New Releases: YACHT

See Mystery Lights

by Peter Morelli

Friday November 20 2009, 1:00am

See Mystery Lights is a series of fun, experimental excursions into electro dance from the Portland Duo. It has more analog bleeps and chirps than HAL the homicidal computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey, but YACHT’s newfound pop sensibility keeps the album approachable and away from needless abstraction and indulgence.

Fevered dance-outs like ‘I’m In Love With A Ripper’ and ‘Summer Song’ make the album a success, but these stronger tunes somewhat frontload the record. The tracks in the later part of the album, although delightful, are just too sugary sweet to beg repeated second and third listens.

This division in material is frustrating, given the strength of so much of See Mystery Lights. Yet the record is definitely worth a spin. When YACHT nails it, it’s clear that if they had just held their focus a bit more they would’ve really gone in for the kill here.

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