Thru Colorado

Having done many music reviews over the years, I get distressed by an album with credits that repeat the same name over and over. It’s often a sign that the record is a self-produced vanity project of low quality.

In the case of Thru Colorado’s Ephemera, the record is recorded, written, and performed by the same person: Wade Findlay. There are some additional production credits, including Ben Klassen and Conan Karpinski, but the production is minimal – as with most bands coming out in the new norm of technologically motivated do-it-yourself music. More and more, indie albums are self-produced and done at home on a shoestring budget. Sometimes the result is artistic freedom, sometimes the result is a sticky mess.

Thankfully, Ephemera delivers. The first track, “Old Life” gives off an immediate vibe lying somewhere between My Bloody Valentine and Radiohead. The vocals are covered in a blanket of reverb, not spilling over with too much effect. It’s catchy in a relaxing atmosphere, thick with smoke and steam.

But things take a tighter turn on “Break the Lines,” which is a little more melodic and driven in one specific direction. Findlay’s vocal performance is strong in a perfect pitch.

“Reeling” is the best track of the record. Findlay mixes breakbeat with ethereal layers of voice and echoing effects. Not moving quite into trip-hop, the track remains on the spacier side with clean guitar lines and smooth bouncing delay. The song tumbles down like an ocean wave to the end, barrelling with the sound of marbles on a London subway train. It rolls, it tips, and it zips under the city with a twisted, unknown speed.

The slamming funk beats in “Do You Feel” are joined up with a dirty bass and familiar kind of melody. Here lies the album single with clear musical hooks and a big ol’ dirty chorus groove. This track, placed perfectly in the middle, gives a heavy walk right through to “Follow On” where finger-slipping acoustic guitar plays against a choppy drum loop.

“Unknown” is a close second to “Reeling.” Slow funk beats get wrapped up in a driving melodic guitar loop. Like a stripped-down version of The Cure, this track ends with a crescendo of vocal howls and echoey audio loops.

Overall, the record is impressive for a self-release. Thru Colorado is a solo project with much better quality songwriting and production than its contemporaries. There is a spacey, drifting atmosphere throughout. The album sends out a clearly west coast kind of vibe; written and performed by an artist who has lived close to the sea and cedar.

While this record is technically good—perfect pitch, timing, and songwriting—Thru Colorado would benefit from adding more musical voices to the mix. A full band would blow wind into Thru Colorado’s sails, sending the project father and faster out to sea. The mix of each song is perfect on Ephemera. But it lacks depth and character that more members could provide.

You can listen to Ephemera on Thru Colorado’s Bandcamp site, or buy the record under pay-as-you-want rules. If you’re a fan of bands like Portishead, records like In Rainbows, or voices like Robert Smith’s, this record is for you. - The Cascade Newspaper

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. - The Equal Ground

After releasing his debut LP this past October as Thru Colorado, Wade Findlay, 22, has been gaining local attention, and for good reason. His album, Ephemera, is a haunting force, something not usually expected to appear in the cookie cutter streets of suburban Langley, B.C.

Findlay, who lives with three other friends, passed on recording in a professional studio, and instead opted for a makeshift studio in his room. “What I did with Ephemera, I would never be able to do in a studio,” Findlay says. “I was writing at the same time I was recording.” A method such as this would not come cheap, as Findlay laboured over the album for nine months—six months spent writing and roughly three months of tweaking tracks. Despite the lack of a professional studio, the quality of sound Findlay constructs makes Ephemera another shining endorsement for bedroom studios. “At times there’s stuff everywhere, but really it’s just a computer, interface, and microphones,” Findlay says of his setup. This process allows him to remove the shackles of traditional writing. “I used to think that to write you had to sit down with a guitar and paper, and write it out chronologically. [For Ephemera] I would start with a guitar part or just a beat that I really liked, and I would start recording it, not really knowing where the song was going… It’s freeing, not following that idea of how I thought you should write a song.”

Similar to his musical writing, Findlay has a more progressive writing style with his lyrics. Like most artists, he uses lyrics as a method of sifting through the ash clogging his mind to find clarity. “[Writing is] a way, lyrically, for me to sort things out in my head,” he says. “[It’s] a different form of keeping a journal.”

The therapeutic elements to his writing are not only limited to what we traditionally associate with journaling. Ephemera seems to be a creation born far away from any form of traditional structure. “A lot of the time what I was doing to get a melody was singing gibberish,” he says. “I thought that the stuff I was throwing out there would be what’s on my mind. I [would then] be able to pick out [a line], and I would just start building all the lyrics around that.”

