Vessels - Helioscope

There are plenty of post-rock bands out there that make incredible generic and mundane music; and for this, the genre has earned its critics. Slow fast slow fast, loud quiet loud quiet - we get it. Vessels are not one of them. Formed in Leeds in 2005, their first album White Fields and Open Devices (2008) was widely perceived as a breath of fresh air in a somewhat stagnant market (re: first sentence). The secret being of course to not simply copy what everyone else is doing. Vessels gave us, for want of a better word, truly 'alternative' post-rock.

We're three years on yet their second record Helioscope - released in February - acts as a similar beacon of hope. The same drab of boring slow-fast bands still sully the ever ageing post-rock scene; yet this time round, Vessels are even showing waning forefathers Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky how to do it. There's no doubt that Helioscope is a giant killer when pitted head to head against Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will and Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. The secret hasn't really changed: do something fucking interesting. Helioscope boasts quite dark, powerful songs that display strong metal and math-rock influences. The perfectly balanced use of vocals helps keep the listener guessing as to what is coming up next; a running theme throughout the album. With flashes of And So I Watch You From Afar and 65daysofstatic in there, here's hoping that Vessels can inspire more bands to think for themselves.

Vessels – Helioscope [Spotify]