Early Warning: YACHT
By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 2, 2010 7:40PM
Electro-pop duo, YACHT, will be traveling North America for the New Moody Mystery Tour and will be making a stop at the Empty Bottle later this month. But the band is presenting themselves as “YACHT and the Straight Gaze,” which means the duo will be accompanied by a three-man back-up ensemble composed of Jeff Brodsky (of Inside Voices), D. Reuben Snyder (of Rob Walmart) and one of Yacht’s opening acts, Bobby Birdman.
Jona Bechtolt, former member of the Blow, founded YACHT in 2006 and recruited Claire L. Evans two years later. Her addition seems to have added some much needed direction, because their 2009 album, See Mystery Lights was a huge success. Delivering the duo’s mystical lyrics contrasted by deadpan vocals, futuristic synth and buoyant, catchy beats, the album is a spiritual experience.
From the beginning with opening track, “Ring the Bell,” YACHT proposes questions like, “Will we go to heaven, or will we go to hell.” The following track “The Afterlife,” is an upbeat melody that happens to contemplate life after death. And “Don’t Fight the Darkness” mixes a simple beats with a little cowbell and repeats “Bring the light and darkness disappears.” But the album’s strongest track is “I’m in Love with a Ripper.” With choppy, glitchy synth sounds and squiggly vocals, it’s a successful experiment in sonic manipulation and will probably have you dancing involuntarily.
With the album’s supernatural subject matter, one might think YACHT is pushing their own religious agenda. But they’re no cult; as their mission statement claims, “YACHT believes all things, hopes all things, has endured many things, and hopes to be able to endure all things.” And similarly, the album - which was inspired by the Marfa Mystery Lights, an unexplained, paranormal phenomenon in west Texas - is really all about optimism and openness to spirituality, togetherness, individuality, and, well, just about everything.
YACHT plays Saturday, February 27 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western, 8 p.m, $12, 21+