Michael D'Orazio's music is what it is. It's generally song compositions that were unfettered by
pop influences, and mostly corrupted by what was deemed loose, and unpopular. Most of these cd's were recorded in Michael's basement on a tascam tape deck, and also on a digital camcorder. Michael did not want to spend lots of money on a career that may not ever be lifted on the ground. He learned many techniques in music production from his early years in the band "The Burning"(1989-1991). That is when he got his start in music. You can read all about the early years in his book"EVIL, the Rise and Fall of The Burning". After that he had to go on his own to learn the guitar, and write his own songs without anyone elses help. It wasn't until 2003, after 13 years, that he started to record his songs so he didn't forget them. Later he came to love his cd compilations, and decided to archive them and make them available to people at some of his performances, and open mics. Most of these songs are a rebellion against what is established now in music biz. It ignores positivity, and embraces the mischeivous, and gloom that was popular in the early eighties goth/post-punk scenario. These cd's have been carefully recorded, and the quality has controlled very delicately. They are somewhat of a roadmap
to his life, and may be very adventurous to the ears. Support the underdog!!!
This cd is a compilation of new and old songs rerecorded for you listening pleasure. I
wanted to define what the words "Folk Noir" meant. It's a great overview of who I am, and what I do. Also the later half of the cd is instrumentation using the Cuatro. My idea was that I define what "Folk Noir" is, and record an album that is truly morose. This cd is a combination of two projects. Hope you like them. "Songs of Triumb and Despair is slightly disturbing, using feedback, and other techniques to create a horrific image.
A collection of anti-pop songs, that rebel from convention, and traditional ideas, and
values. Somewhat dark, it has a twist of humor, and hilarity, that will entertain, as well as keep you thinking.
It also frees you from the constraints of what you think is appropriate, and what is deemably valuable
in today's society.
This cd is a collection of experimental instrumentals. It delves deep with gloomy backgrounds, and forms that stimulate individual thought patterns in the human mind. Dim the lights, lay back with a cup of tea, and take a gloomy trip.
Unfortunatly they scheduled this show on 9/11 which I thought was kind of strange. It was an honest performance. I performed new songs I hardly
rehearsed. I wouldn't say this is as good as my first show on 6-3-09, but it's a little more disturbing.
The first six songs marked the end of a three year relationship that end chaotically. When I wrote "Your Death" I knew that it was the end. Dark and gloomy, and somewhat upbeat this cd captures the halloween month of october in which it was written. This may be my best so far. Short and sweet, full of bitter moments.
The second half of this cd was called "Lament". Most of the Songs written were improvised in my bedroom and recorded on a Sony camcorder. "Kill Again"(lyrics by Slayer),
"I Can See"(fourth stanza derived from Robert Service's "The Men who don't fit in". "Night so Dark"(a little dittie similar to Tom Waits),
"You, and your daughter"(a song about my experiences with my girlfriend and her daughter. "The New Age"(2010 remake of a bellowing intrumental with background vocals),
Silence is the sun(a song recorded outside during a windy day)
These set of songs we're written over a period of ten years. Some written long ago, some
written within the course of a year. They all fit very nicely together. I waited to record these songs,
cause I didn't want to publish anything really upbeat, and dramatic. This cd is a nice coda to the long
journey in my life and music.
"Michael D'Orazio: Live at Chaplin's July 3rd, 2009"
"Light at the end of a Dark Tunnel"
2009
$15.00
1. The Gate
2. I See you tonight
3. There she goes
4. Medley: Falling from grace, La, la, la, Eclipse
5. Just one more kiss
6. Sign of the times
7. So Far Away
8. Experiment gone wrong
9. Alone
10. Tears(Burgess)
11. Who I Am
After playing open mic's for nearly two years at Chaplin's music cafe, I was offered a
gig to play one show with another local performer. I was excited that I finally got the chance to play,
and exhibit the music I have been nurturing for nearly 15 years. It was a magical night for me, and I played
better than I ever played before. It was almost like an orgasm, cause I have been saving my energy for a real
show. It's different playing a whole set of songs, compared to playing 2 songs at an open mic. I wish
I had more chances to play whole shows, but I don't know if this will happen. At least I have proof now
that I can do it on my own, and flourish as a solo artist.
