Canadian Post-Rock Group Versa Shares Collaborative LP 'A Voyage / A Destination Part 2' feat. the Nostalgic "Flew the Coop"
The greatest music goes beyond merely entertaining us; instead, it conjures deep and varied emotions by evoking the universal hopes, fears, and experiences of humanity. Few modern artists embody that sentiment as wonderfully as Canadian progressive/post-rock troupe Versa. Founded in 2007, the group has spent over 15 years perfecting their superb chemistry of serene vocals; eloquent songwriting; and majestically ornate, diverse, and engrossing instrumentation across their first four collections (2007's Versa, 2010's The Decline & Fall of..., 2012's Common Things EP, and 2022's A Voyage / A Destination).
Regarding the decision to split A Voyage / A Destination into two parts (and two releases), the first came in April 2022. Although "the bulk of the material was recorded at the same time," bandleader Matthew Dolmage confesses, "ultimately, we knew that it'd take a while to finish the remaining songs. As difficult as it was, we knew that delaying the second part would prove to be the right choice for us and our listeners.”
Indeed, A Voyage / A Destination Part 2 is truly a tour-de-force of everything Versa has achieved thus far. From the Big Big Train-like symphonic warmth of "Breaking and Entering" and dramatic complexity of "The Seething Bay," to the Devin Townsend and The Decemberists-esque acoustic contemplation of "Bury Me at Sea" (inspired by the 1992 burial of Dolmage's grandfather), the sequence is breathtakingly exploratory, touching, ambitious, and impactful. That it ends with both a robust prog rock epic ("Artemis," which Dolmage sees as "Jethro Tull meets Moon Safari... in space!") and a stirring "medley/summary of everything Versa has been thus far" (closer "Destination") is only further proof of why A Voyage / A Destination, Part 2 is a musically, thematically, and spiritually rich journey listeners will never forget.
Highlighted single, "Flew the Coop," features Haken vocalist Ross Jennings and is written by Dolmage who aimed to invoke a nostalgic feeling that mixes elements of indie folk, progressive rock, and post-rock.
Watch + share the official "Flew the Coop" music video: https://youtu.be/lChMsb-S848
A Voyage / A Destination, Part 2 was made with thanks to the invaluable contributions of genre superstars such as Ross Jennings (Haken), Sam Vallen (Caligula's Horse), Michael Trew (Moon Letters) and Kelly Nordstrom (eMolecule, Sound of Contact).
Find Versa's full bio/socials/photos here: https://s.disco.ac/jbxqjmofzwrf
