With his fourth album Awake, Tycho has again created an audible landscape, although this time it is not of dreamy beaches or playful ocean waves. Instead we are taken to an entire multitude of locales; a serene and expansive desert, broad open plains and even to the top of Electric Peak in Montana. As soon as the first track begins and all at once, Scott Hansen, the graphic artist, photographer, and of course musician behind Tycho, takes us to the sunrise over a tranquil grassy plain that has been stretched out for miles. While never leaving his San Francisco studio, Tycho creates music that evokes strong visual representations of these beautiful backdrops. However, with his ability to conjure images of such peaceful and serene atmospheres, not only in his musical endeavors, but in his visual work as well, it’s more believable that Tycho exists on some other astral plane where we mere humans aren’t allowed.
To the unappreciative ear, Tycho’s Awake might merge into one singular departure with his transformative sounds of synths and guitar samples. It is with deeper consideration we hear not only how impeccable and meticulous Tycho’s sounds have been orchestrated, but the differentiation between each song, indicative of the thought afforded to them. Awake begins with the title track that instantly submerges us in bouncing, flourishing keyboards, taking us to an expansive realm of peace and serenity. If twinkling stars had a sound, it has been captured in the opening of “L”, then met with spacey pulsing tones, a soft and steady beat suddenly drops, we wait for the singing keyboard again, then layered percussion rolls in, adding texture to the euphonious blend of tones in a way that is neither distracting or unnecessary, but carefully woven together on a celestial blanket of metamorphic adventure.
The self-designed cover of Awake serves as a catalyst for understanding just how good Hansen is at layering. Here we can see how Tycho has stacked each distinct, carefully-blocked color on top of each other to create a sunrise. Each section, although beautiful on its own, would not appear to be in any special array until we take a step back and really see the beauty Tycho has created. It is with this same method he layers each dreamy synth pop melody, topping them with varying live instrumentation samples – guitar, bass and drums are all perfectly blended in a way that feels unforced and unpretentious.
When we get to the last three songs, Awake takes its most interesting turn. “Apogee” pulls us into a deeper, down-tempo vibe and works as a transitional track to the remaining mellow and less playful but no less magical side of the record. Hansen is especially adept at building the listener up to a certain mood, then backing off. As the song progresses, Tycho creates an open plane in which the only thing standing out is the feeling in your head of subtle euphoria, as if the entire work has been produced to backup your calm. Then he rolls back in and awakens you with a perfect keyboard melody, like a ghost you’ve been suspicious of, finally materializing. A perfect example of this exists between my favorite moments on the album – 1:05 to 1:27 on “Apogee”.
It is in Tycho’s emotive subtleties that Hansen transcends his IDM brethren. It would be easy for feeling and emotion to be forfeited in favor of his exactness, but the ambience, although precisely designed, is done so with a deep feeling and emotion that comes across in each track. At its best, Awake allows the listener to join in with the music, bringing with them their own feelings. What ever those feelings might be, anxiety, depression or ennui, they are met with nothing but a harmony and grace that is both infectious and cathartic. It is impossible to come out the other end of this album with anything other than tranquility. Listening to Awake will make you feel as though you’re walking into a brand new day, the sunlight moves across your face, a golden warmth welcoming you to a morning that is rife with possibility.
Rating: 4.5/5