Customer Reviews

Past Is Prologue

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First and foremost, for the uninitiated, Tycho is an electronic / ambient project from the San Francisco based artist and producer Scott Hansen. "Known in the design world as ISO50, Hansen's bucolic, sun-drenched design style serves as a backdrop for the music which so closely echoes his visual sentiments."

-Now that you know who Tycho is, let me catch you up on the album in question "Past Is Prologue", which is a re-issue of the album Sunrise Projector that is nearly identical; expect for a few added tracks which add a nice touch.

I had been meaning to buy Sunrise Projector for some time after hearing it, and before I had the opportunity to, Past Is Prologue was released. The sound isn't so much like most down tempo electronic music, if done wrong this album could've very well ended up being just another overly synthetic electronic album. But the ambiance here is where the true beauty lies. Never before have I heard such a creative blend of nature mixed with personality to form a distinct sound. Think the Boards of Canada meets The Postal Service w/ out the singing of course (this is ambient music people).

The subliminal undertones that work their way into each song may only be recognized upon the third or fourth listen. Soft voices speaking about planting trees and world unity go further than one would think. As gimmicky as it may sound these voices add such a pleasant feel, something everyone can relate to. The swirling beats surrounding crackling melodramatic thumps feel like something from another world. Seriously, this album is alien & common at the same time. With voices being drawn into the equation the parameter of these songs could have been easily thrown off. Again, I feel like most electronic artists overuse the subtle sounds of the human voice. Unlike Björk, this isn't singing, the voices play as subliminal reminders of the human connection with the world. As cliché as that may sound that is almost what this album comes down to. For the full experience listen to it outdoors when you're by yourself, you'll end up appreciating it much more.

For the most part this is an incredible album in my opinion. What is truly done right here is the progression. Sounds don't abruptly end, they take there time to unwind. My only complaint is that I wish these songs where longer. As fleshed out as they are I could have used another minute or two on each song respectively. The remixes are incredible, electronic music is not remixed enough in my opinion, and when done right brings and old song back to life. Specifically, the song A Circular Reeducation - Dusty Brown Remix, which captures a whole new side of Tycho.

Don't fool yourself, this is an amazing album...

Track Listing

1. From Home

2. Sunrise Projector

3. Dictaphone's Lament

4. PBS

5. Send And Receive

6. Brother

7. A Circular Reeducation

8. Past Is Prologue

9. Cloud Generator

10. The Disconnect

11. A Circular Reeducation - Dusty Brown Remix

12. Send And Receive - Chachi Jones Remix

13. Sunrise Projector - Nautilis Remix

Amazing cd.. Every track is unique, but manages to keep its underwater-dream-like melodies, and never boring.

Some very nice, yet subtle beats. Lets you know Scott knows what he's doin, but rather not rub your face in it and never compromising his music. Truly genius work.

Perfection... Simply Perfection!!!

This album is what I call the perfect album. From the first track to the last, Perfection!!!

The other two reviews sum it up in physical words, and even spirtual. I literally have listened to this cd over 100 times and probably play it once a day.

This is more like a Life Soundtrack for me. No matter what mood I am in this album takes me to another place. I just came back from camping and this album was repeated numerous times by everyone there.

Truely amazing in every way, I hope everyone gets a chance to listen to it at least once. Or at least 3 or 4 times to truly enjoy all the other tunes you didn't catch the first time.

Crank it up, turn the terrible up and clean out the bass for the beautiful lows... And just enjoy LIFE!!!

Finally I can say the day has arrived, after years of searching, I found an electronic artist equal to Boards of Canada for the whole idm collage of sound. I can not believe Tycho eluded me for all this time, with an EP dating back to 2002 ("The Sceince Of Patterns"), and even a track included on the "Movers and Groovers 2" compilation. I stumbled upon Scott Hansens material on a long quest towards finding electronic music that glows wamrly, and isn't just pretensious noise. I wanted more than anything to find an artist that could spark the genuine emotions Boards of Canada has done for me time and time again.

I'm not saying Tycho is a Boards of Canada knock off, I'm suggesting however out of the thirteen tracks on "Past is Prologue" a majority of them hover over there sound. What I really like about this album is the warm layers of electronic music done so in a manor where it doesn't feel like somebody tacked on random stale patterns (something all too common when you hand over the synthesizer). Musically its dual nature makes some tracks suitable for parties and others for calm listening nights. The beats are up there, but aren't breakcore heart skipping. Succession of ambient placement grants the background natural soothing calmness of say a windmill. This gyrating effect plays out perfectly, songs stick to there theme and its rewarding to listen to. Some artist go all over the map, and it's relativly easy to do this when you have so many options at hand for a genre that isn't format specific, resulting in a loss of character towards a song.

These songs build up nicely, sometimes there are soothing female vocals in the background similar to something off of Royksopps "Melody AM". That classic Boards of Canada rythmic clap and beat is here as well (though maybe a pinch faster). All those nostalgic electronic blips that reminisce upon 80's documentries only make it that much more appealing. I like how the tunes sound as though they are a bit more lighthearted and childish in nature then many other electronic groups. They don't need to reel you in with some cynical droopy beat, it's the pillowy brackets and choppy beats that really do it.

I wont say this album is perfect, some songs may of benifited from being cut an additional thirty seconds or so shorter. Some of the beats are used rapidly with no restraint. I can't argue though, tracks like "The Disconnect" and "Dictaphone's Lament" really make it hard to critique this album. That warm warbling with a nice phasing effect topped with a glazed keyboard does it everytime.