Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
One thing audiences inside the Bombed Out Church of St. Lukes may not have been expecting as part of Liverpool Calling was for a band to travel from Scotland, to take the long route march south, and perform for half an hour and then make their way back the same day north of the border. It certainly showed commitment and the music that Vasa provided in that short time on stage was not just scintillating but pretty awesome as well.
The one thing that the vast majority of groups and solo artists have in common is the agility of a well turned lyric in their songs, the use of a phrase that defines the poetic nature of the city. What rarely happens is for a group to come on stage and blow audiences away with a set made completely out of instrumental music, the defining wow factor that a band could do this in the 21st Century hit a few in the audience by surprise.
The atmospheric and progressive sound supplied by Blaine Thompson, Scott Coupar, John Niblock and Alex Gordon was reminiscent of one of the glory days of instrumental sets, that of Pink Floyd’s sublime and historic visual piece at Pompeii was enhanced by the Gothic-like surroundings that the Bombed Out Church offers.
What you make of instrumentals as listeners is something that sits between you and your guide vocal but as the five tracks played out, there was a consensus that could be easily seen by the various nods of agreement that those present were suitably impressed. The uplifting and exalted timing precision of each instrument on the tracks performed were just magical, an unbelievable piece of cohesion to bring it together and make them flow like The Nile River on a calm day. I Could’ve Sworn You Used To Have A Face, Cynthia, the great sounding Not A Cop, Not Now But Soon and I Don’t Know Where, I Don’t Know When But Something Awful’s Going To Happen made Vasa an experience not to be missed. If Vasa come round to Liverpool again, the encounter would be worth making sure you are there, even it means missing the most important game of the season, the birth of a child or an evening out in the best restaurant for.
Whatever you make of a purely instrumental set, you haven’t heard anything like this in decades.
Ian D. Hall