Words: Ryan Getz
The Colourist have been in the periphery of my musical consciousness for a long time. I think I first heard their name via a Last.FM recommendation. This was before the days of Spotify.
I had no idea they were an active band still until they reached out to Tuned Up regarding this EP. This release seems to have emerged out of nowhere, as has been increasingly oft as of late with bands. Gutsy for a midlevel band that’s been off the radar to pull this move, though.
Will You Wait for Me is a catchy indie pop gem riddled with experimental elements. “Set It Right” sets the tone. It is dream pop for the average joe. Or, perhaps you could call this smart music for the Owl City fan. Most people won’t be clamoring for Youth Lagoon or Bear in Heaven, so this band could function as a gateway drug to the more experimental dream pop world for those people who are hot on “Shut Up and Dance” at the moment.
I digressed. Oh! Right. The songs. Well, they’re all dang catchy, that’s for sure. “When I’m Away” makes me nostalgic for the family Florida trips I used to take as a kid. This is the sort of song I picture playing on the stereo as we drive over a draw bridge, the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. “Romancing” has one of my favorite riffs I’ve heard all year. It’s just so wonderfully cheerful. The female vocals in this particular song remind me of Breanne Duren (notable for her work with Owl City) – which is a very, very good thing. “Time Waster” wastes no time getting right to a new wave vibe suitable for 80s audiophiles. This would fit on a playlist with Duran Duran and New Order, although this song retains the sunny, colorful vibe present on the balance of the EP.
This band lists their genre as “lush math pop.” The lush part definitely applies. The math part does too, but in kind of a non-traditional way. Listen for yourself.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/214562287″ /]
0 Comments