If there's one consistent thing in my life in the past 15 years, that's the perpetual love for anything created by Scott Hansen and the people he works with.
With "Dive" being one of the first features on Stereofox back in 2013, our Tycho interview / live recording in 2014, and of course, the countless hours spent roaming aimlessly in the sonic universe of Tycho, it is safe to say - that I'll never get tired of whatever this is.
There aren't many artists that create 6 studio albums and still manage to keep fans engaged. In the case of Tycho, it is not only because of the brilliance of the music but also how wholesome the aura surrounding Scott. He just seems like a genuine guy who turned his love and passion into something a lot bigger (and a Grammy nomination, of course).
Find Infinite Health on Spotify / Apple Music / Deezer / TIDAL / Amazon Music
Today, we celebrate Infinite Health, a beautifully uplifting blend of analog psychedelic nostalgia. It's like synthwave filtered through a lens of rosy optimism, which put in context makes a lot of sense. Created alongside his bandmates Zac Brown, Rory O'Connor (AKA Nitemoves), and Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor, the 9-track release is "about hope for the future and a requiem for the past." The record is created in a period that can be characterized as both balanced and exciting for Tycho - the end of an intense touring schedule before COVID and the beginning of a new family.
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If someone played you Infinite Health randomly with no other context, I bet it won't take long for you to realize you are listening to a Tycho record. That being said, the album doesn't feel like a copy-paste of things that worked in the past. Sonically, it does feel like a return to a more electronic-based production approach, "focusing on breaks, drums, and rhythmic elements" Scott shares. "Then, using that as the foundation, and having all the instrumentation follow that lead, as opposed to the other way around.” On top of that, I feel there's some sort of post-rock/psychedelia sprinkled in the mix, especially on tracks like "Green" and "Restraint".
As always, the theme of mental health is crucial in the universe of Scott Hansen. Something he has expressed from the very beginning of Tycho. He elaborates, "I kept thinking back to the high-water mark scene in Fear and Loathing, the author sitting at a typewriter looking out a window onto his past, trying to find meaning in the chaos. Infinite Health 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. So in those ways, infinite health is a salutation and an imperative."
When it comes to how he started thinking about the recording process of Infinite Health, he shares "The big overarching concept, at least on the technical side, was 'Let’s try to make this sound as different as possible, while still holding true to our roots'.", and I think they absolutely nailed it. The album follows a certain trajectory but offers diverse deviations along the way, like one of the singles - the 80's cosmic synth anthem "Phanton" and the only feature on the album - "Infinite Health" with Cautious Clay.
To be frank, I felt an attachment to the record quicker than with Weather (2019) and Simulcast (2020), and maybe that's because of the rather instrumental nature of the album. I appreciate the sound design and the highlighted importance of textures and rhythm throughout Infinite Health. For me, listening to Tycho is all about having a positive, mindful, and above all, introspective experience, something which this album perfectly excels at.
I won't share my favorite as I am sure that will change and progress with the number of times I listen to the album, but one thing's for sure - this right here is one of the most impactful albums for 2024 for me.
Infinite Health to you, friends.
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