• Tycho – Epoch

    Scott Hansen’s take on electronica is one rooted as much in aesthetics as it is sound. A musician with a strong sense of visual communication, Hansen’s compositions have typically found a balance not unlike the space on an artist’s pad – colourful, contextually informative, and direct in all the right places, while sparse and minimalistic in others. It’s this balance that has resulted in a canon undetermined by fad or the changing tastes of an audience; Hansen’s work is signature and conforms to little else than a singular vision. This thread of idiosyncrasy can be traced back to 2011’s Dive;…

  • Gigs of the Week: Ciaran Lavery, Tycho, Swords & RESET

    Another week, and like all weeks it presents many, many opportunities to check out the very best gigs on offer around the country. The number of gigs does tend to drop somewhat during the summer months, but we’ve managed to unearth several shows that you can wrap your ears around… Tycho – The Button Factory, Dublin; Wednesday, July 23 Post rock-inflected electronic group Tycho will be performing at the Button Factory this Wednesday. Beautiful, swirling soundscapes are to expected here in what ought to be a wonderfully dreamy and epic show. Tickets are €14 and doors are at 7.30.  …

  • Choice Cuts: The Best Tracks of… February

    In his latest review of the very best music released in the month just passed, the altogether audibly-attuned Aaron Hamilton bestows up our very ears some exceptional tracks from the likes of Sun Kil Moon, Lydia Loveless (pictured) and the behemothic pairing of Sunn O))) & Ulver. Banks – Brain (Harvest) Since her breakthrough last year, Banks has been one of the more promising acts in the annual flurry of year-end nominations and awards. Brain is a sardonic, down tempo collaboration with producer Schlomo, and the pairing works to the benefit of both of them – Banks sounds years more mature…