The Decline And Fall Of…

Versa is a core trio of Matt Dolmage, Kevin Grady, and Anthony Theocharis, formed in 2007. The title of the new album, The Decline and Fall Of..., is a misnomer, as the music therein shows only promise and potential. Stylistically, the band recalls Like Bells, Dirty Three, Clogs, and at times, Silencio. Each band presents themes of hope and despair across many musical genres, ranging from vocal rock to acoustic folk.
Versa's love for experimental composition is apparent throughout the album. Catchy songs like "Uncommon Things Pt. 1" and "Dear God! Am I Heavens Bound?" and acoustic guitar instrumentals like "A Drift" reveal the band's uncompromising versatility. Yet given the scope of the songs, a remarkable attention to detail pervades many of the tracks. All too often, artists place the accessible elements of their music at the fore while backgrounding their musical experimentation. Versa puts both at the fore, creating an engaging listening experience in which neither overrides the other.
Fans of Aphex Twin's Druqks would appreciate the template of this album: developing individual songs instead of larger themes. Although Aphex Twin's "Avril 14" and "Vordhosbn" sound nothing alike, they appear on the same album and collectively work together to shape the album's affect. In terms of assemblage, Versa's The Decline and Fall Of... has the same impact. When acoustic guitar is the band's desired sound, it captures it masterfully with "A Drift". When the preference is for vocal rock, the band repeats the trick in "Common Things". This is not to say that the album is choppy or underdeveloped. Particular emotions tend to isolate themselves, allowing for personal rumination and sonic discovery, as in the bittersweet strings of "Uncommon Things Pt. 1" or the galloping drumming of "Caramel Spies", the latter over laid with gentle guitar strings and airy vocals.
One of the treasures of Versa is its academic training in musical composition and orchestral percussion. Although exceptions exist, it is rare to hear academic musicians approach pop-vocal music, since they often develop ancillary instrumentation too often overlooked in indie-vocal musical acts. For example, in "Common Things", the ambient introduction (violin notes and guitar dead-notes) and the outro (drenching strings) enliven an otherwise dead and uninspiring song. The high-paced strings and fast drumming extend this sentiment. This unexpectedness makes Versa enjoyable; there's much room for error, yet the band avoids it with an innate musical sensibility, one that stems from an impressive balance of intuition and experience. The album title refines the sadness by leaving the choice of noun open, establishing a palpable connection between the band and its audience. As one moves through the songs, one only begins to ruminate over the fall of common things, dusk, the mouse brigade and such. This kaleidoscope of images deepens the sense of loss and reflection that colors the band's music.
The Decline and Fall Of..., as pessimistic as it may sound, is actually an album of hope and nostalgia. Although song titles like "Dusk" and "Handful of Dust" capture a sentiment of lost grace, subtle hope emerges from despondent atmospheres, creating the inspiration for personal change and improvement. From song to song, the listener muses over the sonic expanse of music. Whether the mood of the day - hope or despair - fans of pop and experimental music alike will enjoy Versa's latest offering.