NewMusic First Spin: YACHT

July 22nd, 2009

As a DIY artist, Portland’s Jona Bechtolt has been making eclectic electronic pop music as YACHT with his laptop for years now. His 2007 album, I Believe in You. Your Magic Is Real, was a significant breakthrough for him that not only forced him to leave his post in lo-fi maxmimilists The Blow, but also led to a support slot opening for LCD Soundsystem’s 2007 tour. That opportunity then led to a record deal with the highly influential DFA Records, and now the fourth YACHT full-length.

The turning point so far though was when Bechtolt added his partner and recurring vocalist Claire L. Evans as a full-time member of YACHT. Together they’ve left Bechtolt’s bedroom experiments far behind them with See Mystery Lights, the first fully realized effort under the YACHT moniker (note: “YACHT is is a Band, Belief System, and Business”).

Recorded in the magical land of Marfa, Texas, where an Aurora Borealis-type phenomenon known as the “mystery lights” rule the sky, See Mystery Lights is an insular little party record that sounds like it was captured in Technicolor.

First single “Summer Song” sounds like the most proper DFA production with super fat ’80s synths, scattershot post-punk rhythms and anthemic, repetitive cheers. “It’s Boring/You Can Live Anywhere You Want” sounds like James Murphy sat in on the recording, as the energy and frenetic pace of the second half recalls LCD Soundsystem’s stylized dance rock. “Psychic City” sounds like a collab between the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club produced by Hot Chip. In fact, that’s a fair assessment for most of the album.

For anyone associated with YACHT prior to See Mystery Lights, this will seem like a great leap forward. But whether you’re familiar or not, this is an animated album full of colour and eccentricity that any free spirit can get behind.

Listen to it Here

Artist: YACHT
Album:See Mystery Lights
Release Date: July 28, 2009
Label: Thrill DFA Records
Genre: Indie Pop/Rock
Author: Cam Lindsay
First Spin Live Until: Aug 4, 09