Album Review
Vessels - The Great Distraction
4 StarsThey finally feel at home, and it’s glorious to watch.
Vessels’ career progression has been a hard one to track. Starting out as an expansive post-rock outfit, the Leeds five-piece drastically embraced propulsive techno on third album ‘Dilate’, becoming an entirely different beast. ‘The Great Distraction’ continues on this path, with some highly unexpected guests along for the ride. The Flaming Lips feature on the psych-flecked ‘Deflect The Light’, while John Grant’s booming vocals are twisted and distorted into a hurricane on closer ‘Erase The Tapes’. Breaking out of their box with help from some of the indie world’s most recognisable vocalists, Vessels finally feel at home on ‘The Great Distraction’, and it’s glorious to watch.
Latest Reviews

Kurt Vile - Philadelphia’s been good to me
4 Stars
A love letter to his hometown that both aches with nostalgia and swells with affection.
27th May 2026

Bleachers - everyone for ten minutes
4 Stars
A display of the magic that can happen when people come together to write songs.
22nd May 2026

Marmozets - CO.WAR.DICE
4-5 Stars
A ferocious return to the forefront.
20th May 2026

Ecca Vandal - Looking For People To Unfollow
3-5 Stars
A varied collection that exhibits Ecca Vandal as a truly exciting rock act.
20th May 2026
More like this
Ypsigrock 2018 makes new additions to line-up, including Vessels, Confidence Man, Algiers and more
They’ll join The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Horrors, Shame and more.
31st May 2018
Vessels remix Public Service Broadcasting’s ‘People Will Always Need Coal’
PSB’s new album ‘Every Valley’ came out last year.
18th April 2018

Vessels get post-apocalyptic in the video for ‘Mobilise’
Their new album ‘The Great Distraction’ is out today!
29th September 2017

Vessels team up with John Grant on ‘Erase The Tapes’
Their new album ‘The Great Distraction’ is out next week.
22nd September 2017
Festival special! Featuring Wolf Alice, Kasabian, Lykke Li, Marmozets, Genesis Owusu and more.



