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VESSELS

Post Rock/Math rock • United Kingdom


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Vessels biography
VESSELS are a UK, Leeds-based quintet formed in 2005. The band has built a name for themselves by energetic live shows and (so far) two studio albums with beautiful artwork, rich multi-layered sound and exceptional musical and sound production.

VESSELS play fast paced, dense guitar progressions with tight, minute precission, metal outbursts, "aerial" guitar explosions and slow melancholic breaks. This puts them, stylistically, in that still free to explore musical territory placed at the intersection of post rock and math rock, which VESSELS is claiming along with other bands such as RUSSIAN CIRCLES or AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR. Ambient and glitch passages reminding of LYMBYC SYSTYM or harmonized vocals reminding of SPECIAL OTHERS come to enrich the sound. On the post rock side of their music, VESSELS can be compared to MONO, THE EVPATORIA REPORT and EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY. While the first album was more about contrast, the second album reaches for a fluidity and epic spacey developments which brings the band's approach closer to that of LONG DISTANCE CALLING.

Bio by Alex (harmonium.ro)

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VESSELS discography


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VESSELS top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.29 | 7 ratings
White Fields And Open Devices
2008
3.74 | 30 ratings
Helioscope
2011
3.09 | 4 ratings
Dilate
2015

VESSELS Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

VESSELS Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

VESSELS Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

VESSELS Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings
Vessels
2006
0.00 | 0 ratings
Retreat
2009

VESSELS Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Dilate by VESSELS album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.09 | 4 ratings

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Dilate
Vessels Post Rock/Math rock

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars As I read the bio for VESSELS here I have to say that they must have changed their sound in a big way for this album. I would describe "Dilate" as being mostly Electronic but with a techno beat and a Post Rock flavour. There are female vocals on two tracks. While I can appreciate the music here this really isn't a style I like all that much. I suppose my expectations were a little high when I read comparisons to LONG DISTANCE CALLING, but there's nothing on this particular recording that reminded me of them so I need to check out their two earlier albums. By the way "Dilate" is a brand new 2015 release by these Brits.

"Vertical" has this repetitive beat that builds with the different sounds that are being added. It pretty much has a full sound 3 1/2 minutes in before it settles back and becomes spacey. A catchy opener. "Eliptic" also has a repetitive beat as electronics and more are added. This is the longest track at almost 9 minutes. Lots of percussion to end it. "Echo In" is another catchy tune with plenty of synths and percussion standing out. "As You Are" is the first song with vocals. Interesting sounds pulse and beat in this spacey atmosphere as soft female vocals arrive.

"Attica" opens with pulsating electronics and spacey sounds that build before a beat kicks in. A techno vibe takes over after 2 1/2 minutes. "On Monos" is my favourite. It's spacey early on before kicking into gear after 1 1/2 minutes. Female vocals also help out. Such a cool sound to this one. Again this is catchy. New interesting sounds end it. "Glass Lake" features sounds that pulse and twitter. It all stops as a beat takes over and other sounds are added. This is all about the beat and mood. A spacey calm arrives before 4 minutes and it's fairly dark as well. "On Your Own Toes" again has a multitude of sounds and a catchy beat. The synths really stand out here. It settles right down late.

An intriguing album to be sure but not one that my taste buds really appreciate. I'm sure many will love this one though, it's certainly different.

 Helioscope by VESSELS album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.74 | 30 ratings

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Helioscope
Vessels Post Rock/Math rock

Review by Epignosis
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Traditional post-rock met with occasional electronic flair, this album consists of primarily instrumentals with an occasional song placed here and there. For those who appreciate Radiohead or could imagine a friendlier Porcupine Tree's The Incident, this is an experience worth acquiring.

"Monoform" A heavy beat under counterintuitive electronics batters its way through the first moments of the album before the piece settles into a comfortable rhythm. The ending sweeps in like the cold fury of a blizzard.

"The Trap" Continuing the pleasant but urgent pace of the previous track, "The Trap" quiets down, allowing the bass drum to mark the intensity. Gradually growing in loudness, the end of the piece possesses blasts of growling guitar.

"Recur" Peppy and lighthearted, this first song has low vocals, both in the fore and as backup. Rolling snares provide added energy even when the vocals tend to drag.

