“Simulcast” is Tycho’s most underwhelming album to date, lacking the originality and substance found in his previous records.
By Gavin Majeski
In 2019, electronic music producer Tycho released his fifth album “Weather,” his first to feature any vocal accompaniment. “Weather” was a breath of fresh air from an artist whose downtempo blend of electronics and organic instrumentation started to wear thin since his debut in 2006. Saint Sinner’s gorgeous vocals blended well with the relaxed production from Tycho and created a mellow-pop blend of music.
“Simulcast” feels devoid of any originality, containing virtually identical tracks from “Weather” and one original track, “Outer Sunset.” The three instrumental tracks from “Weather” were placed onto the album with no changes, while “Alright,” “PCH,” “Cypress” and “Stress” feel almost identical to the melodies of “For How Long,” “Pink & Blue,” “Japan” and “No Stress” from “Weather.”
The track “Alright” features much lighter snares and hi-hats, while “Cypress” takes the short and sweet length of “Japan” and drags it on for six unnecessary minutes. While “Stress” feels slightly different from it’s counterpart on Tycho’s “Weather,” the only track that contains a noticeable change is “PCH,” which features lusher textures compared to “Pink & Blue.”
While not necessarily containing any bad songs, "Simulcast" feels like background music with dull production.
Favorite Tracks: Weather, Outer Sunset, Into The Woods, Easy, PCH
5.5/10