By Melissa Van Der Veen
Infinite Health by Tycho is enchanting. From beginning to end, the story and love of place is strong. I found myself immediately enamored by the ethereal space sounds and the grounding familiarity of the bass and drums.
The song “Green” was the most immediately striking. Scott Hansen, the man behind Tycho, developed the song “Green” as a deeply personal tribute or love letter to the American River in Sacramento California. As a child of that same river, I can attest that the song captures its spirit. The flow of the song— not unlike the flow of a river— carries with it a steadiness with forward momentum and little inserts of a change in intensity. Close your eyes while listening and imagine paddling down a river on a warm day: “Green” is that.
This whole album carries that energy, as each song starts it embodies the feeling of an adventure old and new. It does this by conveying movement. Each track starts with the feeling of growing slowly and calmly into space and then moves to a swirling, gently bouncing exploration of breath and nature. The bird calls and gentle sounds of breath throughout the album help to portray this feeling.
The song “Totem” evokes the sense of running towards a sunrise and then is held by the Epilogue that perfectly closes the chapter with the illustration of a sunset.
Hansen conveyed that the project is "about hope for the future and a requiem for the past." The album marks a return to an electronic-focused production style, creating a blend of expansive freedom and intimate moments. Hansen's personal favorite track, "Phantom," was crafted with the intention of evoking the sensation of lights in a nightclub intertwined with a mysterious presence.
Not every album is as thoughtful and magical as this one. Strong creativity went into weaving an album of musical pictures that evoque kindness. It took care to build an album that acts as a safe place for feelings and the heart to expand.
Tycho will be touring across the US from September to November!
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