"Later Than You Think" Soft, semi-plucked tones are met with deep rumbles below. Grungy rock punctuates and contrasts with the light electronic elements.

"Meatman, Piano Tuner, Prostitute" Feathery piano-like music in an odd time signature brings in Steven Wilson-like vocals. The concluding passage nears the likes of doom metal.

"Art/Choke" After a blazing rock passage, a sputtering, thudding bass leads the charge, essentially setting up a basic rhythm, allowing the washes of sound and the active drums to paint a picture of sound over it.

"Heal" Perhaps predictably the most tranquil and soothing of the music presented, "Heal" relies on soft, crashing waves and gentle timbres.

"All Our Ends" My favorite track on the album, "All Our Ends" has much more convincing vocals with a satisfying harmony. The guitars are sprightly, while the drumming during the second verse puts the cheerful factor right where it should be. Acoustic guitar adds another agreeable layer.

"Spun Infinite" The final song is a dirge-like tune, without percussion, and somehow very distant.

 Helioscope by VESSELS album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.74 | 30 ratings

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Helioscope
Vessels Post Rock/Math rock

Review by zravkapt
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Vessels are a five-piece math rock band from the UK. Most math bands have only three or four members, but Vessels generally puts a little more emphasis on keyboards than most math bands. I haven't heard their first album but I like Helioscope very much. In fact, I enjoy it the more I listen to it. Math Rock seems pretty strong as a genre right now and this album is evidence of that.

The opener "Monoform" is probably the best song on the album. Love the use of synth in this song. Great drumming too. It sounds like some kind of mallet percussion is being played before the song gets even more intense. Some cool altered wordless vocals after 2 minutes. Almost drum'n'bass style beats for awhile. "The Trap" starts out with a motorik groove on guitar before other instruments come in, including interesting percussive drumming. The song alternates between more laid-back and rockin' parts.

"Recur" begins as an indie type song, something the people at the Pitchfork website would drool over. I've heard much better songs in this style. Some percussion adds to that part of the track. The last half of the song is some nice atmospheric guitars. A cool guitar effect links "Recur" and "Later Than You Think" together. Love the drumming here. This track somewhat reminds me of Do Make Say Think. Great African-style drumming halfway. At this point the guitar playing gets rather melodic. Gets almost symphonic sounding at the end.

I love the title of "Meatman, Piano Tuner, Prostitute." This is another vocal song which sounds similar to Radiohead. A laid-back song featuring busy drumming with lots of tom-tom action. "Art/Choke" is an intense and powerful song, almost metal sounding at times. There is some organ in this song which adds a lot. "Heal" is an atmospheric piece with guitar effects and keyboards. "All Our Ends" is another vocal song which reminds me of Broken Social Scene. This track features acoustic guitar, which is rare in math rock.

The harmony vocals are good. The intrumental heart of the song is the best part; it just builds and builds and gets more intense. Strange percussive sounds and someone talking at the end. "Spun Infinite" is another atmospheric track but with vocals. It's the weakest track on the album and it's a good thing it's the last song. Yet it doesn't make for a good ending to Helioscope. Still, a great album and one of the best from this year that I have heard so far. Highly recommended to fans of math rock. 4 stars.

 Helioscope by VESSELS album cover Studio Album, 2011
3.74 | 30 ratings

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Helioscope
Vessels Post Rock/Math rock

Review by Evolver
Special Collaborator Crossover & JR/F/Canterbury Teams

4 stars I must admit, most math rock leaves me cold. But this album has won me over. I first heard it at www.progstreaming.com, and soon became obsessed with it's warmth and intricate layering of sounds. The mesmerizing qualities of the swirling patterns of sound, played by some spectacular musicians has opened my eyes to the wonders of this genre. For this I owe a debt of gratitude to both the band and the streaming web site where I first heard it.

The first thing that strikes me is the power behind the music. Tim Mitchell's exciting drum work provides the backdrop for eack song, while bass, keyboards and guitar fill in for some swirling tonal interplay. And the vocals, often a distraction in the math rock that I've heard, are so perfectly laid onto the music that it just adds to the wonder.

Thanks to harmonium.ro for the artist addition.

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