Vessels

Emerging in 2005 as a British indie electronic outfit, Vessels came together after reconfiguring the lineup from an earlier project, with Lee J. Malcolm handling guitars, laptop, and vocals alongside Tom Evans on guitar and vocals, Martin Teff on bass and synth, and Tim Mitchell on drums. Elements of their Leeds-rooted sound inhabit post-rock realms reminiscent of Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, yet incorporate electronica textures akin to peers 65daysofstatic while weaving in touches from Battles, Four Tet, and electronic instrumentation throughout their intricate arrangements.

The band issued a self-released EP in 2006, then joined the roster of indie imprint Cuckundoo Records to deliver a limited-edition 7" single titled "Yuki" the next year. Multi-instrumentalist Peter Wright joined soon afterward, prompting a trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the group tracked its debut album, White Fields and Open Devices, under producer John Congleton, known for work with Explosions in the Sky and Xiu Xiu. Upon returning home they completed a nationwide tour, with the album arriving in summer 2008.

Work on the follow-up began in 2010 with another transatlantic journey, this time to Dallas, Texas, for further sessions with John Congleton. The resulting Helioscope surfaced in 2011 to strong responses from listeners and reviewers, earning the band a headline slot on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury. Extensive touring followed in 2012 across the U.K., Europe, and North America, accompanied by a cover version of electronic artist Nathan Fake’s “The Sky Was Pink.”

An EP called Elliptic appeared the subsequent year, extending the group’s forays into electronic dance music. In 2014 Vessels aligned with Bias, a sub-label of Leaf, and issued the full-length Dilate in 2015, foregrounding dance beats more prominently than earlier releases. After several singles and remixes emerged, the band shifted to Different, a PIAS imprint, in 2016. That year brought the singles “Had a Love,” “Are You Trending?,” and “4AM.” Their fourth album, The Great Distraction, arrived in 2017 and featured the Flaming Lips collaboration “Deflect the Light.”