Plano native Richard Blake Hansen had been flipping beats and scratching turntables since high school, but a relocation to Denver changed something in him. Or maybe it was just his budding friendship with Derek Smith of Pretty Lights. Whatever it was, the general public is now reaping the benefits on Telescopic.
Hansen's debut album should be viewed as a self-portrait. Aside from technical perfection — flawless transitions, vivacious hip-hop beats and diligently hand-picked samples — Hansen has also put a great deal of personality into Telescopic. There are moments when the album will fade into the background of a conversation, and then suddenly grab your attention and become the topic of discussion.
Take, for example, the track "Milky Way Stomp." The airy, almost sparkly feeling of the song entices your brain to passively absorb the glitches and twerks before the album switches gears into a more groovy pattern with "I Can Still Hear You." The second the smooth vocals of this tune exit the speakers, all heads turn and all bodies start to rock. If you feel the urge to grab the person next you and gently work it out, don't resist. It's totally natural.
Telescopic is transient enough for a road trip, motivational enough for the gym, party enough for the club and anything but one-dimensional.
