Weekly Release Spotlight: Tycho
Posted on 12/12/2011
Tycho
Dive
Ghostly
Dive
Ghostly
San-Francisco based graphic designer, blogger, and producer Scott Hansen, aka Tycho, has finally come out of hiatus with his 3rd full length 7 years after his first debut in 2004, Sunrise Projector. Under the tag, ISO50, you would notice that both of his artistic mediums echo each other in seamless harmony: mysterious, organic, and dreamy. Fortunately (and ironically) Ghostly International released it before the Northern Hemisphere submits itself to the dullness of winter. The entirely of Dive takes you to a place that lightly brushes past consciousness, to an eternal euphoria of sheer pink sunsets and sun-bleached, sepia tones. Each track glimmers, warms, invites in an effortless manner, featuring subtle ‘ahs and gasps, reverb that anchors each track, swelling synths, and subtle but deep drops that engulf you whole.
Even the name of each track preps listeners what to expect. “A Walk,” serves as a great introduction to the album, layers billowing to form an upbeat track with a steady, crisp beat. “Epigram” starts with a melodic, arpeggio-like loop followed by relaxed hip-hop influenced beats. “Elegy” is one of the more polite tracks, kind of evoking feelings of longing and persisting through. It definitely tests your patience as you experience how Hansen compiles various complimenting layers together, well as gaining a sense of appreciation of the unique notes magnified by reverb.
The title track is the longest and most groove-able tracks on the album, as well as the only track where vocals are more frequent. The tantalizing echoes can be comparable to the ambient vocals by Raphaelle of Braids. The drop 50 seconds into “Coastal Break” was what made me fall in love with this track when it was released in 2009. It’s similar to the refreshing rush and awe when you dive (no pun intended) into the crisp ocean, encountering this new world below. Also, Hansen wants you to drift through a nostalgic sensation that our future is entwined with our past, more like we are waiting and yearning for what’s to unfold but at the same time being mindful of the present.
In the 50 minutes of effortless instrumentals, synth and guitar reverbs make up the words to each track. The delicate gasps just add to the mystery of this ethereal, soundscape Dive evokes. As the year comes to a close, I highly recommend taking the time to slow down your busy life and listen to the entirety of one of this year’s best instrumental album with top quality earphones or better yet in a nice, acoustic friendly room. You’ll hear why.
Stream: Tycho - "The Daydream"