The Student Playlist

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REVIEW: Vessels – ‘The Great Distraction’ (Different Recordings)

  • 7/10
    - 7/10
7/10

Summary

Leeds’ electronic post-rockers Vessels push into more recognisably pop territory with their fourth album ‘The Great Distraction’.

Leeds-based group Vessels and their latest record The Great Distraction continues to highlight the band’s slow but conspicuous change in sound that effervesces more delightful material than ever before. Their debut White Fields & Open Devices branded Vessels as so-called post-rock – an underground genre that only a select few experimental artists during the ‘90s were ever labelled as. It was post-rock heavyweights like Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor (who have also released their new album Luciferian Towers this last month) that influenced Vessels on White Fields & Open Devices that incorporated noteworthy lengthy guitar-based instrumentals – the principle songwriting procedure behind the genre.

Since then, Vessels have metamorphosed themselves into an indie electronic outfit that was first made apparent in their previous LP Dilate two years ago. While Dilate was conservative in its electronic nature, The Great Distraction is more carefree, and it borrows some of its jollity from the likes of EDM artists when it comes to instigating sound effects. There’s a slight hint of pop sophistication made present here but not so much so that the overall vivacity of the album is squandered or diluted. In retrospect, The Great Distraction is an electronic dance/rock hybrid that can be simultaneously appreciated artistically and as something fun and enjoyable for everyone.

Out of all the collaborations on this album, the most eye-catching is the track ‘Deflect The Light’ featuring The Flaming Lips. The song is littered with reverb and scintillating atmospherics that brings Wayne Coyne’s voice and childhood flashbacks to dazzling heights. Another intriguing collaboration is underground solo artist John Grant, formerly of The Czars, on closing track ‘Erase The Tapes’. Grant has also worked with Elbow this year on the opening track to Little Fictions. ‘Erase The Tapes’ revels in its more avant-garde personality but does not fit in coherently with the rest of the album, despite it being creatively feasible.

In contrast, the opening track ‘Mobilise’ is much more like it. The sounds effects are introduced one after the other in a very professional manner. After two minutes, a whirring drone is implemented accordingly to keep the listener fixated. Then, after five minutes, the structure of the song shapeshifts entirely as upbeat electronic buzzes and swirling background patterns of a starry complexion are brought in. The song ‘Gløwer’ lives up to similar energetic proportions thanks to its initially captivating progression of echoing vocals and musically electrifying configurations.

Unfortunately, tracks like ‘Trust Me’, featuring Vincent Neff, and ‘Everyone Is Falling’ do not reach the same levels of grandiosity. The latter is mere ballast, if anything else, that contributes next to nothing to the album’s content. Do they ruin The Great Distraction as an experience? No, not really. While its first half is very strong, the second half goes off-track in a few places but recovers well in others to make it a worthy listen. (7/10) (Harry Beynon)

Listen to The Great Distraction by Vessels here via Spotify, and tell us what you think below!

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