Amber nectar

The debut album from Dutch singer/s0ngwriter Annelotte de Graaf, who records under the name Amber Arcades, is an intriguing and impressive introduction.

Equally intriguing is de Graaf’s back story – she previously worked at the United Nations as a legal aide on war crime tribunals and is currently working in human rights law with people leaving Syria.

Clearly de Graaf is not your average star in waiting (for that, on the evidence of this excellent debut, is surely what she is).

She spent her life savings on a flight to New York because that is where she wanted to record her first album – and it is a move that has paid off handsomely.

De Graaf commented: “Once I was in New York everything came together so beautifully with the whole team, the producer and the band.It was a magical time being there, recording.”

Enlisting some top US indie musicians – including members of Quilt and Real Estate and Meg Duffy, she has concocted a mesmerising album.

There’s a dreamlike feeling to the music but it’s steely rather than whimsical.

With lovely chiming guitars, opening track Come With Me soars like a bird hitching a ride on a thermal current.

The title track Fading Lines, shimmers and sways to delightful effect but the album’s centrepiece and tour de force is the epic and blissful Turning Light, which was inspired by early morning jetlag.

This is one of the best singer/songwriter debuts of 2016. To be in with a chance of winning this album answer this question. Was 70s prog-rock band Van der Graaf Generator Dutch or English? Entries to, Amber, Nigel Thornton, Peterborough Telegraph, Unex House - Suite B,Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough, PE1 1NG by June 25.