It was last summer, specifically: it was a Sunday in June when I first saw Vasa play. It was for Liverpool Calling, a new annual festival staged right in the centre of Liverpool. I haven’t seen them since, but even back then it was revelatory experience. I glimpsed another world that day and ever since I have been slowly fading from this one and becoming increasingly immersed in the world of Vasa. Hailing from Scotland these guys play a style of instrumental music that seems to combine the otherworldliness of the Cocteau Twins or Sigur Ros and the atmosphere of disintegration-era Cure with the infinitely complex structures of bands like Mogwai.
Never Have Dreams is the Scottish outfits first effort, characterised by a dramatic melding of seraphic guitars and cosmic synths. Vasa keep things interesting with a diverse range and a knack for playing one complex motif off of another, here the guitars are definitely on the epic or even mythic side of things, they tend to soar and leap rather than shred relentlessly through labyrinthine structures and the rhythm section propels the band through absolutely devastating changes of pace. The last song on this E.P is actually the first song when I play it on my stereo for some reason, nevertheless ‘Not Now, But Soon’ really is something special, gorgeous guitars against a glistening synth soundscape that suddenly becomes the scene of energetic guitar/drum interplay and fantastic rumbling bass lines. Elsewhere, ‘An Exercise In Unhappiness’ begins with an ambient mood that is soon swapped out for a dynamic bass line and pounding drums whilst ‘Cynthia’ presents intricately layered guitars, creating an almost impenetrable wall of sound. These are the highlights of what is an impeccable E.P.
As a band Vasa seem to be selecting only the nicest, most pleasant things for their music, there is nothing abhorrent here, no anxieties and nothing that even resembles the day to day horrors modern life. Which means that this is a great E.P to listen to if you want a bit of escapism. What your getting is a kind of fantasy experience, which is why I relate it to the Cocteau Twins. Since releasing this E.P Vasa have clearly been working overtime, getting a new single out and touring extensively. All that has surely cemented their status as one of the most interesting and original post-rock bands to emerge in recent years. You can download it from here: vasa.bandcamp.com/album/never-have-dreams
Connor May
Never Have Dreams is the Scottish outfits first effort, characterised by a dramatic melding of seraphic guitars and cosmic synths. Vasa keep things interesting with a diverse range and a knack for playing one complex motif off of another, here the guitars are definitely on the epic or even mythic side of things, they tend to soar and leap rather than shred relentlessly through labyrinthine structures and the rhythm section propels the band through absolutely devastating changes of pace. The last song on this E.P is actually the first song when I play it on my stereo for some reason, nevertheless ‘Not Now, But Soon’ really is something special, gorgeous guitars against a glistening synth soundscape that suddenly becomes the scene of energetic guitar/drum interplay and fantastic rumbling bass lines. Elsewhere, ‘An Exercise In Unhappiness’ begins with an ambient mood that is soon swapped out for a dynamic bass line and pounding drums whilst ‘Cynthia’ presents intricately layered guitars, creating an almost impenetrable wall of sound. These are the highlights of what is an impeccable E.P.
As a band Vasa seem to be selecting only the nicest, most pleasant things for their music, there is nothing abhorrent here, no anxieties and nothing that even resembles the day to day horrors modern life. Which means that this is a great E.P to listen to if you want a bit of escapism. What your getting is a kind of fantasy experience, which is why I relate it to the Cocteau Twins. Since releasing this E.P Vasa have clearly been working overtime, getting a new single out and touring extensively. All that has surely cemented their status as one of the most interesting and original post-rock bands to emerge in recent years. You can download it from here: vasa.bandcamp.com/album/never-have-dreams
Connor May