Reviews
Review by Jess Hanna on AngelicVoices.org
“Unseen” is the impressive debut from singer-songwriter Lori Cunningham. This release combines dreamy, electronic arrangements with deep, introspective lyrical prose to create a moving listening experience for the Angelic Voices audience.
The album begins strong with “Reflections”, a primarily instrumental track laced with beguiling vocal work. It prepares the listener for an enchanting, contemplative experience. The remaining compositions ebb and flow from sweeping, ethereal tracks to infectious, upbeat tunes that issue a challenge to pursue dreams and love without restraint.
“Silver Threads”, “Inside”, and “Without You” are prime examples showcasing Lori’s passion for creating songs that examine the soul. In addition to eleven original compositions, the CD also features a dance/trance remix version of “Empty Well”, and an instrumental version of the title track “Unseen”. While it has universal appeal, fans of ambient greats such as Delerium and Sleepthief will thoroughly enjoy this emotionally charged experience. Even the CD artwork beautifully portrays the esoteric vision within.
As a classically trained vocalist, Lori made a conscious decision to follow her dream of creating music the way she wanted rather than performing as instructed by her professors. I applaud the risk she has taken as her obvious vocal range and depth is explored throughout this release. I hope to see this exhibited to an even greater extent in the future, therefore I am looking forward to her continuing collaboration with Adam Amos (also featured on on 3 tracks on “Unseen”) on the project “Emeria”, to follow her progression as an artist and vocalist. -Jess Hanna
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"Only a few albums in this year's library have moved me the way yours has - and I just wanted to let you know it's so great to see that 'Unseen' has come together SO well. Excellent, EXCELLENT job.
Definitely one of the best of 2008"
- Pete Havey, Program Director, RadioMystic.com
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Review by Nicole Giles, author
Posted on Nichole’s blog. Find it HERE.
The day I opened my mailbox and found my new Lori Cunningham CD, I was on my way out the door to run some errands. I took the time to open the package and slide the disk in my car stereo so I could listen as I drove.
As it happens, I was also feeling quite introspective, and even a bit emotional that day, so Lori’s melodious strains turned out to be just the balm my soul needed. I found her new age style unique and her vocals very clean, and smooth. My first instinct was to compare her to Enya, or even possibly Evanessence, but her sound is different enough that I think Lori Cunningham is in a category all her own.
My favorites: Some of Lori’s songs touched a deep chord of emotion in me.
Everytime (song # 4) is a thoughtful, introspective look at mistakes, and how we make the same ones over time and time again.
Inside (song # 6) is a powerful look at who we are on the inside, as opposed to what people see when they look at us on the outside. This particular song rang true for me, as I often wonder, and sometimes struggle with what people really see when they look at me. Wonderful, deep thoughts in both lyric and music.
Tears of a Rose (song #8) is—I think—my favorite. I can’t decide if it’s the deep lyrics or the haunting arrangement. Or maybe it’s the combination of the vocals and music. In this song, Lori’s voice is as pure and sweet as any instrument, and melds with the accompaniment in what can only be described as a poignant, evocative song about the deepest sadness inside a heart, and the unfathomable love that causes it. (Or—at least, that’s my interpretation.)
My nitpicks: in a few places on a couple of the songs, I thought the keyboard synthesizer was a little heavy and overpowered some of the vocals. For me, her voice is sweet and strong, and I was disappointed that it was more difficult to pick out over the music. But, that’s just me being—well, nitpicky.
I was privileged to have the opportunity to interview Lori recently, and thought I’d share with my readers some of the information they’re all dying to know.
NG: Hi Lori! Thanks for taking time to meet with me and share your deepest, darkest, innermost secrets with my readers. So tell me, what’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?
LC: I’ve been known to make a mean French vanilla coconut ice cream – all completely healthy and natural. BUT… when I’m not able to make that or just in the mood to be bad, my all time fave is Chocolate Cherry Nut Truffle from Smith’s, the Kroger brand. Nothing else even comes close! *drool drool*
NG: Ooh, that French vanilla coconut sounds delish! And I have to admit to never having tried the Kroger one. I’ll have to pick up a carton next time I’m there. Now I want some.
(Listening to Lori’s CD in the background…)
NG: Wow, your music is inspired. You must listen to other artists a lot. Who is your favorite musician or artist? (Besides you or me, since everyone already knows we’re both awesome.)
