There may be better albums than Fading Lines released in 2016, but it's doubtful whether any of them will contain the same perfectly-weighted combination of sounds and influences. A truly beguiling debut.
She proves adept at so many styles within her chosen niche on Fading Lines that her next album could go in any of four or five directions and sound very good. Or it could sound exactly the same and be well worth everyone's time.
It’s ... one of the most infectious collections of pop songs written on an electric guitar this year.
Ripe with subtle nuance, ‘Fading Lines’ is an exquisite debut. Seemingly simple yet running far deeper than cursory listens reveal, it’s a record that sticks with you long after the closing notes of the aptly titled ‘White Fuzz’ fade out.
Fading Lines has ten tracks of gauzy, echo-laden indie-pop for the desk-bound daydreamer.
With a tuneful ear reminiscent of Bradford Cox, de Graaf likes to simplify things with uncomplicated song structures that emphasize steady rhythms instated of glazing them with loaded synth textures.
Amber Arcades uses reverb, jangling chords and drifting, repetitive musical figures to enhance what are mostly typical pop songs.
Such a brave and bold debut, Amber cleverly manipulates the clinical production with simple yet deep lyrical contents. It's 2021 and Fading Lines still sounds fresh and I don't mind revisiting it over and over again.
Key tracks : Constant's Dream, I Will Follow, This Time
Amber Arcades makes wistful, very pretty dream pop music that is a lot more dreamy than it is poppy. Especially for a debut album, the sound is impressively focused and cohesive, and Amber Arcades display some solid songwriting chops. The album does sort of seem to float away on its own lightweight-ness, however, and the melodies don't stick as much as you'd hope.
1 | Come with Me 4:01 | |
2 | Constant’s Dream 3:57 | |
3 | Fading Lines 4:07 | |
4 | I Will Follow 3:19 | |
5 | Perpetuum Mobile 4:14 | |
6 | Right Now 3:56 | |
7 | Apophenia 3:16 | |
8 | This Time 3:18 | |
9 | Turning Light 6:54 | |
10 | White Fuzz 2:22 |
#5 | / | Drowned in Sound |
#12 | / | Gigwise |
#47 | / | Under the Radar |
#55 | / | Gorilla vs. Bear |
#72 | / | Piccadilly Records |
#84 | / | Rough Trade |