My Nguyen
Hailing from Amsterdam, Nadine Appeldoorn, who goes by her musical alias Mazey Haze, has just released her debut EP Always Dancing via LUSTRE.
The dazzling songstress conjures acts like Fleetwood Mac and ABBA to give audiences spell-binding dream pop-driven soundscapes that feels like something that will not only get you moving along to the shimmering pop flavors but will also leave you thinking.
Filled with a hazy and shoegaze-y sound that immediately recalled in my mind Beach House, you can’t get away from how dreamy and haunting these pop tunes are. Appeldoorn really layers in her evocative vocals, sounding like a siren luring in sailors to their death with her captivating vocals. There is no doubt in my mind that listeners will find themselves similarly magnetized by the hypnotic sounds that come forth, just not to a fatal conclusion. Like the sailors of lore, they can’t help but be drawn to such mesmerizing music. And it isn’t just Appeldoorn’s vocals that reels you in. The shimmering guitars and buoyant electronic beats and synths have a way of pulling listeners in also.
Always Dancing gets going with “Sad Lonely Groove,” where shooting rays of synths highlight a very ambient sound. As shimmering guitarwork layers in on the sounds, once Appeldoorn’s very ear-pleasing vocals come in, you can’t get away from how great she sounds. There’s a great ‘80s flavor to this track. Completely drenched in reverb, the fuzz-factor gave the song a very alluring sense. I was right away reminded of Beach House. The guitars here were a compelling addition.
On “Headspin,” Appeldoorn’s vocals are soaked in heartbreak as she sings about a love that doesn’t work out. The guitar riffs are a solid foundation behind her ghostly vocals. As synths come in, the ethereal sounds feel very airy and surreal. Slowly as the beats gain traction, the rhythms and grooves to this track just build and build for an otherworldly sound. “Don’t Care” comes right in with a fully embodied vibe. This song seemed more pop-based in mode. The sunny sounds send out a very warm feeling. I found myself basking in these golden and rich tones. Another song about relationships, I definitely felt carried away by the moving sounds.
Beginning with some glitch-y beats, the keys and synths bring forth a very ‘80s vibe on “Start Off Alone.” The airy notes also recall in my mind the new wave genres as well. Next, some ethereal guitars accompany Appeldoorn’s startling vocal abilities. I was struck right away by the melancholy and slow-burning grooves of this track. Toward the title track “Always Dancing,” as some beats slowly make their way, the guitars gradually grow in sound. Radiating a glowing energy, once Appeldoorn’s vocals enter, her breathy and dreamy vocals bring this song to life. At the center of this album were her engaging vocals that really added a dynamic energy to this record. This was another captivating track that fuses Appeldoorn’s appealing vocal deliveries with great reverb-drenched sonic environments. This was a great way to close the album.
On her Always Dancing EP, Appeldoorn really gives audiences a sense of the sound she was going for. As I listened on, I thought this EP aptly captured the feeling of melancholy very well. Wrapped up in these swaths of dreamy sonic landscapes, these tracks went by too soon. At under four minutes of recording time each, whether these songs were about the fleetingness of relationships, love, or just life in general, these tracks had a way of encapsulating the feeling of melancholy and sadness that immediately comes in after this love or relationship is gone. I think Appeldoorn is able to capture this transitory feeling very well. And at moments, this gave her music a very cathartic-sounding release. This immediacy was what got me upon first listen. For those of you looking for a retro and dreamy listen, the haunting sounds on Always Dancing will be right up your alley. Give this a spin today!
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