The band started out as a post-rock outfit, but later evolved into a live techno act, notably with the release of their third album, Dilate.

Vessels travelled to Minneapolis, United States to record their debut album, White Fields and Open Devices, with producer John Congleton who had previously worked with fellow post-rock artists Explosions in the Sky and This Will Destroy You as well as Modest Mouse, at Pachyderm Studios in December 2007.

In May 2010 Vessels recorded the follow-up LP in Dallas, Texas, again with John Congleton and featuring vocals by Stuart Warwick of Jacob's Story.

The music from Dilate is less guitar orientated and is instead based more heavily on synthesisers and percussion, leading to "danceable dynamics" that "resonate with focused heft and power".

The album featured several guest vocalists including John Grant and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips.