by
Rob Jones
The Amber Arcades Fading Lines record throws one back to the early manifesto of the luscious Lush shoegazing charabanc helped march a late 80’s aural era in to the Britpop 90’s. Think at this time of the American actions of Hope Sandoval and Mazzy Star as well to bring further ingredients to the table. Then as 1995 and beyond unveils think of the endeavour of the late Trish Keenan and Broadcast that cast its net over a number of other acts. However, the deeper one assesses the contents of this album those yesterday markers move further back in to an era of the Young Marble Giants, The Raincoats plus many nights in the company of the late, great DJ John Peel. However, from that crossover of the late 70’s in to a post punk 80’s we are then jettisoned through the years via Mazzy Star and Broadcast in to the here and now of Wolf Alice.
Despite a UK sound that spreads across sonic spheres and different decades Amber Arcades are the brainchild of Dutch-born musician Annelotte de Graaf. This young talent started writing songs in 2010 while in a Philadelphia residency. A return to Holland resulted in a 2012 EP of whispered, melancholic folk ballads before a 2015 New York venture with the aid of an assembled band and pristine production led to the Patiently EP and a debut long player. The end result is a collection of dreamy and esoteric melodies that drift over a mixture of krautrock drums, scything guitars and spacey keyboards. There is both quantity and quality in the mix and the country that brought us the less than salubrious worlds of Focus and Golden Earring can be proud of this recent accomplishment.
