Returning to Britain this year, I have been struck by the re-emergence of some of the 1970s’ smoothest sounds. This summer it seemed that every pub in London was filled with mulleted twenty-somethings foot-tapping along to a yacht-rock classic.

Steely Dan have gone from 2.5 million monthly listeners in 2022 to more than 8 million today

Steely Dan have gone from 2.5 million monthly listeners in 2022 to more than 8 million today

Yacht rock developed on the west coast of the United States and combined complex, jazz-inspired composition with catchy hooks and a soft tone. Think Steely Dan or Rupert Holmes. But before this year I had assumed it was doomed to uncoolness. Then I came across Toast Club, who were selling tickets to their debut album release party at the Windmill in Brixton. The venue – known for its post-punk acts – seemed an unlikely place to see this crisp, well-dressed duo take to the stage. But as a mosh pit started to break out over the mellow chords of the track ‘Caaalifornia’, it was clear people were once again thirsting for yacht rock. To be hearing this sound world revived in an indie venue like the Windmill wasn’t just startling, it suggested Toast Club were tapping into a deeper cultural undercurrent.

Although the musical boundaries of yacht rock are much debated, the social context in which it appeared is more evident. As the name suggests, it is associated with themes of escapism and romanticism. Yacht-rockers sing about the absurd or unimportant, while bringing the........

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