Vessels
An interesting approach to Post-Rock How did the band form?
we went into the studio I think it is fair to say that Most of us have been playing music together in the first album has a more brooding and typically various ways for the last ten years. Originally, we post-rock feel that suits winter landscapes whereas played in a post-hardcore band called A Day Left, the more upbeat and dancy nature of "Helioscope" however increasingly we wanted to move in a more has more in common with our experience in the epic and instrumental direction. We changed our warm Texas spring. We recorded both albums with name to Vessels in 2005 and started writing music John Congleton and I think the recording of as a four piece, releasing an EP and a couple of "Helioscope" benefited from being a more relaxed singles. However, we felt that we needed another affair as we already new John and what to expect in person to help us create a sound as big as we terms of his recording methods and dubious sense wanted so, in 2007, Pete joined to help with of humour! We recorded the drums and basic keyboard, guitar and bass duties. That was when instrumental tracking in a huge studio on the the current Vessels was really formed. outskirts of Dallas that only Texas has the size to accomodate, and was part of our motivation for How was the recording of "Helioscope"? going there. This helped make the drums sound as We recorded "Helioscope" in May 2010 in Dallas, powerful as possible. The rest of it was recorded at Texas which was an entirely different experience to John's studio in near downtown Dallas which was recording "White Fields and Open Device in winter much cheaper and therefore relaxed. 2007 in the middle of Minnesota! In many ways the names of both albums reflect the overall feeling we came away with from recording in these places, as they were named at the end of the recording experience. Though the songs were written before
What was the concept behind the album?
and as such is a path that we have been exploring The concept behind the album, as far as there is and open to for sometime. There is a difference one, is to make post-rock music that has a groove between creating band videos that help serve as a and that might mean that one or two more girls promotional tool and a piece of art in their own start coming to our gigs for a bit of a dance! It's a right, something we are willing to invest in, and shallow concept, but a good one. getting involved in the production of a film. We don't really have a lot of spare money to be How does it differ from previous material? investing in the production of films. We were It differs from previous material in a number of approached a couple of years ago to soundtrack a ways, in style and in the manner in which it was documentary about camels in the Middle East but it written. With the first few releases we used to write ended up going to This Will Destroy You! in a fairly labour intensive fashion which involved getting together three to four nights a week in our What are your favorite albums at the small basement studio in Leeds and jamming and moment? seeing what ideas we came up with and then trying My favourite albums at the moment are "Coracle" to put these together to make songs. This by Walls, "Days" by Real Estate (which sounds eventually became a very slow and frustrating way nothing like Sunny Day Real Estate! ) and "A Year in of working and with much of the new stuff on Hibernatio"n by Youth Lagoon. "Helioscope", Lee and Tom from the band came down to the studio and recorded ideas in demo Would you like to come to Portugal? form and put songs together much more quickly Yes. We have made it to Spain where we were and successfully. There is an obvious move towards received warmly but never Portugal, so it would be more upbeat and danceable rhythms, an increased great to come and play there. use of synthesizers, more use of alternative ways of making noise and a move away from classic postrock song structures and dynamics. Design & Interview: Rick Words: Tim Mitchell What was the concept behind the song "The Photos courtesy of Vessels
Trap"?
It is the soundtrack to a group of bandits chasing a lone rider across a desert somewhere in Mexico.
How would you feel if your music had it's own adaptation to film/video? If given the chance, would you pitch in the production of it?
Film and video soundtracks are obviously very important and fertile ground for use with any music but particularly atmospheric instrumental music
"Helioscope" is now available for purchase at http://vesselsband.com/ A remix of the song "The Trap" (called "The Trap (Division Mix)" is also available for free streaming on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Vesselsband