Seattle-based rock band Magenta Wave has been putting out indie power anthems for over two years now, and nothing sums up their sound better than their latest EP, The Well. Produced by future Seattle production legend (calling it now) Ethan Bovey, The Well is a tight, five track EP with a sound that could easily fill a stadium, but one that feels spiritually meant to be heard echoing off the walls of a college house basement, a warm PBR sloshing around in your hand. The opening track “Ventriloquist” is deceptively sweet, with a muted, bedroom-pop guitar dancing over soft acoustic, but when the chorus hits, a powerful half-time jam puts every band member on full display.
Speaking of being put on display, “Baby Spider” is an emotional ballad that really lets the lead vocalist shine, and it’s a light that carries through the whole EP. I’m not sure if I’m qualified to name it, that C factor, star power, je ne sais quoi, but he’s got it. He must be on some devil-magic vocal training, because he sounds like the next big thing. Bring a marker for an autograph when you catch them live this May. Next up is “Sex on the Floor,” and it might be the highlight of the EP. No single element carries it;the track is just cohesive and dynamic, topped off with a nasty, ripping guitar solo that’ll pull a serious stank face out of you. It’s no wonder these guys have amassed 85,000 monthly listeners on Spotify in two years. Even so, “Beautiful Life” (track 4) might be tied for the top spot. It’s a fuzzy, spacey, emo-indie anthem with droning, wailing, pleading guitars that makes me feel like I’m 19 again, gripping the fuck out of a steering wheel. Then the title track closes things out, contrasting the energy of “Beautiful Life” with a sweet, almost folksy acoustic number that basically spells C-O-L-O-R-A-D-O in sound waves.
If you’re a fan of melancholy west coast power indie, unrequited love, or feeling equal parts drunk, lost, and restless, basically anyone living in Fort Collins, check out Magenta Wave. Oh, and they;re checking us out too. They’re coming to Colorado on tour, so grab your tickets for May 15 in Denver or May 16 in Greeley atbandwagonpresents.com. See you there!
