Album Review: Yacht - See Mystery Lights

YACHT
SEE MYSTERY LIGHTS
(DFA Records)
www.teamyacht.com

Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga. That pretty much how all the beats on the new Yacht record go, which is a lot like how all the beats on Yacht's previous LP went. Dancey, fun, and with a hint of cute, the Portland-based act is back with a new full-length record this Tuesday, July 28. While some things haven't changed for the electronic musician, many things have.

First, See Mystery Lights will be Yacht's first full-length album released by DFA Records, inching the band a little closer to major label territory. DFA may be distributed by EMI, but don't expect that to interfere with the pure artistry of the label, and Yacht IS a true artist. However, unlike past releases, Yacht can no longer be referred to as a "him." In the past, it was always easy to refer to the act as Jona Bechtolt from The Blow. Now it seems Yacht has achieved more success than The Blow, and Bechtolt added a second member to the mix, Claire Evans. Though she has helped Yacht out in the past, Evans still provides the biggest change for the band, as her vocals are very prominent on the album. She's a weaker singer than Bechtolt, but when the two are mixed together it creates a sort of encouraging shout-along sound perfect for a band crafting would-be dance anthems.

See Mystery Lights is a slight nudge in a different direction, but still maintains all the best parts of the bouncy fun from previous efforts. Considering there are probably many who still haven't heard of Yacht yet, this release could be the one that truly breaks the band out of the indie scene.

MP3: Yacht - "Psychic City"