Description
The self-titled major label debut album by the American synth-pop band Painted Orange was released on StarSong Records in 1991. (The band had previously self-released a cassette.) The album was produced by Otto M (a.k.a. Mark McCurdy).
The long-awaited label debut from Painted Orange, after a rave-up performance at the C’Stone fest a year or two back and an indie cassette that has been all the rage in the underground, seems to indicate (along with first time releases from Code of Ethics and Deitiphobia) that the wall between contemporary Christian music and Euro/tech/dance music is the next culture barrier to fall. And it’s about time. Painted Orange moves toward a more commercial sounding, owing more in tone and style to the “Axel F” theme from Beverly Hills Cop than it does to the mainstream kings of techno-pop, Depeche Mode and Erasure.
While this may insure a broader appeal for this Christian trio, fans of cutting edge sounds (having heard bands like Nitzer Ebb and Nine Inch Nails move toward industrial, rap and garage rock, while Jesus Jones melds keyboard sampling with classic rock songsmanship and sterling pop melodies), are certain to find this somewhat of a time-capsule piece. The fact that Mad at the World sounded more vital and timely in this genre four years ago, before it figured out how far we’ve yet to go. Still, Painted Orange seems well intentioned, and like Michael Peace’s first major label Christian rap album, this band is bound to win more fans with sugar than the straight medicine.
And what hard medicine there is can be found in lyrics like the opener «Colours», which offers the judgement concerning the end of a person mesmerized by our culture’s fascination with the external signs of success, who “stands alone in God’s perfect light.” Like the first half of a good Lutheran sermon, Greg Fain’s lyrics present a dynamic picture of the Law, however the song ends before presenting the Gospel response. Elsewhere, Painted Orange tells the whole story, as «Voyager», which opens with the only totally cool sample here (previously heard on this same track on the indie), assures us that “the Son rises in the stormy sky/ …None perish when the voyager leads/ He pilots us through the stormy seas.”
Painted Orange and the few others named are opening an important door, allowing for more vital and contemporary sounds to follow. Although this trio has not grown appreciably since its indie release, this only serves to raise the expectations we have for a sophomore effort. It is the challenge of all Christian artists in general, and specifically of artists in cutting edge genres, to find one’s own voice while not losing ground to creative trends and fashion. Painted Orange has made a strong first step. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, December 1991]
What is this music? I kept wanting to say that this band sounded like another artist but I somehow couldn’t quite manage it. Painted Orange have gained the ability to play sounds that resemble other, more familiar artists and yet keep a unique identity of their own. I’m impressed! If you insist on pigeonholes let’s call it Eurotech/dance, the ‘Euro’ despite the fact that they hail from the States. Like other products of the US Christian underground, bands like Code Of Ethics and Deitiphobia, Painted Orange have at last picked up the gauntlet thrown down by the early techno Mad At The World. If you’re hip enough to have the ‘Painted Orange’ privately recorded cassette, fear not, this is a new album… their first with a big CCM push. Sowhazitlike? Just about every track is multi-layered, meaning that you can listen to them three or four times in succession and not get bored. Because of this advantage, Greg Fain’s lyrics are given a chance to sink in and do their work. “Take a look in the mirror and see the lines upon your face, are you really satisfied?” – “I’m here calling and you’re there standing still”: «Standing Still». For me, some of the outstanding racks were the first, «Colours», with it’s slightly eery intro which progresses through synthesized strings, to a punchy, aggressive dance track. In complete contrast, «Amanda», although containing an evident beat, is definitely a ballad. The use of strings is also fused into the track and along with a soft sounding electric piano, an effective yet airy song is produced. In my opinion, a band who can sound familiar and yet new and fresh must be good. Painted Orange live up to this expectation. [Debbie Edington, Cross Rhythms, February 1992]
[Dan MacIntosh, Harvest Rock Syndicate, November 1991]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/painted-orange/716114146)
CD tracklist:
01. Colours – 5:13
02. Shake Me – 4:53
03. Amanda – 5:00
04. Voyager – 4:56
05. Standing Still – 4:01
06. Stay Please Stay – 5:20
07. To Carry On – 5:08
08. You Walked – 4:41
09. Bow Down – 4:57
10. Hands – 4:34
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by StarSong Records.
