Live Review: Tycho and Active Child at Lincoln Hall for Tomorrow Never Knows festival

Synthesizers were once thought of as the instruments of the future, serenading everything from space voyages to replicant insurrections. While the devices still suggests a certain amount of forward-thinking idealism, in many ways they have transitioned to representing the sound of the present. The Tomorrow Never Knows festival brought together two artists who harness the versatile instrument in very different ways, providing contrasting depictions of the musical modernity.

Returning to Lincoln Hall for what seemed like the umpteenth time, Active Child quickly settled into the familiar surroundings. Awash in the cascading harp melodies of "You Are All I See," Pat Grossi's ethereal voice immediately captured the spotlight. Existing somewhere between the otherworldly falsetto of Jónsi and the operatic qualities of Antony Hegarty, Grossi's striking vocals draw on his experience as a choir boy. Songs like "Hanging On" and "Playing House" exemplified the trio's brand of surprisingly organic electro.

Stepping away from his harp, Grossi dug into his older, synth-heavy catalog. Otherwise generic tracks such as "Take Shelter" and "When Your Love Is Safe" were rescued from their oftentimes tedious execution by some intriguing vocal work. Melding plucked strings with '80s-era electronics, Active Child was at their most beautiful when the disparate sounds found common ground.

Partaking in an understated brand of electronica that incorporates elements of trance and ambient music, Scott Hansen's work under his Tycho moniker wouldn't sound out of place on late-night public radio. Informed by his work as a graphic designer, Hansen brings a methodical sensibility to his music and the accompanying visuals. Bold lines and shapes mesh with hazy sounds and old photographs, producing a woozy sense of familiarity and nostalgia.

Joined onstage by a drummer and bassist, Hansen perched himself behind a vintage synthesizer, basking in the lazy melody of "A Walk." Projections of crashing waves and rising suns flashed by as the group moved through the quickening pulse of "Hours, " segueing into the relaxed, guitar-aided groove of "Daydream." Propelled by serene refrains and earnest beats, the venue was drenched in a subdued yet intense atmosphere, assisted by prominent visuals and engulfing fog machines. The performance was marred only by a technical glitch which stopped the fervent tune "Dive" dead in its tracks. Listeners can take comfort in the fact that Hansen's synthetic creations aren't immune to flaws and error, with their greatest moments oftentimes exposing the music's underlying humanity.