LC: That’s a really tough question! It just really depends on what I’m in the mood for and it has changed over the years. Today my favorite musicians or group is Blue Stone, hands down. I can’t stop listening to them!
NG: Since we all know you have a life besides your music, can you tell us your most favorite thing to do when you’re not writing/ performing?
LC: You mean what I really love doing or what I have to do, LOL! If it’s my most favorite thing of what I love to do is read. I’m an avid reader. In fact, several of my songs over the past couple of years are inspired by books I’ve read. My favorite genre is fantasy/romance, though I’m reading a lot of young adult books lately. They’re intriguing and I don’t have to think deeply. It’s a nice break. I also love to spend time with my family in a non-stressful, fun way. And singing. I’m always singing! Now, what I have to do… there’s actually something extremely satisfying and stress relieving having a newly cleaned house. Not that it stays that way for very long.
NG: Nice! You read my writing genre. (I’ll let you know when my book is released.) Sounds like you’re one busy chick. Wait, you’re not really a chick. And that almost sounds—well, not nice. But hey, if you were an animal, what kind would you be and why?
LC: A cat! Because I love kitties. I grew up always have a lot of cats around and I can’t think of another animal that I love more. And sometimes I can ignore someone really good, just like a cat. Selective hearing, if you will.
NG: Interesting. Now that we’re really getting to the heart of the artist in you, time for the all important question. Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?
LC: Diamonds all the way. Not that I wear them a lot. In fact, I only wear my wedding ring about once a week, if I remember. I think they’re much prettier than pearls.
NG: And, after all, diamonds are a girl’s best friend, right? One last question and then I’ll let you get back to work. What power snacks keep you going as you work? We all have them.
LC: Well, considering that I actually can’t eat while I work, especially while singing, that wouldn’t be very feasible! But when I record vocals, I have to have a water bottle with a drop of peppermint and citrus fresh essential oils. It keeps my throat hydrated and cuts out on all those “mouth” noises that a sensitive microphone picks up. Those really bug me! Otherwise, I can’t live without at least one apple a day and a green smoothie. Those are my power foods, all the way.
NG: Nice! Now, I know I said that was the last question, but I can’t help but wonder how you find the time to compose and record—aren’t you also a stay-at-home mom of three?
LC: I’m the ultimate multi-tasker! I take a piece of paper around with me everywhere and write down random lyrics. I try to stay focused on the song at hand, even when I’m not able to work on it. My #1 tool is my cheapo mp3 player and stereo in the kitchen. Most of my lyrics and melodies are written and worked on while I’m cleaning and making dinner. I have it playing and I’m singing my little heart out, writing down lyrics that work. To actually record, I have to be a bit creative. During the summer, I have to wait until my husband is home so he can watch the kids. Needless to say, I don’t get much work done in the summer! When school is in session, I have recorded either during naptime of my youngest, or when he’s gone at preschool. I’m not able to totally lose myself for hours at a time like other recording artists do and I’m not a night person, so staying up into the wee hours of the morning is also not an option. I work with what I’m given! So while it takes me longer to have a finished product, I do it right and the best to my ability.
NG: Okay, seriously, that sounds really familiar. Just today I’m celebrating the fact that my kids are back in school so I can actually finish the rough draft of my current book. And the notebook thing? Whoever invented notebooks deserves a special place in heaven as far as I’m concerned.
Thank you so much for letting us have a glimpse into the life of a recording artist / mother. You’re truly an amazing person who makes remarkable music. Oh, and also, thanks for the CD. I’ve been listening to it for the better part of two weeks. It’s great writing background.
Here’s a little taste:
Inside
By Lori Cunningham
Is what I show
The person deep inside
The person deep inside of me
Who really knows
The person deep inside
Screaming to be seen (free)
Trying to be
What others want you to be
Not really living
Never truly free
Clouding your vision
So even you can’t see
Who you are meant to be.
Hurry now to buy your copy of Lori Cunningham’s Unseen.
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Review by Deborah Talmadge, author
An Outstanding Debut CD Promising a Bright Career
When I decided to review Lori Cunningham's CD Unseen I wanted to give it the test of time before I made my decisions about it. Before I decide whether I like something or not, I listen to the entire project several times through. Since I write books and use music as my inspiration, I had to separate Unseen from my writing place. I chose to listen to the CD for several weeks in my car as I drove around the many miles to my piano lessons. I also listened to it at the gym as I did the treadmill, because there are things I pick up with head phones that I don't hear in the car. The effect is completely different.
