Canadian indie-rock powerhouse Beau Wheeler has had a heck of a few years. Wheeler wrote their new album, Flying Colours, while undergoing treatment for cancer and coming out as trans. In spite of these tumultuous times, Flying Colours is soothing an earnest. Wheeler’s stadium-ready vocals stand in contrast to their backing band’s gentle folk rock, similar to Jessye DeSilva’s style. These are songs meant to be sung along to while swaying at an outdoor festival.
“Arizona” is a showstopper, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Wheeler has a powerful dynamic that will remind you of one of their inspirations, Brandi Carlile. Wheeler’s generosity of spirit is imbued throughout this album: there is vulnerability here, but also joy in overcoming the hard parts.
Stirring songs of defiance like “Open Up Your Heart” and “Flying Colours,” but Wheeler also brings us to the depths of tragic heartbreak with their impassioned “Never Stop Loving You.”
That’s not to say there isn’t some grit. “Perfect Game” calls out a lover for falling short and not acting their best self. Yet even amidst the frustration, there’s little anger from Wheeler. They are filled with regret, but ready to move along and break away from the past.
Flying Colours is the first of two solo albums for Wheeler this year. It was recorded live off the floor with their band. Co-produced with Jesse Waldman in the roots music tradition of recording the singer and musicians playing together, it’s a deep and soulful record that should earn Beau a lot of new fans. The second will be a dark wave synth pop album produced by Jason Corbett of Actors.
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