Vesilinja - Merkurius (2024) [Hi-Res]

VESILINJA was founded in Tuusula, Finland late 2017 by Aake SALMI and Niko SAARINEN following the disbanding of their previous group. The idea at first was continue as a duo with a drum synthesizer and focus on studio work only. This period yielded the singles "Prisma" and "Vaihtoehto järjelle", both of which were subsequently included in their debut album, albeit somewhat rearranged.

During the spring and summer of 2018 the duo felt that they needed to work as a full band again, and recruited Jukka KUUSELA to play bass guitar and Jussi Portaanpää to play drums. Another guitarist was also sought, but a suitable candidate was not found at the time. A couple of songs were written and demoed during this period, notably "Aamulla".

In early 2019 Topias AHOLA joined the band to play saxophone and also sing lead and backing vocals. The song "Heinäkuorma" was written soon after Topias' addition, and was followed by "Valtias" a couple of months later.

Up until the fall of 2019 the band had rehearsed in an old barn owned by Aake's father in Sipoo. As the rehearsal room there became too crowded the band decided to rent a former grocery store in Tuusula to build a home studio / rehearsal room. The group started to record their debut album there in late 2019. The singles "Aamulla" and "Heinäkuorma" were released in the spring of 2020, and the recording process was finished in late 2020, with the release date being set for the summer of 2021.

Soon after the recording was finished Antti TUOMINEN joined the band to play lead guitar and sing lead and backing vocals. Though he did not contribute to the debut album, he will feature on the following one.

The band's influences include (in no particular order): Jethro Tull, Wigwam, Yes, Genesis, Tasavallan Presidentti, Caravan, Camel, Focus, Gentle Giant, Session, Rölli, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, ELP, Haikara, Tabula Rasa, Rush, King Crimson, Van der Graaf Generator, Kingston Wall & PFM.