Scott Hansen’s forth album as Tycho wastes no time in establishing his signature sound, delighting fans with an array of infectious sounds and drawing in new listeners before they have a chance to figure out what’s hit them.

Awake is Tycho’s first album as a band — Zach Brown joins on guitar and Rory O’Connor on drums — and certainly the album takes on a different personality as a result. Although Hansen’s electro-ambient concoction remains at the core, the addition of Brown and O’Connor give the project a facelift by infusing a sense of urgency and unbridled energy that carries it along much more fluidly than previous releases. As such, whispers of “post-rock” can be heard in some passages, but it is never more than tangential at best, and the trio both stays true to its electronic roots and gives us a fresh re-imaging of Tycho’s sound.  There hardly a missed opportunity on Awake, the synergy is strong between the musicians and Hansen has certainly hit his stride as a songwriter since Dive‘s eye-catching elegance.

Although Dive will most likely be the breakout album many will remember Tycho for, Awake is going to the one that gets people into the venue. It’s anyone’s guess as to what the future holds for Hansen & co, but this album is clearly marking a new chapter for the project.

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