Logo
DiS Needs You: Save our site »
  • Logo_home2
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • In Photos
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Search
  • Community
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • Blog
  • Community

THIS SITE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED AND CLOSED.

Please join the conversation over on our new forums »

If you really want to read this, try using The Internet Archive.

Vessels

Yuki/Forever The Optimist

Label: Cuckundoo Records Release Date: 05/03/2007

21439
domgourlay by Dom Gourlay March 27th, 2007

With no inclinations of adopting or - heaven forbid - following any particular kind of driven formula, Leeds sound collective Vessels could be described as one of the most unique bands in the country today.

Sure enough, though, there are always going to be a few obvious comparisons. A-side number one 'Yuki', with its piano-led melody encapsulating all that's both haunting and mesmerising in equal measures and sounds not too dissimilar to the dream-like passages of Shady Bard, sparks an (albeit slim) argument that Vessels are travelling along the same B road into bleak austerity.

Of course, what makes 'Yuki' different to the work of any of Vessels’ present contemporaries are the dissipating beats puncturing every syllable and key, almost like a pressure cooker whose lid is about to remove itself amid a series of jets of steam at any minute.

Even better though is ‘A-side’ number two, 'Forever The Optimist', which if you didn't know any better sounds like the corpse of Hüsker Dü given new limbs, lungs and better recording equipment, their 21st Century comeback complete with extra blasts of sonic assault. Except it isn't Bob Mould and co., it's an unsigned four-piece from Leeds with the insight and vision of seasoned veterans and a masterplan that knows no boundaries or constraints.

When they do channel their energies in one particular course or direction Vessels have the propensity to be a frightening proposition as they obviously hold no fear as to the endless possibilities that await them. Scary.

  • 8
    Dom Gourlay's Score
Log-in to rate this record out of 10
Share on
   
Love DiS? Become a Patron of the site here »


LATEST


  • Drowned in Sound's Albums of the Year 2025


  • Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024


  • Drowned in Sound is back!


  • Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Year: 2020


  • Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter


  • Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing



Left-arrow

The Race

Comfort, Comfort

Mobback
22431
22653

(Untitled)

Mobforward
Right-arrow


LATEST

    news


    Drowned in Sound's Albums of the Year 2025

  • 106149
  • news


    Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024

  • 106145

    news


    Drowned in Sound is back!

  • 106143
  • news


    Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Y...

  • 106141

    news


    Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter

  • 106139
  • Playlist


    Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing

  • 106138

    Festival Preview


    Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alterna...

  • 106137
  • Interview


    A Different Kind Of Weird: dEUS on The Ideal Crash

  • 106136
MORE


    news


    Can You Help?

  • 105927
  • review


    Kate Nash - Made Of Bricks

  • 26283

    feature


    DiS is 6: Our 66, the top six

  • 95297
  • DiSband


    DiSband #7: Viva Brother

  • 77972

    Playlist


    15 Years of DiS in 15 Videos (Vevo Playlist)

  • 101593
  • Column


    Drowned In Sound's 40 Favourite Songs of 2014

  • 98608

    news


    Drowned in Sound is back!

  • 106143
  • Column


    Lost Albums 2000-2015

  • 101481
MORE

Drowned in Sound
  • DROWNED IN SOUND
  • HOME
  • SITE MAP
  • NEWS
  • IN DEPTH
  • IN PHOTOS
  • RECORDS
  • RECOMMENDED RECORDS
  • ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
  • FESTIVAL COVERAGE
  • COMMUNITY
  • MUSIC FORUM
  • SOCIAL BOARD
  • REPORT ERRORS
  • CONTACT US
  • JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • FOLLOW DiS
  • GOOGLE+
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • SHUFFLER
  • TUMBLR
  • YOUTUBE
  • RSS FEED
  • RSS EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
  • MISC
  • TERM OF USE
  • PRIVACY
  • ADVERTISING
  • OUR WIKIPEDIA
© 2000-2025 DROWNED IN SOUND