Vessels – White Fields and Open Devices

Quite a buzz has been surrounding Leeds based “post rock” outfit Vessels. With their first record about to be released this month, musical circles have been spinning with aplomb and excitement. And that excitement is well warranted. Their record White Things and Open Devices is one of those that, from the moment you begin listening, creates waves; the sort of waves you’ll most definitely want to ride. Thank the Lord, or human evolution, for ears. For if it weren’t for those wee flappy satellites sticking out from our noggin then where would we be. To satisfy all the inner workings of our ear, to transmit the sort of aural messages that make us salivate then those sounds must touch our deepest nerves, the very inner core. Vessels are just the band to satisfy that place deep within our very being.To call Vessels “post rock” doesn’t do them justice. Post Rock has become such an exhaustive term and an exhausted genre. Vessels are a refreshing alternative and certainly a departure point from all things post rock. Yes there are torrents of textured noise, along with very articulated slices of post hardcore and experimental pop. Album opener 'Altered Beast' builds with the dynamic force of Mogwai intertwined with the sort of guitar acrobatics of a less self-indulgent Battles. But there’s more then sheer guitar intelligence, the melodies have a similar glistening aura to that of Minus the Bear or indeed one of Leeds’ other great post shoegaze bands, This Et Al.The production duties were handled by The Paper Chases John Congleton. Bringing out every nerve stretching impulse of Vessels dynamics; the electronics, guitar flamboyance and sonic storms, he has helped the band reach their true potential on record. A lot of bands of this ilk can suffer from bad recordings, or bad production, but this record has the sort of impact that I can imagine is induced by their live show; cerebral, completely awe inspiring and intoxicating. To engage with this band is to experience a new shift in experimental music, without diving down the Battles route and coming up with little more than fret wanking soulless guitar electronica. Vessels control, very finely, their amount of self indulgence. They’re album is experimental enough to be lauded by critics and poppy enough to be accessible, even if the lame vocals somewhat inhibit the overall punch of the music.The arrangements are where the real ingenuity is. Not resting in the safety of quiet to loud, erm, “dynamics”, they can shift like lightning between guitar wizardry to explosive terrains of guitar noise, like on 'Two Words and a Gesture', or with consummate ease they segue from eerie melodics into desolate electronic landscapes. The delicate brilliance of songs like 'Happy Accident' with its controlled gliding melodies; the colossal might of 'Look at the Cloud'; and the intensity and rolling anticipation of album finale 'Wave Those Arms, Airmen' show that Vessels have created an album for the new generation of experimental guitar music fans. Gone are the post rock dinosaurs of old, in with the new.Here is a band with a clear understanding of where they are and where they are going. I’m gonna be where they’re going.Can’t wait to see them live!! 85%Links Vessels [myspace]See them live as part of TLOBF's first gig - more details here.