More new music from the Netherlands, this time courtesy of Utrecht’s Amber Arcades. Following on from last year’s debut album Fading Lines, her latest EP aims to build on that solid foundation with more radio-friendly indie-rock. It succeeds, and then some.
It says a lot about the quality of Amber Arcades’ songwriting that I didn’t realise at first that the opening track was a Nick Drake song. Like all the best cover versions, it succeeds in taking the track in a new direction without losing the essence of the original. The original compositions are equally good though, especially the Cardigans cum Cate Le Bon indie-pop of ‘It Comes’ and the gently twinkling Bill Ryder-Jones duet ‘Wouldn’t Even Know’. You get the sense she’s still only warming up though – roll on the next record if so.
“It Changes” is written by Annelotte De Graaf
Produced and recorded by Ben Greenberg
Mixed by Jez Williams
Guitars by Manuel van den Berg
Bass by Ronald Straetemans
Drums by Jaap Bontekoe
Synths and keys by Ella van der Woude
