In an already busy room San Francisco’s Christopher Willits performs from his new album, Opening, this gentleman is a master of electronic music and his solo show, guitar plus computer, is a treat as he combines intricate arpeggios with creative melodies.
Willits uses the term ‘folding’ to describe his technique and live his skills explode, taking on a more beautiful, atmospheric and bewitching presence, his sound’s movement from loud to calmness at times drawing comparisons to acts like Explosions in the Sky.
Behind him a huge screen projects images that leave you flabbergasted; molten rock, flowers, people, all of these pictures create a particular atmosphere as the astounded audience fixate on the screen.
Unfortunately, we cannot see his hands doing the work, but at the same time it creates mystery, his performance is a journey for our ears and eyes to follow, superb minimalistic music, which Willits is clearly enjoying delivering.
After a short break, it is under a blue screen that Scott Hanser, better known as Tycho, accompanied by his friends takes to the stage and he goes straight to the heart of the matter with ‘Adrift’, from 2011’s Dive, it’s exiting and delicious, the melody simple but the journey transporting.
The Art School is a perfect venue for this type of music, the sound is clear and overwhelming, the artists themselves don’t give a visual performance but the visual effects accompanying the melodies produce transport us to different world.
Besides being a musician, Hanser is a graphical genius, creating all of the images that are projected; women walking in a dune, mixture of colours, nature, pastel colours fill our eyes, as he continues with songs from his last two albums.
All together, the tone of the night is dreamy and the chilling guitar and synths make a perfect balance, as those illustrations, coordinated with the rhythm, create a spellbinding experience.
Sometimes, we have the impression of being in a cartoon, on the screen stories materialises, so the audience need to stay aware of what they see and hear as everything is related.
As this great visual and auditive experience draws to an end the lights and visual effects are even more evocative ending the night on high.
Words: Juliette Carnejac
Photos: Daphne Michalaki
