offered a stunning escape to the most serene place imaginable.