Bleep

For Scott Hansen’s latest record as Tycho, the San Franciscan artist has decided to bring a new element into play - the human voice. While Tycho’s sound has always been rich in melody, fifth LP Weather marks the first time that Hansen has put vocals centre-stage on some of his compositions. Saint Sinner (Hannah Cottrell) takes on the singing duties, and this new addition provides a pleasing variation on Tycho’s vivid brand of electronic indie-pop.

Take, for instance, Weather’s lead single ‘Pink And Blue’. The instrumental here is just the sort of thing people flock to Tycho for - driving bass, colourful harmonies and the faintest whiff of shoegaze in the dreamy production. It stacks up alongside artists like Apparat, Bibio and Bonobo in the way it synthesises organic and acoustic elements to create a highly evocative listening experience. Indeed, it’s such a pleasing sound that it’s no surprise to find that the moments on Weather when Cottrell is absent see Tycho doubling-down on this lush instrumental style.

When Cottrell’s vocals do come in they are at once collected yet quietly forceful. This vibe fits perfectly with the bubbling emotion of a track like ‘Pink And Blue’, and Cottrell’s contributions push Weather’s sound closer to artists like M83. The other Cottrell features on Weather confirm that she is a perfect foil for Tycho - so much so that she is soon to join the band as a touring vocalist.

After 2016’s Epoch LP saw Scott Hansen’s Tycho break into the big leagues, new LP Weather sees Hansen both consolidating Tycho’s position and evolving the project in exciting new ways.