Being compared to the likes of Engima and Delierium, Lori Cunningham has put her own stamp on the electronica genre. Unlike other voices that are classically trained, she has kept the uniqueness that makes her sound her own. Her voice is beautiful, ethereal and pristine and extremely easy to listen to.
Electronica downbeat is a genre that is widely misunderstood. Instead of the voice being the focal point or the solo interest, the voice is dialed back to meld with the music like another instrument. Lori Cunningham has accompished this with skill.
For those who don't know... Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing. Downtempo (or Downbeat) is a laid-back electronic music style similar to ambient music, but usually with a beat or groove unlike the beatless forms of Ambient music. The beat is sometimes made from loops that have a hypnotic feeling. Sometimes the beats are more complicated and more featured instead of being in the background, but even then they are usually less intense than other kinds of electronic music. (From Wikipedia)
Okay, enough education.
The facts - Lori Cunningham - a girl, her keyboard, 18 track recorder, a mic, and a strong love of music.
Additional drums and percussion - Adam Amos on "Solarity" and "Inside."
Guitar on "Inside" - Sam Benham.
And collaborations with: Adam Amos, Katie Reeve, n pa productions, and Rose.
When I first started listening to Unseen I had my favorites. I really liked Inside because of the darker, heavier feel of the piece. A song like this can't be written by someone who hasn't been through hard things in life. It has a way of reaching into your heart and twisting. Anyone who feels the world doesn't know who they really are inside will find something here that touches them.
The second one on my list of favorites was Everytime. If you have been in a failing relationship you can't help but feel the pain that resides in the words and the tolling drums underneath the accompaniment. As I listened to the piece over the weeks, this song rose in my estimation. Lori's command over the inflection of her words is masterful.
Next in line is Silver Threads. There are two main reasons I like this song. I am a big fan of repeating notes or tone sequences that play over and over through many the chord progressions. The sameness of the tones have a way of connecting to the spirit and pulling the listener into the song. Lori cleverly uses this in several ways for this song. There is a danger here, because if not done well, a repeating note can become irritating, but Lori used several of them and handled them astutely.
The second thing I like about Silver Threads is the story line. Lori Cunningham was up front that the Dragon Riders of Pern books by Ann McCaffrey, [official website] were her inspiration for the piece--though not specifically borrowing from the works was pure genius.
I could say something about every track on the CD, such as.... Without You is very beautiful and has a similar feel to Everytime, though not as painful. I didn't want to fall into a listing of lists.
Okay, I have to say something about Without You. Well, not specifically about the song but about the creators. Lori Cunningham and Adam Amos is a collaboration that clearly works.
Adam Amos is a masterful composer known for his wonderful instrumentals, his down tempo electronic music, a lot of which has cinematic leaning. Amos is mostly known for doing great remixes in which he focuses on mixing in the voice. On this CD he did the remixing of Everytime, Without You, and Empty Well [Overflow Mix]. He is very good at drums and did the percussion on Inside and Solarity.
Cunningham and Amos compliment each other well and together they create something magnificent. Happily they are working on another collaboration called Emeria. I'm waiting eagerly for this to be completed.
The surprise of Unseen was the fun discovery of Solarity. As I drove around I grew to like this track more and more. It's an intriguing symbiosis between New Age musicality, classical influences, and dance-club rhythms. The collaboration with Adam Amos [here] really makes it a delight. In truth, Solarity is just plain fun. My favorite bits, (apart from the drums, the repeating keyboards and the etherial voice), are the charming instances of laughter hidden like diamonds in the piece. I heard them first with headphones and recommend you try to find them yourself.
The rest of the tracks are also well worth the listen. I recommend this CD highly.
Lori Cunnghiam's official websites:
loricmusic.com
Myspace page
You can find Unseen on CD BABY
Amazon.com
and on itunes.
Track listing:
1) Reflections
2) Unseen (The Impact)
3) Silver Threads (Falling Down)
4) Everytime
5) Empty Well
6) Inside
7) Solarity
8) Tears of a Rose
9) Without You
10) Return
11) Into Absolution
12) Empty Well [Overflow Mix]
13) Unseen [Instrumental]
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Review by McBlaze on Inde Music Reviews, translated to English
Lori Cunningham is a fantastic and very talented American singer. She has an outstanding classical trained voice that puts a spell on me from the very first moment.
