POSTS TAGGED : Amber Arcades

Amber Arcades Announces New Album; Shares ‘Simple Song’

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Dutch musician Annelotte De Graaf aka Amber Arcades will release new album European Heartbreak on September 28th via Heavenly Recordings.

De Graaf quite rightly won widespread acclaim with her sparkling 2016 debut LP, Fading Lines, which not only earmarked Amber Arcades as potent psych-pop prospect but also delivered one of the albums of the year.

For its follow up, European Heartbreak, Amber Arcades has teamed up with Chris Cohen from Deerhoof, and ramping up the anticipation, is a trilogy of videos telling a modern European (love) story, touching on various thoughts and feelings that inspired the new record – the latest taste comes in the form of ‘Simple Song’, marking an evolution from her debut. It danders along broad guitars, gentle synth melodies and warm, swooning swells of delightful brass, all the while, De Graaf ‘s honeyed vocal remains contemplative until rising above a sea of guitar fuzz and layers of mist with the climaxing chorus. Sublime, divine psych-pop – ‘Simple Song’ finds Amber Arcades in fine form and evolving the superlative sound of her wonderful debut.

European Heartbreak is out on September 28th via Heavenly Recordings. For now, check out ‘Simple Song’ below.

BarryGruff Albums of the Year (2016)

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Yes. It is that time of year again, lists, lists and more lists. Well, not be out done, here are my 13 (lucky for some) albums of 2016.

There was lots of great music in 2016 but I decided to keep it to a short list this year. Also, I’m hoping the festive period will provide some time to catch up on some records I’ve missed throughout the year, so feel free to recommend some listening material.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my favourite records from 2016:

There is also a Spotify playlist of all the albums, to save you time and hassle, and it is here.

13. Amber Arcades – ‘Fading Lines’

Amber Arcades‘ – Dutch-born musician Annelotte de Graaf – debut album is a dazzling blend of ‘60s tinged psych, lush jangly guitars, floating pop melodies and an abundance of propulsive, hypnotic krautrocky moments. [Listen here]

12. Tuff Love – ‘Resort’

Glaswegian scuzz-pop aficionados Tuff Love, combine a terrific trilogy of EPs into an LP of dazzling, fuzzy indie pop with sugar-sweet melodies and crunching choruses and shoegazey guitars galore. [Listen here]

11. Underworld – ‘Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future’

A first proper Underworld record in half a decade, Karl Hyde and Rick Smith deliver a stomping electronic record that is up there with the best of their work. [Listen here]

10. The Coral – ‘Distance Inbetween’

Distance Inbetween – their eighth LP and first in over five years – saw The Coral rediscover their roots, mojo and discover their dark side and add a harder edge to their brand of psychedelic indie. It’s an evolution of the Wirral five piece’s sound into a cohesive, weird and imaginative psych-rock record, and one that grows with time. [Listen here]

09. Mr Huw – ‘Gwna Dy Feddwl I Lawr’

Gwna Dy Feddwl I Lawr is album number five from one of Wales’ finest, Mr. Huw and with it, he has delivered an irresistible set of inventive, electrifying indie. Sang in his native tongue, these are melodic songs with a spiky edge. Post-punk riffs and snappy drum-machine punctuate infectious pop melodies, mild psychedelic leanings and Huw’s affable Welsh lilt. A magnificent collection of soul consuming tunes which provide proof if proof be needed, that we should never underestimate the power of great music to overcome a small matter, like a language barrier. [Listen here]

08. Jinx Lennon – ‘Magic Bullets of Madness To Uplift The Grief Magnets’

2016 saw Jinx Lennon return with two new albums – Past Pupil Stay Sane and Magic Bullets of Madness To Uplift The Grief Magnets – with each offering distinctly different brilliance. Magic Bullets… is the pick of the pair but in fairness, both find the folk punk poet at his uncompromising best. Recorded with Liverpool experimentalists Clinic, it is a collection of instantly catchy tunes that boasts a meatier, more beat-driven sound, combined with Jinx’s raw truths kicking back against the humdrum bullshit of modern life. Jinx Lennon is a unique talent, a national treasure to be exact and this is him at his inherently brilliant best. [Listen here]

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Amber Arcades shares ‘Turning Light’ TVAM Remix

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Amber Arcades is the moniker of Dutch-born musician Annelotte de Graaf.

Earlier this year de Graff released her sublime debut album Fading Lines, on Heavenly Recordings. If you haven’t checked out the album yet, you should do so – it is fabulous and you’re missing out – it is one of 2016’s finest releases. De Graaf’s musical vision works like a dream but it hasn’t stopped her from sharing a rework of one of the album’s many high-points, ‘Turning Light’ by producer TVAM, aka Joe Oxley, who has remixed the track. Harnessing all the power from the original’s beautiful blend propulsive beats, krautrock drums and shimmering guitars, TVAM expands the blissed-out Krautrock and Motorik rhythms, while enveloping everything in a cosmic cascading sequence of crackling, frazzled electronics, spirited synths. What we are left with is something rather special indeed. A six-minute kaleidoscopic wonder of imagination and ideas that burrows into your consciousness, building into an enthralling ride of euphoric rushes, whooshes and spiralling melodies. Awe-inspiring stuff, just wow!

If there are two things you do today, make them this TVAM remix of ‘Turning Light’ and Amber Arcades debut LP, Fading Lines – you will not be left disappointed.

