Versa – A Voyage / A Destination, Part 2 (self-release, 2024)
Canadian band Versa has released A Voyage / A Destination, Part 2, a real beauty, featuring finely crafted symphonic progressive rock spiced with folk and post rock elements. What characterizes the band is excellent musicianship, the use of classical style solo trumpet or trombone similar to the brass work you’ll find on Big Big Train, as well as exquisite fiddle, piano, and flute work.
The first track, “Prelude” sets the tone with charming, cinematic piano and keyboards along with distant reverberating guitars. Track 2, “Breaking and Entering” features intricate guitar lines, impeccable trumpet, creative bass lines, fantastic fiddle dialog and lovely flute.
“The Seething Bay” (track 2) highlights the masterful cinematic interplay between piano, violin, and guitars. Meanwhile, “Flew the Coop” includes soft vocals, elegant drums, graceful fiddle and vocals. At the same time, the guitars have a post rock feel.
“Lake of Beauty” opens with classical piano and quickly adds expertly performed jazz-style drums and enthralling violin, guitar and trumpet solo work.
Track 6, “Bury Me at Sea,” has a tranquil feel, with gentle vocals, acoustic guitars and more of their signature fiddle and trumpet/trombone.
“Lake of Dreams” builds masterfully with outstanding vocal, bass, and fiddle interplay
Track 8, “Ocean of Storms,’ presents laid back piano, guitars, and fiddle that grow into a mesmerizing reverberating wall of sound. The following piece, “Mare Lamentorum,” is a gorgeous piano and symphonic synths instrumental.
“Artemis” (track 10) is the long epic on the album. It opens with a western classical style chorus that swiftly leads to electric guitars, notable violin, trumpet, piano, and synth solo and interactive work. As you would expect, it goes through various phases, from restful to jammy and high energy, with nicely built vocal harmonies. It ends with a glorious grand finale.
Track 11, “Destination,” is a magnetic piece with divine fiddle work and a masterfully-crafted conclusion.
Track 12 is a radio edit of “Flew the Coop”.
Versa was formed in 2006 by Matthew Dolmage, Kevin Grady, Hollas Longton, Benjamin Rancourt, and Anthony Theocharis, who met at the University of Victoria School of Music. The performing band now consists of founding members Matthew, Ben, and Anthony, with Michelle Edwards on trumpet and Janelle Wrona on keyboards, and percussion. Hollas continues to write from his foreign posting in Holland.
Musicians: Matthew Dolmage on flute, acoustic, electric & 12-string guitars, vocals, electric bass, piano; Hollas Longton on violin; and Jesse Bell on drums & percussion, electric guitar & electric bass.
Guests: Dennis Atlas (Pattern-Seeking Animals, Toto) on synth solo; Steph Boutet on piano; Ryan Cole on trumpet; Claire Coupland on backing vocals; Julia Dolmage on lead vocals, A.I. voice; Eric Gillette (The Neal Morse Band) on additional guitar; Ross Jennings (Haken) on lead vocals; Colin McTaggart on additional guitar; Kelly Nordstrom (eMolecule, Sound of Contact) on bass; Nelson Salahub on trombone; Michael Trew (Moon Letters) on lead vocals ; and Sam Vallen (Caligula’s Horse) on lead & rhythm guitars.
A physical double-album release compiling A Voyage / A Destination Part 1 and Part 2, the “Round Trip Edition”, will be available to order from the band through Bandcamp.
Buy the digital edition of A Voyage / A Destination, Part 2 from Amazon or the CD from Bandcamp.