This cd is a collection of open mic performances recorded at Chaplin's Music Cafe during the
summer of 2008 to January 2009. It is the early performances of most of the songs from "Sign of the Times",
and some early tracks. Very dark times we are in, and the music illustrates this very clearly. I
hope you can witness these songs for they are real. I'd like to thanks the crew at Chaplin's for giving me good sound, and cool effects.
This music is reminscent of most of the early 80's post-punk music that I was into. Very raw, dark, and gloomy.
A gloomy trip into paranoia, and darkness, "drink wine and shots of liquor, fun fire and merriment, and desire, only I may stand in your way to bliss, but that won't stop me from getting one more kiss". "Somewhere to the eclipse, there is a solitary light, sometime in the spring we can fall on our knees, again". "You better run you better hide, far from this wicked world, they're gonna get you no matter what you do, it's a sign of the times!!"
10. Never Ending Progress(Featuring Jeff Mastroberti)
11. The Gate Live at Chaplin's
This cd was a compilation of gloomy tracks that we're created to be staged at Chaplin's music cafe in early 2009. It contains an a different version of "There She Goes" and "You're Funeral, my Trial" using the cuatro instead of the guitar. Also it has the early version of "You're Alone" which is a song of rejection of a lonely spirit. I don't know if this is my favorite cd, but it was a stepping stone to a whole different style. It shows my maturity of the drone of the key of "E" on the instrumental "Falling from Grace".
"Kali Ma" is a collection of instrumentals I did using the Cuatro(a puerto rican sort of mandolin). They were improvised as I recorded them. Some of them have a composition, so I can play them live the way they are. The music is has an eastern flavor, but they are not whole hearted traditional music. Some tracks we're inspired from movies such as "Excaliber", or "Last Temptation of Christ".
This cd contains an old song I did called "Who I am". The song explains to me spiritual awakening, and is very sort of rythmic, and tribal. I wrote this in reaction to a book I read, called "Living with Kundalini", by Gopi Krishna. I tried to capture the song as best I could, so enjoy. The rest of the album is a reaction to what someone said about Sing-a-Song.
There wasn't enough upbeat songs. So the rest of the cd is kind of upbeat. I don't know though.
"It isn't safe to walk around here anymore", is a
brooding, spooky trip into a world of apprehension, and
paranoia. This is by far my favorite album. It illustrates my fears
and my paranoid fantasies. When I feel scared I play this, cause
I feel it gives me a little strength in dealing with reality."
"Sing-a-Song" is a classic collection of songs. This is me at my best so far, writing
Bowiesque little dittys with the intent of being a little dark, but a little pop at the same time.
The cd matures through time. I appreciate it the more I move on with song writing.
"Suicide" is the first set of recordings I did on my own. I just started to use
the recorder, and I experimented alot with different recording techniques. Some of the songs
are very trippy, and very delicate. Most of the album is very folky, but in a modern way. I tried to evoke
a certain feeling, and I did suprise myself. One person I met, of whom I gave a cd to, described it as being "captivating".
.
This is a Cd single contains the title track "Freak'in Out", and
the follow up song "Loonier than Loony". This song was produced by Steve Cluthe. It was inspired by Cypress Hill,
Bjork, Renegade Soundwave, and the old days, driving around toking it up, and
getting into adventures. I used to play this song for my friends while they where stoned, so it became an instant favorite. I am glad I still have a copy of it!!!
This is a rare recording of a show at Pottgrove high school talent show. (It is
to be noted that this was the first recording that was submitted to our producer before we recorded
the above tracks.)
11. The Burning Live(19:36) minutes
This Cd contains six songs done by the band "The Burning"
in the late eighties. The music is basically post-punk, gothic, and slightly industrial. It is a shame that
the band fizzled out, even before they got started. I wasn't satisfied, and wanted to continue on.
I wish I had the team now to produce my songs, but oh well. (Produced by Ian Cross, and
Scott Bricklin) All songs written by Michael D'Orazio, and Mike Smash, except for track 6.
Track 6 was produced by Steve Cluthe, and a guest appearance on guitar
by Rich Bickell.
Buy my book of lyrics!! From 1989-2008!!
$15.00
I put together this lyric book to commemorate all the writing I since the late
eighties. The work spans from my work with the band called "The Burning", songs I did called
"Freak'in Out", all the songs I wrote from 2004 to 2008. This will be the first volume. I am sure
there will be a second volume in about another ten years. I hope.