About the cassette demo.
There were actually 2 original cassette versions. One was on “Spin” records and it was the original. Then we went back into the studio and added Craig Fain on guitars which really spiced up the tracks. The only way to tell the two releases apart is that one will have a “Spin” logo and the other won’t .. and the fact you’ll hear Craig’s rippen 2 string “luck” guitar. 🙂
Rumors, Temptation and We Refuse were left off the Starsong release. To be honest Starsong didn’t know what to do with us. Mothers Day ALMOST made the cut. Nutshell, Starsong pressed our demo with the “Depressed Blue Orange” CD. Grrrrrr The fact we were able to record our demo on a 16 track.. well.. 15 because one track was dead .. recorder is an accomplishment in itself… [Otto M]
Once upon a time there were two bands. Painted Orange, which was Brad (forgot his last name), Gary Parsons, Kevin Schumacher, Mike Owens and a little visit from Sherri Shaw. The other band was Bristol Fashion which was me, Mark aka Otto, Craig Fain and John Lovell. Both bands were writing and recording around the same time period and in fact, I think we even did a few shows together in the Tulsa Area. Long story short (and a lot of stupid drama later) I ended up replacing Brad in Painted Orange. The PO guys liked the material I had written with Craig and John and I liked theirs. Since Craig and John had moved on with the Bristol Fashion name and new material, I kept using songs like Shake Me, Stay, You Walked, Colours, Invitation, We Refuse, etc with the PO guys. Shortly after that, we received the invite to Cornerstone and from there Starsong heard and signed us pretty much on the spot. At this point Starsong asked for everything we had ever recorded. We turned in the Educate Recordings (which you have seen in some of the conversations above) which were recorded by the original PO guys, and we turned in the Bristol Fashion Demo along with 2 or 3 new songs. Out of all the material handed in, Starsong chose and pressed the CD using Bristol Fashion’s songs. The only material on the CD that was not written by Bristol Fashion was Hands and Voyager which were new songs Gary, Mike, Kevin and I had written after I joined PO. So nutshell, Starsong wanted the Bristol Fashion Music but wanted the Painted Orange name. That’s why if you look at the credits on the CD you will see Craig Fain’s name all over it. We used to joke about it being the Greg Brady scenario (Brady Bunch), the episode where they signed “Johnny Bravo” because he “fit the suit”. Haha
Got this off the net. Somebody owning all 3 demo cassette tapes of P.O. before their Star Song releases.
1) Educate_ — a 6-song EP that sounds like a rip-off of Depeche Mode, and one song that sounds like an old Men Without Hats song. The songs are: Moon People, Testimony, How We Live, Mechanical Christian, Broken Things and Legend. Some of them are actually OK. It was made in 1989, and theband members are listed as: Gary Parson, Kevin Schumacher, Brad Becker, and Sheri S.
2) Painted Orange_ — Florescent orange version. This is the one they were selling at Cornerstone ’90, along with _Educate_ (until it sold out). The list is: Voyager, Shake Me, Temptation, Standing Still, Piano Heaven, We Refuse, Mothers Day, Twisted, Run To Your Love, Rumors, and Invitation.This is the best of them all. It fits together great. It was made in 1990, and the band members are listed as: Otto-M, Gary Parson II, Kevin Schumacher, and Mike Owens.
3) Painted Orange_ — Red-orange version. This is the tape that True Tunes sent me when I ordered more in the fall of ’90. The difference from the above version is that the cover is a more red-orange color, and the guitar parts are different on a few songs. I’m not sure which version I like better. The earlier version is a little more techo-sounding because of less guitar, I guess. These are the versions of the songs that were shoved on to the Star Song release. The date is still 1990, and the difference on the inside is that Mike Owens is no longer there, and Craig Fain is listed in his place. Some “thanks to” listings are different.
https://www.youtube.com/user/paintedorange
the Otto M, John L, and Craig Fain lineup
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