3RRR ALBUM OF THE WEEK
October 2008
****The debut album from Amaya Laucirica is an ethereally beautiful record of assured
songwriting and masterful arrangements. Throughout its ten tracks Sugar Lights
constantly impresses the listener with its vibrancy, engaging storytelling and
subtle craft.
Rave Magazine: SINGLE OF THE WEEK
August 2008
****Occasionally there's something intangible that makes one tender guitar ballad
the answer to your anxieties, or at least respite from them for 2 minutes 42
seconds, and every other tender guitar ballad the catalyst to tune out or change
stations. Melbourne-based Amaya Laucirica is this week's unexplained but definite
mood lifter, with her lilting, relaxed, cuddled-up-on-a-warm-verandah soundtrack
If You Look Now. Part of that comfortable smile you'll get is undeniably brought
by Amaya's gorgeous, broadly soothing voice, and when it's part of a harmony,
good lord, you'll be wishing it was Sunday morning and you were hungover all
over again, just to witness its redemptive powers. Once you've heard this debut's
simplicity, it won't be as surprising to read some of the names involved - Peter
J. Moore (I didn't know him either but he's produced the Cowboy Junkies, which
gives you an idea of what's here) on production. - but the escapist triumph
here can't be put down to anyone but Laucirica herself. This is a welcome surprise
of a debut. Hurrah!
-Simon Topper
Sugar Lights: ALBUM REVIEW
Rhythms
December 2008
****It's easy to see why In-Fidelity's Bruce Milne has championed the cause of Amaya Laucirica for the last year or two. One listen to her debut long player, Sugar Lights, recorded with such texture rising to the surface, and you'll instantly get it.
Instrumentation is as complete as you'll hear it when done in this organic, refined and spaced-out manner. The guitars, keys, percussion and overall rhythm of the record combine give the listener this incredibly soothing brain massage.
The lead vocals of Laucirica vaguely recall The Cowboy Junkie's Margo Timmins or even Hope Sandoval, and there somewhere lies a nod to Kasey Chambers' rootsy delivery as well. There's something about the way that Laucirica goes about setting the scene through her lyrics pertainin to love, heartbreak, longing and remorse that compels and more importantly convinces us that she is the real deal.
With Laucirica joined by Andrew Keese on guitars, keys and backup vocals, fellow 'Associate' Andrew Cowie on the drums and Richard Martin on bass, Sugar Lights shimmers when it needs to and hums with a relaxed vibe when the songs call for some downtime. Verses are dominated by intricate instrumentation and guitar ring-outs leading up to electrically charged harmonious choruses of joy ('Not Of The Same Kind') to sexy, but uber-subtle times ('Slow Down', 'If You Look Now') that complement the shuffled percussion and infectious lyrical outpouring from the band's femme fatale, who is as good to listen to as she is to look at. Big things ahead for these guys.
-Nick Argyriou
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