18.
TYCHO
AWAKEElectronic / Ambient / Post-Rockreleased March 18th, 2014
via Fight Evil Records
1. Awake [4:43]
2. Montana [5:26]
3. L [4:37]
4. Dye [5:17]
5. See [5:18]
6. Apogee [4:20]
7. Spectre [3:46]
8. Plains [3:17]
AWAKE is
Scott Hansen (Bass / Drums / Guitar / Keyboards)
Zac Brown (Bass / Guitar)
Ricardo Ayala (Live drums)
Rory O’Connor (Live drums / Live drums engineering)
Count (Live drums engineering)
Fun fact: every track on this album has been used in the commercial bumps for Adult Swim at one point or another. I think that’s actually how I discovered this record.
This album suits every occasion, frankly. It’s another one of those albums I’ll play in any situation, and it’s my go-to for when I need background music for something. Because it’s entirely instrumental, it never intrudes, it never tries too hard, it just finds a groove and sticks to it for the duration of a given track. The guitars have some kind of processing on them to the point where I thought the entire record was recorded on just a synthesizer for a long time. And the guitar never ever does anything more than something basic – strum a couple chords, or plug away at the same playful rhythm that opens “Montana” and let the synths party and mingle with each other overhead. They actually stand out because of how little they’re used.
The feeling I get listening to this album is a concoction of happiness, comfort, reassurance, curiosity, and awe. Pretty much everything I love about electronic music is right here. There isn’t one abrasive synth patch on this record, it’s all soft and warm and delightfully… synthy. It’s just so fun and enjoyable to listen to. And the tracklist is perfectly ordered, almost as if it was crafted to be paired with a high or intoxication. It starts off innocuously with the title track, then goes through the highs and lows of becoming intoxicated, and when the record reaches “Plains” at the end, all that’s left is an emptied field where the party used to be, and the track is appropriately somber but it’s not a bummer. It’s like the party ended and you’re still tripping but only a little. To that extent, "Dye" would be the pinnacle of the trip, and also my favorite track.
Speaking of… There’s a lot to be said for substances and the arts, particularly music. A few years ago I put this on loop while I was tripping balls and due to the nature of LSD it made the experience exponentially more fun. Hearing the intricate layers of synths loop in on themselves over and over created a whole bunch of sonic textures I could never have heard sober. I’ve given up the acid since then because it’s so powerful, but I can’t help but associate this record with those good partying times in my life. I don't like to drink much - at specific events maybe, but generally I am the kind of guy who likes to get his buzz on, and I like to do it with other things. I'm not necessarily advocating it, because everybody is different, but I do think the pairing of them with music is one of my favorite things in the world.
In Summary: It’s music for when you want something chill and smooth but fun and active at the same time. Want to chill but not fall asleep? Enya is on the sleepier side of the spectrum. Tycho, at least this album particularly, is on the ‘party’ side of the spectrum. It has its gentle moments but there’s always a beat or groove to latch onto, something memorable and catchy. My Last.FM shows that this is my most-listened to album ever, but my scrobbles are highly inaccurate due to a couple resets and years of lost scrobbles – sufficed to say, though, that it’s definitely one of my most-played albums of all time. Of all the records in 20-10 on this list this one has the most potential to crack the top 10 as time goes on.
Katt’s Favorites: Montana,
L,
Dye,
See,
SpectreListen to “Awake” by Tycho on Spotify