Vapor City

"For his first album since Room(s) (and his debut for Ninja Tune), Stewart decided to write a concept album. Vapor City, illustrated by the grey-and-black industrial sprawl on the cover, is about an imaginary metropolis; each of its ten tracks is devoted to one of its districts. But if your eyes begin to roll at such a concept, fear not: Machinedrum's brand of mesmerism is its own instant attraction. Room(s) fans will find plenty to grab onto, from the rabid percussion and floor-bending bass of "Gunshotta," to the cathartic piano-laced footwork of "Infinite Us," or the speed-blurred vocals of "Don't 1 2 Lose U."".

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"Vapor City exists on the borders of various contradictions, being widely expansive while at the same time suffocatingly introverted, high energy but downtempo. This gives it versatility by not constraining it to a particular arena or mood - it's contemplative but has momentum. There is not much here that jumps out of the speakers, or that makes you want to scream with excitement; instead it is a release that slowly gets under your skin, and most importantly, doesn't force its concept down your throat".

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