Millions Like Us Podcast – Episode #15

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Yip, it’s that again already and we’re thrilled to share yet another Millions Like Us Podcast with you all.

Every two weeks, Justin & I, in conjunction with Vancouver news & culture site 604now, aim to deliver an eclectic selection of top class music. There’s plenty to chew on for Episode #15, well over an hour in fact, of great tunes and plenty of chat, encompassing everything fro, Bluetooth headset wearers, Siri bashing, Fergie time, NOFX hoodies, the Rocky Mountains and of course, music.

You can read more on it over here and of course, listen below (and the tracklist (with links) is after the jump too). You can subscribe to ‘Millions Like Us’ on iTunes & Podcast Republic, Mixcloud & SoundCloud, or find us on Facebook & Twitter. Or you can email us at millionslikeuspodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.

As mentioned in this episode, Justin has been busy compiling tracks featured in the series. If you’re a Spotify user, then you can access this 6 hours plus playlist here.

Thanks for all the support and once again, till next time, thanks for listening! We hope you enjoy Episode #15. And last but not least, thanks to Caroline for the stylish image.

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Amber Arcades – ‘Fading Lines’

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Netherlands native Amber Arcades, aka Annelotte de Graaf, has shared the title track of her debut album, Fading Lines, due on June 3.

The second single taken from her forthcoming debut, following the amazing ‘Right Now’, ‘Fading Lines’ is another dazzling piece of ‘60s tinged, psychedelic jangle-swirl. It sparkles with a warm glimmer, as de Graaf’s dreamy vocals majestically hover above an abundance of floating pop melodies, hypnotic, lush jangly guitars, swirling psych atmospheric effects, all coated with light layer of fuzzy distortion. This is flawless jangly fuzz-pop with an upbeat groove and distinct ’60s retro feel, but importantly while sounding familiar, it stays on the right side of familiar. Produced by Ben Greenberg (Beach Fossils, The Men, Destruction Unit) and backed by a band comprised of members of Real Estate, Quilt and Kevin Morby, the album is a culmination of songs written over the years; so far so good.

Fading Lines is out June 3rd on Heavenly Recordings. Check out the magnificent title track below:

BarryGruff February 2016 Playlist

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Your regular monthly round up all the blog action, in a nice, neat and handy playlist of tracks featured throughout the month.

February was good, especially for new record announcements and whatnot. We had tunes from Living Hour, Amber Arcades, Holy Fuck, SALES and MMOTHS from their respective, new and forthcoming albums. We had introductions to MILK, The Orange Kyte Bousada and BeardFight, while there were excellent new singles/EPs from Freedom Fry, Peaness, Totalitarian and Light Falls. Oh, and there were two new episodes of ‘Millions Like Us’, Justin Beats & I’s new music podcast extravaganza for 604now (if you missed them, check ’em here). You can also subscribe to ‘Millions Like Us’ on iTunes & Podcast Republic or find us on Facebook & Twitter.

Well then, that’s that for another month – listen to BarryGruff’s February 2016 playlist below. Enjoy!

 

Millions Like Us Podcast – Episode 11

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We’re thrilled to share yet another Millions Like Us podcast with you all. It’s great to back with the latest in a series of music podcasts hosted by Justin & I, in conjunction with Vancouver news & culture site 604now.

On a bi-weekly basis we aim to please, providing  some lively and entertaining chat and eclectic selection of fabulous music from metro Vancouver and elsewhere. There’s plenty in there, well over an hour in fact, of great tunes and plenty of chat.

You can read more on it over here and of course, listen below (and the tracklist (with links) is after the jump too). You can subscribe to ‘Millions Like Us’ on iTunes & Podcast Republic or find us on Facebook & Twitter. Or you can email us at millionslikeuspodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.

2016 has been good to us so far, so thanks for all the support thus far and once again, thanks for listening! And last but not least, thanks to Caroline for the image.

Episode #11 Tracklist:

Introducing: Amber Arcades

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Amber Arcades is the moniker of Dutch-born musician Annelotte de Graaf.

De Graaf first started writing songs while temporarily living in Philadelphia back in 2010, and on her return to her native Netherlands, she released a first EP in 2012. Four years on and now signed to the ever reliable Heavenly Records, she is gearing up to release her debut LP. Produced by Ben Greenberg (Beach Fossils, The Men, Destruction Unit) and backed by a band comprised of members of Real Estate, Quilt and Kevin Morby, the album is a culmination of songs written over the years, and what we’ve got to go on so far, is ever so good.

The most recent of which, ‘Right Now’ is a dazzling piece of ‘60s inspired, meandering psychedelic pop. It simply drifts along, unhurriedly, over floating pop melodies, hypnotic, lush jangly guitars, frazzled electronics and punchy beats are coated with light layer of fuzz and an incandescent glimmer, as de Graaf’s dreamy, breathy vocals hover above majestically. This is flawless jangly fuzz-pop with an upbeat groove and distinct ’60s retro feel, but importantly while sounding familiar, it stays on the right side of familiar. ‘Turning Light’ meanwhile, is consumed by a similar luminescence. Harnessing a beautiful blend propulsive beats, krautrock drums and shimmering guitars, like ‘Primary Colours’ era Horrors, with a touch less distortion and the inclusion of de Graaf’s soft, soothing vocal.

De Graaf’s musical vision works like a dream and there you have it, two very good reasons to be excited about the forthcoming record. No definitive date for the release of the debut record but you can check out ‘Right Now’ & ‘Turning Light’, below.