More than four decades ago, an individual captured a tune from the radio onto a cassette tape. While this act was common in the 1980s, all details concerning the song have vanished, leading to what online enthusiasts refer to as a lostwave – a melody devoid of any accompanying information. The song, temporarily known as “CIA,” lacks attribution regarding its singers, recording location, or even its actual title.
The quest to uncover its origins has extended to the Waterloo region in southern Ontario, with hopes that locals may hold the key to this mystery. Joe Gaschler, a forum moderator dedicated to investigating lostwave songs on Reddit, highlighted the significance of the song, stating, “It’s a 42-year-old Canadian musical cold case.”
Gaschler emphasized the extensive effort involving “literally thousands of people” contributing to unraveling the band’s identity. Despite the song being played on CFNY-FM, now recognized as 102.1 The Edge, and believed to have been taped in the mid-1980s, the available information remains limited.
The song’s ambiance resonates with the mid-1980s sound, reminiscent of bands like A Flock of Seagulls, Platinum Blonde, The Cure, The Romantics, or Duran Duran. Gaschler noted the widespread inquiry within Toronto’s music community regarding the song and the shifting focus to the Kitchener-Waterloo area, speculating that the band hailed from a location slightly outside the Greater Toronto Area.
The quest for the song’s identity has persisted for years, with online platforms like Reddit and YouTube serving as hubs for discussions and investigations. Notably, efforts have involved contacting former CFNY-FM staff and musicians to no avail, indicating the elusive nature of the song’s history.
The search party, dedicated to unveiling the enigmatic “CIA,” has invested countless hours scrutinizing leads, dissecting vocals, instruments used, and historical context. Despite the challenges posed by the internet age, where music identification tools abound, the mystery behind “CIA” remains unsolved.
The pursuit of the song’s origins has fostered a sense of community among enthusiasts, with the collective endeavor reflecting a nostalgic longing for discovery. As the quest continues, the ultimate goal remains to credit the anonymous creators of the captivating song and acknowledge their artistic contribution to the music landscape.
