Review D’VIRGILIO, MORSE AND JENNINGS ‘Sophomore’

It was in early 2022 when three masters of progressive rock music came together to record an album called ‘Troika’. It was Nick D’Virgilio (Big Big Train), Neal Morse (Transatlantic, NMB) & Ross Jennings (Haken, Novena) who released beautiful songs and now the journey continues with ‘Sophomore’.

Driven by the joy and appreciation of the debut, D’Virgilio, Morse & Jennings (DMJ) started to work on new songs and generated some first ideas. As soon as things started rolling the songs for ‘Sophomore’ got more and more shape and form.

The second DMJ album features ten songs plus two alternative versions. What makes the project rather special is the fact of three singers getting together, sharing their passion for acoustic music and three-part vocal harmonies. ‘Sophomore’ reflects both in perfection and listening to the album is pure delight. It is an ease that is reflected by each of the songs. There isn’t much of a detailed sketch board approach when it comes to these songs. Instead, there is a natural flow that comes straight from the heart. Hereby it doesn’t matter if it’s the rather rocking ‘Mama’ or gently swinging acoustic opener ‘Hard to be Easy’. Each of the songs is a well-being moment for ears and mind.

Most of the songs are coming in an acoustic setup and the mentioned ‘Mama’ is a bit exceptional. Acoustic though doesn’t mean that the album is calm throughout. There is the vivid ‘Tiny Little Fires’ which provides a good mood, and ‘Walking on Water’ is an acoustic energizer.

These songs are surrounded by emotional moment, like ‘The Weary One’ and the soulful ‘Weighs Me Down’.

DMJ added with ‘Sophomore’ another workpiece to their discography that delights with great melodies, musical expertise, and a lot of emotions. Ones you started listening to the opener you start a journey into a captivating world of sounds that pulls you away. This album is a soul-treat in hectic times.