There are few guarantees in life, but a new Tycho album that doesn't disappoint is something you can always bet on. Based in San Francisco, Tycho, a.k.a. Scott Hansen, has been a constant in the electronic scene for over two decades, steadily raising the bar on emotive instrumental music.
After moving back toward his hallowed ground of shimmering synths and melodic guitars on 2020's Simulcast, Infinite Health sees Hansen make a full return, fully leaving behind the vocal textures of 2019's Saint Sinner-featuring Weather. Co-produced by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor, Infinite Health's production should speak for itself and ushers in an exciting new era. Indeed, the title track feels like a figurative saging: "Consciousness Felt" is synaesthesia for the soul, a tactile reawakening. This era is lively, energetic and filled with up-tempo beats – though still rooted in an introspective realm. "Phantom," for one, explores the spectre of mortality amid sparkling, disco-inspired beats, while "Devices" grapples with the struggle to remain connected to nature in our ever-bustling world.
Like most of Hansen's work, Infinite Health is deeply meditative. It glides seamlessly into the same slipstream of early work like Dive and Awake, but with renewed vigour. Joined by longtime collaborators Zac Brown (guitar) and Rory O'Connor (drums), Hanson says that the album is about "creating a space for healing and reflection, a mantra for spiritual, emotional and physical healing. At the end of the day, all we really have is our health – both physical and mental – and we wish infinite health to our family and friends."
As the world recovers and grapples with the aftermath of a global pandemic, it's easy to see how Hansen found himself ruminating on the ephemeral, transient nature of life. The corporeal and spiritual both find avenues within Tycho's signature spectrum. His ability to capture the existential quandaries of life through sonic landscapes has always been a specialty, and Infinite Health is no exception.
While Tycho has amassed accolades such as Grammy nominations and an impressive list of guest collaborators, Hansen remains grounded and humble throughout his musical endeavours. The return to a more electronic-based production style is a welcome homecoming, allowing every pluck of the guitar and gentle synth stroke to speak for itself. Infinite Health is medicinal music for the soul. Santé!