Hailing from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, Vessels have been known in the past for creating masterpieces that rely heavily on the post-rock side of music. The group was formed in 2005 and have released three full-length albums to date. Their last record, Helioscope, was released back in 2011, and during that time they gained a new found focus, which gives us Dilate, their newest effort which was released in 2015.
Dilate takes the listener to brand new landscapes, and Vessels have created one of the most euphoric sounding landscapes that my ears have had the pleasure of hearing. Their interest in down-tempo electronic/ambient music is clearly evident on Dilate. Yppah, Tycho, Bonobo, and Four Tet are just a few artists that come to mind when describing the overall feel of Dilate. I'd even say that Vessels took a very similar approach to Mogwai, where Mogwai took the more electronic route with Rave Tapes.
Don't get me wrong, though, the post-rock structuring is still there on Dilate. The consistent layering is right there, just like it was on their previous albums, and each song has its own monumental mark. While the guitars are not present on Dilate, Vessels have created a beautiful and textural experience with the use of electronics.
The weakest moments on the album are the vocal tracks 'As You Are' which features vocals by Isolde and 'On Monos' which features vocals by Snow Fox. The tracks aren't bad by any means, and the vocals give a unique twist, but they act as more of a distraction than an essential element. These tracks don't compare to the instrumental tracks, which have so many interesting twists and turns.
Despite the vocal tracks, Dilate is definitely a strong follow-up to Helioscope, and although the music isn't as up front, it makes for the perfect background or soundtrack music. Vessels has changed direction but in a new, fresh, and exciting way, which is one of my favorite things about this style of music. Each album that they have created takes the listener on a unique journey and I am beyond excited to see where this next journey will take us.
Hear Dilate in its entirety here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJpTOskHtiumaSrLawxxNSyHLgauGl85u
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