Despite ‘The Haze Is Forever’ being Dolores Haze’s debut LP, and the band taking their name from the underage object of the Humbert Humbert’s desire in Lolita, there are no signs of inexperience to speak of here.
The Swedish four-piece are still honing their craft and dabbling with different genres, ricocheting between electronic dance beats and lo-fi punk, but appear to be on their way to mastering them. The result is an album that is as unpredictable as it is accomplished.
Reaching Placebo gets things off to a staccato, disjointed start and makes it clear from the outset that Dolores Haze are not a formulaic band. The track, and On Purpose, are pleasantly reminiscent of early Pretty Girls Make Graves, with vocals that pack more of a Kathleen Hanna-esque punch.
Crazy About Me, which begins with a “fuck you!”, is Republica with more hand-claps, while Touch Me slows things down, with fuzzed-out guitars leading proceedings accompanied by chugging, brooding beats. The lull lasts only for a moment as Milk sees the return of vocalist Groovy Nickz’s snotty punk snarl.
Not to be pigeonholed, Dolores Haze again shift gears on I Got My Gun, fuelled by a drum-machine and sounding not unlike Le Tigre. On the title track Nickz sings: “The glory days may never come.” The band won’t need to concern themselves with that thought any time soon.
Album closer The Garden is a twist on posthumous appreciation: “You love me when you’re dead.” But this band are certainly one to take notice of now. Although reminiscent of ‘90s riot grrl, vocalist Nickz has the prowess, and certainly the pipes, to carve her own niche.
Dolores Haze have a refreshing, and sometimes brat-like, confidence and unapologetic “fuck you” attitude, which will hopefully permeate what has become an industry laden with pretentiousness.
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