Since self-releasing a single and an EP, Amelia Murray has been busy. The musician, better known under the name Fazerdaze, has had attention from NME, joined the Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal, toured the UK with Big Deal and now, her debut album ‘Morningside’ is upon us. Named after the New Zealand suburb where Amelia feels most at home, the record is an expansive diary of her songwriting and introspective lyrics.
From the very beginning of this album you can feel yourself floating away towards the sky. ‘Last To Sleep’ is airy and bouncy, wrapping up dreams and melodies into a dizzying track that’ll have you spinning round before a buzzing synth joins in towards the end, adding enough drama to keep things interesting– that’s the thing with Fazerdaze, she has her sound and knows how to utilise it without becoming stale or repetitive.
The album is an easy one to put on and daydream to. ‘Friends’ begins with a plodding bass line before erupting into a chorus that sounds typically shoegaze, with fuzz-pedals aplenty and washed out, buried vocals, whilst the following track ‘In My Room’ reflects just that. Sounding melancholic, as if it was fuelled by a lazy day in Amelia’s bedroom, the lyrics “I ran out of dreams” points to a stuffy day staring out the window wishing you had something to do.
In a lot of ways the album’s focal point is home. From the suburb the album is named after to the final tracks, which both centre around a bedroom, the themes of familiarity and feeling at ease run throughout. Fazerdaze documents the feelings that come with growing up so eloquently and with such a light touch that it never becomes too angst-fuelled or overwhelming to listen to.
‘Morningside’ is definitely best listened to as an album rather than a collection of singles. Whilst not each track is as memorable as others, they all slot together to create an atmosphere for the entire half-hour run time and it’ll have you wanting to travel somewhere sunny to dip your toes in twinkling water.
ELOISE BULMER