Versa - Neon

Dense, intoxicating and occasionally compulsive, ‘Neon’ marks a radical change of tack for Versa (née–Emerge). While retaining the heady psychodrama of their former works, Sierra Kusterbeck and Blake Harnage have cast the remainder overboard, trading in guitars for shimmering electro-pop. There’s an elegant darkness to these three tracks, skyscraping melody lines offset by eerie samples and a lingering air of unease. ‘Neon’ is as far from straightforward chart-bait as it is from the rock world, and despite a handful of missteps – chiefly the excessive length of ‘Wanderlust’ – it’s an intriguing effort. The title-track’s ethereal beauty bodes well, at least.