Electronic music, that is live electronic music, has always been hit or miss with me.   On one side, you have the massive phenomena that is EDM.  The fact that I just recently learned that stood for electronic dance music just a couple weeks ago shows how out of touch I am these days.  The throbbing bass just has never been my cup of tea, but to each his own.  On another side, you have ambient electronica.  Great headphone music, but live, after a couple songs, I am ready for a nap.  Now, I am aware there are many of sub-genres of the electronic music that I brushed over, but I am going from what I know.  Before last night's Tycho show at Mohawk Place, I only knew of San Fran musician Scott Hansen's project from his latest album, the 2011 released Dive.  Loved what I heard from the record:  danceable electronica, with traces of Boards of Canada and Air mixed in.  This was more up my alley.  

Mohawk Place had a pretty good crowd for a Wednesday night, a cold Wednesday night for that matter.  I caught the last couple songs from Beacon, who after hearing, made me wish I had caught their whole set.  Maybe next time.  Hansen and crew took the stage right around 10:00pm.  What immediately caught me was that this was a band, not just a guy on stage turning some knobs, not that there is anything wrong with that.  Backed by a drummer and a bass/guitar player, Hansen, who himself would go from synths to computers to guitars, gave the tunes a life that only a live band could.  

Providing a backdrop to the three piece group were eye pleasing visuals, ranging from hikers scaling glacial peaks, to surfers, to hot air balloons, all washed over with sun drenched colors.  Taken away from the music, the visuals may seem abstract and meaningless, but with music, they just fit.  The images of snowy peaks were the perfect compliment to the cold synths, while the sunny, blissed out guitar work provided the perfect soundtrack to the coastal clips backing the group.

The night ended with the closing number from Dive, the beautiful "Elegy".  Acoustic guitars were pulled out for the first time.  Matched with Hansen's electronic strings,  the acoustics gave the song a post-rock esque feel, reminding me of some of Explosions in the Sky's more delicate, emotional compositions.  Following the closer,Hansen thanked the crowd for staying out late for the show.  From the look on Hansen's face, to the loud applause from the audience, it was clear that both parties had a special night.