Post-rock is a peculiar beast; it's seemingly very difficult to achieve a unique sound in the field, especially after the pioneers managed to diversify into a set of forerunners creating the inevitable chorus of copyists. Given that the only two real distinctions of the genre are a generally low use of vocals and the abandoning of a typical verse/chorus structure, it is surprising that there isn't more variety on offer.
It's always hard to distinguish between acknowledged influences, unconscious ones, and genuine coincidence in innovation, but Vessels pull so much into a melting pot with this one it can be overwhelming, not to say confusing. Abandoning a typical atmospheric progression to form a body of work where individualistic tunes are carried to the fore, this merit is also the greatest flaw there is so much subtle variation here that sometimes it feels like a pick and mix collection rather than a coherent whole.
The day of the album as an organism in and of itself seems to have long since passed, however. Nowadays it's all about the song and the career. Everything in-between is just detail. And it would be churlish to lambast a band for introducing some dynamism, so let's talk about what these songs bring to the table.
Well now, there's sample-laden guitar effect pieces (Godspeed You! Black Emperor), and crunching towers of riffage (Pelican) mixed with more delicately picked slow-burners (Explosions In The Sky). Where Vessels excel, however, is where the fusion of sounds produces something punchy and powerful.
The peaks of this album lie in three places. Firstly, pounding spacey epics with faint but effective vocal lines that put me in mind of the superb The Satellite Years by Hopesfall - particularly on standout track "A Hundred Times in Every Direction." Secondly, the understated glory of pieces such as the piano-led "Yuki" brings something beautiful in from the cold with a dash of well-implemented classical instrumentation. Thirdly, the fluttering syncopation of oddly-rhythmed guitar and bass signatures that litter the album, lying under the surface like buried treasure. That's not to say that the more obvious material is poor. This is a solid album from beginning to end, and certainly one I would recommend wholeheartedly to aficionados of the genre.
It just feels like if Vessels made the stretch from the sum of their admittedly diverse influences to becoming an influence themselves, something clearly achievable from the mercurial talent on display, they could be something stunning.
See also
Hopesfall, Explosions In The Sky, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Pelican
