Vapor City


Vapor City is a studio album by American record producer Travis Stewart under the pseudonym Machinedrum. It was released on September 30, 2013, through Ninja Tune. It peaked at number 31 on the UK Dance Albums Chart. It received generally favorable reviews from critics.

Production

The concept for Vapor City came about through a series of vivid, recurring dreams Travis Stewart had about a fictional city. Each track on the album is meant to explore and define a different district or neighborhood within this world.

Release

Soon after the album's release, an interactive website was launched allowing fans and subscribers to 'unlock' the various districts of Vapor City, granting them access to exclusive content and unheard music.

Critical reception

Daniel Sylvester of Exclaim! stated, "Delving further into the bent vocal samples and click-clack polyrhythms that defined his preceding releases, Vapor City nonetheless benefits from a new crop of songs that feel simultaneously rubbery and dense." He added, "On Vapor City, Machinedrum steers clear of dramatic style makeovers, opting to focus on sharpening his craft while leaving the listener with a collection of songs that operates on pure magnetism and unbridled confidence." Angus Finlayson of Fact noted Travis Stewart's of-the-moment blend of footwork, jungle, and bass influences.

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.