Underground college radio fans all over the United States and Europe have been buzzing about the trippy, sparse “post-doo-wop” of Idiot Glee. Here in Lexington, Kentucky, the creative force behind Idiot Glee, James Friley, can often be seen poking his head into local shows and playing Al’s Bar, but he will soon be embarking on a tour of England and New York City in support of Idiot Glee. James grew up in the Church along with his brother, Ian Friley, who has graced our pages and podcast before as Good Morning Passenger, and found a measure of success with his previous band, bedtime. James admits he doesn’t obsess about God as much as he obsesses about music, and hasn’t been to Church in while (we’re working on that), but James still has to defend the Church in interviews and explain to people why he doesn’t drink. In this interview, James talks about his upcoming tour, his varied influences, and his relationship with the Church. Highly recommended. Read the rest of this entry »

Recommended if you like: Delerium, Enigma

I was prepared to dislike Lori Cunningham; after all, I come from the 90’s brand of elite Goths—those of us who listen to Depeche Mode on our happy days and turn to Sopor Aeternus and the Ensemble of Shadows for some light dance music. Goths are snobby by nature, but Lori’s album “Unseen” caught me delightfully off-guard. It is an appealing, gratifying album, with a surprising depth and mastery of sound. Cunningham borrows from such classic ethereal artists as Delerium and Enigma, weaving seductive synth lines with ghostly, captivating lyrics that speak of loss, endless searches, and the kind of lingering pain that only comes from old wounds. Read the rest of this entry »

ELECTRONICA/AMBIENT/POP

With a distinctly modern blend of classically-trained vocals and edgy ambient electronica, Lori Cunningham has found an outlet for musical expression online. After years of vocal training, Lori decided to begin writing and recording original music in 2006. She has recorded an album, Unseen, and has had a guest performance on Jennifer Thomas’s The Lullaby Album. In addition to her solo music, Lori is working on a side project, Emeria, with British musician Adam Amos. Lori has answered a few of our questions, and she has a few things to say about being a full-time mother and composer, and her passion for vocal performance and songwriting.

She is also having a promotional giveaway of her album until June, and there is still time to enter to possibly get a free CD. Read the rest of this entry »

NEW AGE/AMBIENT

In keeping with last week’s trend of featuring genres too often overlooked, this week we bring out the softer side of Linescratchers. Oscar Aguayo was born in Peru, but currently resides in Layton, Utah, and his complex sonic textures and ethnic melodies and percussion make his music difficult to categorize simply. However, one thing is for sure, his music transports the listener elsewhere. Oscar is unique in his synthesis of many styles, and brings quite a bit of life experience to the table. For everyone interested in modern New Age, World, and Ambient styles, Australis is the place to look.

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