Organic processes merging with mechanical finesse carry over from the creative mind of Findlay and are implanted in the essence of his music. When you enter the gates of Ephemera you are greeted with foggy, ominous tones. As eerie as “Old Life” is, the intro holds on to an element of auspicious intrigue that pays off when the deep echo of Findlay’s voice enters amongst rich ethereal guitars. The voice of Thru Colorado is quick to affirm that it is not merely the vessel of the album’s message, but a powerful presence in itself. It is a presence that carries through the album, as does the metallic construct of the album’s beats.

Interwoven throughout the album are Findlay’s sharp foundations. The beats used on each track are meticulous and mathematical, dancing with the rich riffs and contrasting nicely with the fluidity of Findlay’s voice. However, Findlay also effectively applies simplicity at the start of “Unknown,” which makes you subconsciously start bobbing your head like you are the puppet and Thru Colorado is the puppeteer. A few notable examples of these complex drums can be heard in “Last Days” and “Follow On,” a track reminiscent of the cold, electric steel beats of Radiohead’s “Idioteque.” In fact, the British alternative rock legend’s influence can be heard instantly in the album. “Room 101” is a direct reference to the ideas in George Orwell’s 1984, a key source of inspiration for Radiohead (“2+2=5”). Findlay’s voice holds tiny hints of Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke and his sound delves into similar territory of meaningful obscurity. Findlay notes that he has always liked the idea of being able to take your own unique experience of something to create your own interpretational remix, something evident in his work.

As a whole, Ephemera delivers a full-bodied sound rich in textured tones. It may only be Thru Colorado’s debut, but it already sounds like he’s found his niche. Similar techniques and sounds can be heard in each track, but Findlay presents them in such a way to keep the album fresh the whole listen through. Despite what its name implies, Thru Colorado’s Ephemera deserves to be enjoyed again and again. - Mars' Hill Newspaper

The tranquil styling of Thru Colorado has never seemed more apparent than within his debut album, Ephemera. It gives off this real Radiohead/Coldplay feel with its morose sounding undertones. Mixed in is this alternative take on indie rock with some spaced out vibes. Listening is like watching a painting being created in your head.

One of my own personal favourites from the release is the song “Do You Feel.” Instead of a tranquil demeanor the song picks up the pace a little bit and provides a more rocked out base. The vocals, however, follow that static feeling of peace and being spaced out. The result is this really smooth sounding number that just grooves along to the beat.

Another stand out track is his song “Where You Belong.” I really enjoy the use of guitar in this one. It’s one of the main reasons I compared him to Coldplay. Keeping with that morose attitude, the song is a little bit creepy but still just as peaceful. The combination of all of these makes for a truly unique sounding mix that makes me want to demand for some more similar work.

Another thing about Thru Colorado that I find simply baffling is the fact that everything is done by one person-Wade Findlay. His work is truly commendable. The fact that he is able to create these lush pieces of music and sing with a voice of equal magnitude is definitely worth admiring. With this as his debut work, I am quite interested to see how he evolves over the years. - The Permanent Rain Press

Hello, everyone! Last week, we launched the poll for our very first ‘Local Band / Musician of the Year’ award. We have received over 700 votes, so thank you for taking part in sharing our love for local music. Today, our spotlight shines on the lone solo artist nominee, Thru Colorado (nominated by Drew).
"Melodious melodies, ghostly guitar licks, and warm reassuring atmospheres are a few ways I’d describe local Vancouver musician Thru Colorado’s debut album "Ephemera". The album consists of 10 tracks and was released this past October. It is filled with soothing vocals, mesmerizing grooves and deep-seated vibes you can really get into. After a few listens you start to catch the little details he threw in during the recording process. I always love when musicians add that extra "something" to their recorded songs. Although sometimes it can be over whelming and impossible to re-create live, he does a good job of adding that extra little pinch of spontaneity and artistry without going over the top. The tones he uses throughout the album mixed with his tranquil vocals put you in a peaceful/haunting state of mind. He also puts the rim shot to good use in his beat making, which is never a bad thing in my opinion. Having been recorded in his bedroom, the drums are mostly computer generated, other than one track called "Do You Feel", which has some acoustic drums. It was a tight fit to squeeze a full drum kit in there so they had to get innovative and used a floor tom as a bass kick. Members from his previous band were also featured on the album. After listening to the album, I hear influences from Radiohead, Half Moon Run, and Department of Eagles. Definitely worth a listen if you get a chance to sit down with it."

Does Thru Colorado win your heart for The Permanent Rain Press’ ‘Local Band or Musician of the Year?’ If sure, be sure to drop a vote for him over on our poll here. Voting is open until December 30th, 2013 at 11:59pm, and you can vote once every 24 hours. - The Permanent Rain Press