Scott Hansen is a man of many talents—and of several names. Under the moniker ISO50, he’s a graphic designer well known for his pastoral, sunny style. This serves him well, providing eye-opening backdrops when, using synths and sampled live instrumentation, he makes dreamy music as Tycho. “I want the music to be a soundtrack to a visual experience where both the audio and the visual aspects of the live show are equally important to the audience,” he says. The San Francisco–based producer and musician uses swirling melodies along with halting beats and sampled vocals to paint a rolling sonic picture. Last year’s Dive, earned Tycho (above, doing “A Walk” on KCRW FM) comparisons to M83 and Neon Indian. Find out why when he plays Webster Hall on Saturday.
Brooklyn’s Here We Go Magic began as a one-man band when singer-songwriter Luke Temple recorded a bunch of material at home on a four-track recorder over the course of two months. Those songs went on to become the well-received Here We Go Magic. But sometimes it’s more fun to do things with friends, so Temple added Michael Bloch on guitar, Peter Hale on drums, Kristina Lieberson on keys and Jennifer Turner on bass, and Here We Go Magic was suddenly a five-piece with a bigger, deeper sound. A second disc, Pigeons, followed in 2010, and the group released The January EP earlier this year. And now Here We Go Magic (above, doing “Collector” for KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic) brings cool psychedelic electro-folk to Mercury Lounge tomorrow night. You’d be wise to be there, too.
