Tycho - Ascension Music Video - music art film review

We’ve raved before about the visual work of San Francisco graphic designer and ambient electronic musician Tycho, aka Scott Hansen — but how exciting that similarly-styled graphic designer and director Charles Bergquist has now been enlisted to turn both of their still image styles into moving image! Both Bergquist and Hansen are known visually for their use of overlaid imagery and washed out colors, and the video for “Ascension” possesses all of these elements. But unlike any hand-held video edited together by any ol’ dream pop band with a penchant for Polaroid dreaminess, this is a well-executed, high-quality visual treat that feels pulled straight out of a fashion magazine universe. It also incorporates the best of both Bergquist and Hansen’s graphical tendencies, most evidenced by the constant use of the sunset from Tycho’s last release, Dive. The primary difference is that here, worlds of water are left behind, as listeners are lifted into mountains of dry sand.

I might also add that it is likely the Ghostly International connection, but the slowly-expanding paint splotches used occasionally in this video are reminiscent of the genius abstractions from Matthew Dear’s Headcage EP… and you should definitely view this in 1080p HD.

FROM THE PRESS RELEASE
“Tycho… saw the release of the “Fragments.Ascension” 12″… where he teamed up with Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation. As fans of each other’s material for a while now, it only made sense that the two would come together for a split co-release on Ghostly International and Thievery’s own ESL Music label. Side A sees Tycho take Thievery’s “Fragments,” originally released on 2011’s Culture of Fear LP, on a synth swirl ride with shades of guitar riffs that create a candy cane-like visual experience. Meanwhile, Rob Garza of Thievery fame grabs the mellow “Ascension,” taken from 2012’s Dive, and makes a slightly dark dance track with hand claps. Hearing both remixed and original tracks side by side makes it obvious that both artists come from the same lineage of music making. The releases is limited to 300 units, and can be purchased here and here.”

Tycho x Thievery Corporation
Fragments.Ascension
(Out now on Ghostly International and ESL Music)
1. Fragments
2. Fragments (Tycho Remix)
3. Ascension
4. Ascension (Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation Remix)