NOISEY 133: YACHT

YACHT is a Portland duo composed of Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans. More than a band, YACHT is a multimedia project that brings together all the best aspects of post-James Murphy dance music, Nation of Ulysses-style manifesto rock, and the cosmic wanderings of the Silver Surfer. They sing songs about “paradise engineering” over blasts of no-wave disco anthems. But YACHT isn’t icy, intellectual electro-pop like we had to deal with for so many years. They’re not cynical or jaded. These DIY diehards are having fun and bringing the rest of us along for the ride.

Self-described as a “a Band, Belief System, and Business,” YACHT uses the traditional pop music structure as a vehicle for “mantra delivery.” They radiate PMA in action. They only wear black and white on stage (to emphasize the positive and negative duality of existence, maaan) but the real color that matters is the silver lining.

They compose their songs in a completely transparent manner. Tracks are readily available for remixing and sampling, and their creative process is on full display through extensive blog posts and videos. These wizards are more than happy to show you the man and woman behind the curtain. Their goal is to spread the idea that the tools are available for everyone to express themselves. Performances brew-in this same energy. In a buoyant blast of energy, they shatter the fourth wall to create call-and-response-fueled, sweat-soaked magic. YACHT live is worth experiencing more than once.

Like Neon Indian and tUnE-yArDs, YACHT are not afraid to experiment with a variety of influences and sounds when creating thoughtful, danceable music to power us deeper and deeper into the unknown tomorrows of the 21st century. Get on board, this ship is leaving port.