Song of the Day: YAST - YAST

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured during the Fall 2013 Pledge Drive, is “YAST” by YAST from the 2013 self-titled album on Adrian Recordings.

YAST - YAST (MP3)

Formed in 2007 by Carl Kolbaek-Jensen, Tobias Widman, and Marcus Norberg, YAST began laying the tracks for their first shows and recordings before moving to Malmö, with Markus Johansson and Niklas Wennerstrand joining to complete the band's current lineup not soon after. A trio of singles in 2012 preceded tours with Tame Impala, The Drums, DIIV, and TOY established the group's live presence on the European circuit, before placing the finishing touches on their self-titled debut for an early 2013 release. If Anthony Gonzalez had written "Graveyard Girl" on guitar and then decided to switch out his penchant for sweeping gestures for dreamy pop dynamics, he'd be making a good start at coming close to "YAST"'s effortless melodic haze. Packing in enough subtle hooks to sustain a small Swedish pop factory, "YAST" never rallies itself over a singalong chorus, but it glides with ease, preferring to let its harmonious sonics do the heavy lifting. It's a daunting task for a band to write a self-titled song on their self-titled debut, but "YAST" efficiently and economically captures all of the elements of their debut album in less than three minutes.

YAST have a series of European dates booked for the rest of the year, but they've yet to make it Stateside. If they make it over the Atlantic, you'll read about those dates or any other updates from the band on their website and Facebook. Watch the video for the YAST track "Stupid" below.