I got to know her in summer 2008 and was thrilled by the tracks she had on OurStage.com then. The first thing I did was a remix of the title track ‘Unseen’. I had some luck, because she liked my remix at first go and she provides me some more source material to work with.
The 13 tracks on the album (11 tracks plus 2 bonus tracks) reach from downtempo to extreme danceable. Every track is perfectly orchestrated. What stands out of every track is Lori’s impressing voice that seems to fly above the music in one track and then finds itself in a very complex structure of the melody. Lori’s addiction to fantasy stories can be found in one or the other track, especially in ‘Silver Threads’. For the listener that is not just interested in the music but in the lyrics, there are 8 awesome tracks, where the lyrics are very deep going.
The opener fort he album is the midtempo vocalize track ‘Reflections’ (instrumental with sung parts without lyrics!). It is followed by ‘Unseen’, which is also a midtempo track (with the remix for this song I proverbial knocked at Lori’s door). The lyrics are about these things that are with us every day unseen, without being recognized by us. Parts of our history that do not let us go. With ‘Silver Threads’ the album accelerates a bit and leads the listener into a fantasy-like world. Next in row is the first ballade: ‘Everytime’. Dramatic, accompanied by orchestra sounds and with a melancholic melody. ‘Empty Well’ is leaded in by a synthy-harp, which is followed by an midtempo main part. This track is about that emptiness one feels after losing someone they love; all the tears have been cried and there’s nothing left to give or feel. Looking slowly and mysterious, ’Inside’ begins. Lori’s lyrics in this song talks about that if we don’t show what’s deep inside of us, and if we are forced by our environment to be something that we don’t want to be, we lose site of who we really are . In the middle of this track you can find a solo guitar which perfectly fits into the rest of the track. ‘Solarity’ is a vocalize track with high vocals. A very lyric track, which sounds kind of ethno, though it has an electronic basis. If the listener opens up for ‘Tears of a Rose’ and really feels this melancholic ballade, he can notice the emotion and intensity of Lori’s voice. Besides this I want to annotate, that Lori plays the piano itself, not just on this track. Next is yet another slow and emotional track: ‘Without You’. There are mighty orchestral sounds in this collaboration with Adam Amos. ‘Return’ is also a collaboration, this time with Katie Reeve, who wrote the lyrics and most of the music. This midtempo track doesn’t fit in a scheme for a regular song and contains some breaks, after which the style of the track changes whereas the leitmotif is kept. My favourite of the vocalize tracks is ‘Into Absolution’. It’s somehow to slow for a real breakbeat, but it perfectly fits into the flow of the album. As the first bonus track we find the remix of ‘Empty Well’ (Overflow Mix by Adam Amos). A first class dance track with eurodance at it’s best. It’s hard not to jump up and dance. It’s a success, and this is proved by the OurStage community, who voted this track at #2 in 06.2008 in club/dance. Nearly all of Lori’s tracks released at OurStage landed within the top 30. As the second bonus track and the last one on the album, the listener can enjoy the title track ‘Unseen’ as an instrumental version.
All in all, it is a very felicitous debut album. The single tracks are all well balanced with Lori’s style. Who waits for some kind of Enya will be as well surprised as the one who looks for mainstream pop. In my opinion, Lori’s music cannot be compared with any music that I know – and that is, even with no exaggeration, a lot.
If you’d like to have a taste of her album, you should visit Lori Cunningham’s homepage or her site at MySpace (both are named below). Her music is worth listening without any exception, and I’m sure many people in Germany will like her style.
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Review on NewAgeMusic.nu
I think you will agree with me when I say that we need more vocals in new age. There is nothing wrong with instrumental music, not at all. But the human voice is in a way the ultimate instrument. A proof of this is Lori Cunningham's debut album Unseen, which has just been released. Her music can be described as ethereal vocals mixed delicate electronica and a rhythmic focus. Lori's voice fits perfectly with the ambient melodies, creating an unforgettable listening experience. Her voice reminds a bit of Maggie Reilly, I think. If you want a sample of how great it is, you can go to Lori's homepage check out track 8, Tears of a Rose, which is a piano song with focus on voice and lyrics.
It is interesting to notice the influence from genres like eurodance and trance (the two mixes in the end are cool, you just feel like dancing). But still the atmosphere is definitely new age: embedded in the tracks is something mystical and unseen.
The album has 13 tracks, and the production is surprisingly well done on all of them. One can argue that Lori Cunningham's album is not very original, but it is still an incredible first release and shows that she is very talented. A new star, no doubt about that.
