Thru colorado - ephemera

Thru Colorado

Ephemera
self-released; 2013

3.9 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

Wade Findlay has been creating music under the moniker Thru Colorado but only recently released his first LP Ephemera. The album is a lush arrangement melding ethereal pads, distant guitars and vocal harmonies to create quite a statement with his first release. Throughout the album Findlay displays an ear for creative compositional structure as he weaves through songs that catch your attention and are aesthetically appealing. A lot of the songs are embedded in nostalgia and melancholy but feel cathartic at the same time. Some of the songs reminded me of the stellar release Obsidian from Baths that was out earlier this year except the songs on Ephemera weren't as dark and felt less claustrophobic.

Ephemera opens with one of the many highlights of the album called “Old Life.” Findlay sings with no more than a spacious cloud before intricate drumming enters to create a complex environment of sounds. Findlay bathes his voice and music in a lot of reverb on this track which adds even more of an ethereal quality to the music. By the end of the song it is glimmering in a crystal palace of light that sounds great coming through your speakers. 

Another accomplished track is “Reeling,” which displays some solid songwriting but it isn’t afraid to get experimental. There is a great section where he layers his vocals creating a bed of vocal sustain while laying down an intricate drum part with a solid walking bass line. The song succeeds on multiple levels and isn't one you will want to miss. “Do You Feel” combines distorted, aggressive drum kit and bass against shiny clean guitars creating a sweet sounding dichotomy that works well for the song. The album closes with “Where You Belong,” which in my opinion had the best vocal melodies.  Findlay not only harmonizes well but also excels at mixing the different vocal lines which create an effect as if he is singing at different distances. 

Ephemera is an accomplished LP. There is little more to say than this is something you should be listening to. 

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