- Mon, 2011-07-25 10:56
Hello, likers of music! We are YACHT: a band, business, and belief system from Portland, Oregon. Right now, we'd like to try an experiment. We'd like to reach through the wall of pixels that separates us and physically lay hands upon you. We know this has never been done before -- but that doesn't stop us. It shouldn't take more than five minutes of your time.
Are you ready? OK: here we go. Begin by launching our 20-track playlist of higher-frequency music. Now close your eyes and take five deep breaths, relaxing your body more deeply with each breath -- we'll do it too. Feels good, right? Alright, now gaze at your screen. You see these words, this website, of course, but now un-focus your eyes and try to see through the words, through the website. Perceive the material density of your screen; imagine the individual points of light that radiate outwards from your computer to your eyes. Do you see how it's an illusion? How the screen throbs? Do you see how the images on your screen are simply a combination of ones and zeros, hanging ephemerally in a plane of light?
Now imagine that plane rippling, as a disturbed pond of water. It undulates rhythmically with the pulsing beat of our playlist. Gaze deeply into the ripples as they decay, fraying at the edges in fractal forms. Suddenly: the screen washes away, revealing the yawning digital void beneath. It's dark here. You feel alone, betrayed by the chimeric magic of the Internet! Looking around, you shudder -- where is everyone?
You've been in this void all along. As you diligently explore the interconnected spheres of your online life, you've really been alone, transfixed by shadows and light. But don't worry: now that we've shown you what lies beneath, you'll never be alone again. Because like two lovers gazing up at the same moon from across the world, we're there too, trapped forever inside the edges of the technological Utopia.
YACHT Playlist
1. The Crystal Ark - The Tangible Presence Of The Miraculous
2. DNTEL - Caribbean Blue
3. Catcall - Swimming Pool
4. Justine And The Victorian Punks - Beautiful Dreamer
5. Light Asylum - A Certain Person
6. Purple & Green - Right Here
7. Jeffrey Jerusalem - This Week
8. John Maus - Head For The Country
9. Key Losers - Horizon Line
10. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up
11. Miracles Club - Light Of Love
12. Jessica 6 - Fun Girl
13. Gunnar Bjerk - Back Then
14. Planningtorock - The Breaks
15. Footprintz - Utopia
16. Discodeine Featuring Jarvis Cocker - Synchronize
17. Shit Robot - Take 'Em Up
18. The Weeknd - High For This
19. Invisible Conga People - Can't Feel My Knees (Dub Version)
20. Creep - You (Planningtorock Remix)
Track
Aritst: Bobby Birdman Track: Don't Walk Away Release: June 2011 Label: K Records
Bobby Birdman is a collaborator and member of YACHT. He's a patient, altruistic genius who lives for the Southern California surf and composes uncanny melodies without breaking a sweat. Don't Walk Away was recorded at the Dub Narcotic Studios in Olympia, Washington, a legendary studio in the Pacific Northwest; it's a jangling pop gem about making eyes across the room.
Album
Artist: Dreamboat Album: Buddies Release: December 2010
Dreamboat is a man, not a boat -- and no, we're not fans because he shares a propensity for maritime monikers. He lives in Victoria, B.C., and we were lucky enough to be randomly paired with him for a gig during our last Canadian YACHT tour. Ever since, we blast his album Buddies essentially any time we're enjoying ourselves. It's the perfect summer music, both doe-eyed and sexy, marrying tender dance beats with lyrics so earnestly dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure that they verge on being Caligulan. Heartbreakin' and Pretty Boys are standout tracks.
Video
Artist: John Maus Track: Head For The Country Release: June 2011 Label: Upset The Rhythm
We've been fans of John Maus for a long time. His sensibility is completely his own: uncompromising, grave, absurd, and beautiful. He articulates his ideas with a simple gravitas that verges on being axiomatic: "Rights for gays, right now," he chants in his track Rights For Gays. This new video, for Head For The Country is basically the most on-point thing, visually, that we can imagine. It's unclear what exactly happens, but it has to do with Robo Cop, satellites, and bleak snow-covered landscapes -- and it's very beautiful.
Interview #707: YACHT Read the full interview here
