"Vapor City" is Machinedrum's follow up to the highly touted Planet Mu release, "Room(s)." To that end, the only sin of "Vapor City" is that it followed "Room(s)," and wasn't an aesthetic copy, when released on Ninja Tune. Machinedrum didn't completely abandon his work started on "Room(s)." He, however, expanded out and took risks that few, if any, would have taken. This is among the strongest work an American has invested in grime, d'n'b, jungle, R&B/soul and ambient cross-ways.That it received an underwhelming response from critics in its own right shouldn't surprise anyone: Taking risks has its rewards and, well, risks. In so many words: Sleeper, killer album.