GOLD BOX KINGDOM ::amy bruckmeier:: Press

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I reviewed a previous release, Heavy & Light by Gold Box Kingdom last year. I had compared lead singer, Amy B to Noe Venable; who it turns out, is an idol of Amy’s. The musical style is not really similar, but Amy’s voice does sound like Noe’s on occasion. But not enough to call her a copycat at all.

Opening number, Flowers, reminds me of bands like Everything But the Girl. It’s pop, but has a nice jazzy vibe too. Sort of a ‘Sunday morning coffee and newspaper’ tune.

I really like The Last Line. The keyboard really adds s a cool element. It reminds me of the songs I listened to when I was a kid. (When? Don’t ask!)

These guys have a really nice sound. It’s hard to describe. Sometimes It’s jazzy, but there’s a old school (70s) pop feel at times as well. It’s very comfortable music. Much like their other record, though I seem to remember some more rock-ish songs on the previous release, this one is a bit more mellow as a whole

It's an album of likeable and spacey songs by a talented singer. Amy B steers the songs away from clichés and gets a languid feeling to them. "Bruises" is slightly like Morcheeba when they were good. "Suede Pumas" is a relaxed song that shows off the singer's voice well. "Nature Walk" is darker and has a pop heart beneath its heavy beats.
It's an atmospheric and airy and pleasant album. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)

Amy has a great whispy, sultry voice and a talent for writing really good songs.

Far Away really reminds me of Noe Venable but with more band. It’s lovely.

This is a really nice pop record. When I hear these songs I just feel happy. You can’t ask much more than that from an album now, can you?

The dulcet tones of local chanteuse Amy Bruckmeier shimmer throughout this record. From the first notes of the relaxed, charming title track, it's clear that no one's in a hurry here -- as Bruckmeier's vocals soar and soothe above sparse, colorful arrangements. Heavy & Light is much more of the latter than the former -- music for a sunny Sunday picnic at the beach or cold beers on the front porch. Dotted with drum loops, acoustic strumming, and sprightly samples, Gold Box Kingdom's debut is pretty, patient, and strangely calming. Though a lyric on the album's playful highlight "Suede Pumas" reads, "She wants the world to know / her hip-huggers lack material," the same can't be said of Gold Box Kingdom. Catch them live at Papa Toby's Café on April 11.