Shangri-La

iTunes Review

From utopic dreams to dystopic nightmares, from spiritual questioning to nightclub euphoria, favorite electro-pop duo Yacht are back with songs celebrating their own philosophical “belief system,” percolating inside some insanely good dance beats. Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans (taking the vocal lead here) have fun with frequently nonsensical lyrics, tongue-in-cheek swagger, and the kind of beats than instantly create new moves on the dance floor. The smoldering stomp of “Tripped and Fell in Love” demands a new connection between hips and shoulders, and “I Walked Alone” could transform the ‘60s dance the Pony into something freakishly entertaining; the song’s wood-block percussion, vintage keyboards and approximation of a guitar solo (it morphs into a screeching violin!) are worthy of serious attention in the grooves and moves department. “Paradise Engineering” has a whiff of Eno-Byrne Bush of Ghosts brilliance, and the chorus of “Dystopia” is languid, sexy and catchy. Shangri-La is on par with 2009’s See Mystery Lights — full of mischief and wackiness — and, most importantly, they still have their dance on.