DFA’s willingness to take the road less traveled is a big part of what has made the label so beloved. As such, even when an ostensibly ‘pop’ act like Yacht is added to the stable, it’s a safe bet that the music won’t be a paint-by-numbers affair. See Mystery Lights is the fourth Yacht album, but the first since Jona Bechtolt officially expanded the band to a duo with the addition of new member Claire L. Evans. Together, the pair has bolstered Yacht’s sound with enough off-kilter beats and bass thump to make See Mystery Lights an unabashed dance record, albeit one that recalls the deadpan vocals and quirky sounds of early-’80s groups like The Waitresses and Sexual Harassment. While the music tips a little farther toward the indie-pop end of the spectrum than DFA is accustomed to, for every avant-pop track like “The Afterlife” or “Psychic City (Voodoo City),”—both of which are album standouts—there is a sweaty dancefloor number like “It’s Boring/You Can Live Anywhere You Want” or “Summer Song.” The robotic R&B vibe of “I’m in Love With a Ripper” is a bit of a surprise, but the song doesn’t sound out of place on the album or as part of the larger DFA discography. The label may be creeping in new directions as it gets older, but the quality control hasn’t slipped an inch.
