Vapor City

As a concept album dedicated to the districts of a would-be city, Machinedrum's Vapor City is something of an urban love letter. It's imbued with cues from footwork and early jungle, but what sets Machinedrum's style apart is his attention to subtle melody and texture amid minimal, exacting percussion that recalls contemporaries like dBridge or Burial. Much like life in the city, lonesome and nigh-mournful sections are juxtaposed with clarifying moments of ephemeral beauty. It's a distinctly well-honed realization of metropolitan character, giving new context to the urban landscape.