YACHT, Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, London

“You’re fit!” swoons a girl in a bra at the foot of the stage. She’s directing the compliment towards female vocalist Claire L. Evans but in truth it could just as easily have been for her counterpart Jona Bechtolt. This is a very attractive band. And not just in looks.

For the past decade almost, the project has been an evolving entity morphing from Bechtolt’s solo project to double act to a full band for its live performances. And the resulting sound is delicious. Fusing influences such as Neu!, ESG and LCD Soundsystem, YACHT bounce, thrust and writhe their way through an hour’s worth of material which is less a relaxing pleasure cruise (on which the highlights of ‘Utopia’, ‘Dystopia’ and ‘Psychic City’ are pointed out to be examined coming up on the left, right and just around the corner) than a full throttle electronic ocean voyage. In fact the only time the band pause to breath is to deliver a brief PowerPoint presentation relaying two important lessons; 1) an education on their geographical origins and 2) school had it wrong - learning can be fun after all.

And it’s oddly comforting, because read their website (which welcomes ‘electronic brethren of the internet’) and they’re something of a cult; they’re conceptual, they’re developed and they’re obsessed with symbology. And yet they’re not exclusive, and standing before them shatters all preconceptions. Because really, for all the facade, YACHT are just five people playing some tunes and encouraging Hoxton’s finest to have a bloody good dance. And thus it’s testament to them that the entire room is at their command.

And as the sodden crowd depart the good ship YACHT there’s a buzz in the air – an enjoyment, a satisfaction and a loyalty which acts to confirm that after nearly ten years these Young Americans Challenging High Technology have well and truly found their niche and, in London at least, it’s plain sailing from here on in.