A very warm reception greeted Veda Hille and her Grand Ensemble of Pals at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. A fierce applause echoed around the interior and in-between the performers before she could even sit on her piano stool. Commissioned by the Push festival to present a new set of songs and deliver a reworked version of Field Study, this audience knew that on a very foggy night in January, something special was about to be shared. Veda Hille was home.

Field Study, a suite based on experiences in the northern territory, began with the complementary video by Shawn Chappelle, and immediately the audience was plunged into a rich song cycle of welcome reflection. With the resonance of her distinctive voice and the drama of her thundering piano, Veda Hille lead her band into perfectly assembled and elaborate musical passages. Accompanied by intense lyrical meditations on the natural world and the dynamic possibilities of a full band, Field Study is an overwhelming musical suite dealing with wonder, tragedy, and the fragility of existence. Such a passionate and powerful piece reverberated deep in the intimate space.

The second set of the night was the debut of Veda Hilleí¢â‚¬â„¢s forthcoming album, This Riot Life. Of the shorter songs that followed, some were playful while others continued in the theme of environmental awe evoked by Field Study. Tiny Casio keyboards were plonked in unison; hymns were cut up and reworked like beat poetry and 19th century romantic verse was transformed by Vedaí¢â‚¬â„¢s expressive singing. All compositions were similarly pristine and affecting.

By the end of the concert the audience responded by rising to their feet and cheering. They clapped louder than they did at the beginning, their participation book-ending an enriching expression of musical and emotional depth.