Orange Cake Mix

Biography

Orange Cake Mix is the nom de plume of Connecticut resident Jim Rao. A prolific singer/songwriter, Jim began scribbling lyrics and humming his own melodies as a child; in the early '90s, he started recording his compositions on cassettes. He thought of the name Orange Cake Mix while stocking shelves in a supermarket. In June 1995, Jim released his first album, More Mellow Hits. True to its appellation, More Mellow Hits was a collection of acoustic pop inspired by the '70s soft rock of Bread and America. He would eventually explore other genres of music, embracing the synthesized rhythms of Depeche Mode and New Order, as well as the otherworldly sonic landscapes of Brian Eno. A second full-length, Grapefruit, followed a year later. Jim's 1997 album, Another Orange World, drew comparisons to David Bowie's early '80s work, while 2001's A Shadow of Eclipse and Other Phases of the Moon recalled Robert Fripp, Brian Wilson, and Saint Etienne. By juggling easy listening music with excursions into electronics, Jim Rao has carved his own niche in the independent scene. Orange Cake Mix has also been included on numerous compilations; moreover, Orange Cake Mix have released a number of songs — as well as entire albums — available only on tapes. — Michael Sutton, All Music Guide

Discography

albums and singles

More Mellow Hits CD Elefant Records 1995
Grapefruit CD Blackbean&Placenta 1996
Observations of Tomorrow and Today 12" Blackbean&Placenta 1996
Look For a Place in the Sun 12" Blackbean&Placenta 1995
Fluffy Pillow CD Fuzzy Box 1997
Blue Island Sound CD Elefant/Tokuma Japan 1997
Silver Lining Under Water CD/LP Darla Records 1997
Lovecloud and Secret Tape CD Blackbean&Placenta 1997
Another Orange World CD/LP Darla Records 1997
37 Shades of Blue 7" Tinseltones 1997
If You See Me/Blank Pages/Rivers and Trees 7" The Bus Stop Label (BUS047) 1997
Like Waves in Space CDEP Elefant Records 1997
Heaven is Rising 7" Darla Records 1997
Take A Holiday 7" Elefant Records 1997
Ocean Rainbow CD Tokuma Japan 1998
Microcosmic Wonderland CDEP/10" A.I.P. 1998
Beach Flower EP 7" Clover Records 1999
Dream Window CD Clover Records 1999
There Are No Words 7" Sonic Syrup 1999
Pink Grapefuit CD Vroomsound 1999
A Shadow of Eclipse and Other Phases of the Moon CD Blackbean&Placenta 2001

compilations

"Too Shelfish to Say It's True" on Transatlantic Pop Explosion compilation 7" Pillarbox Red 1993
"Yearbook Photograph" +" Be With Me Tonight" + "Mellow Kit" + The Doctor's Wife" on Going Against Maz's Advice compilation CD Four Letter Words 1995
"2 C U" on Champagne Dancing Party compilation 7" Cher Doll Records 1995
"You See Too" on Elefant Juice compilation CD Elefant Records 1995
"Only A Movie Can Make It Last" on La Maison Du Blackbean compilation 12" Blackbean&Placenta 1995
"A Dream Away" on Elefant Radio 68.2 compilation CD Elefant Records 1996
"Fresh Coffee" on Pop American Style compilation DCD March Records 1996
"Soft Edges" on Whiskey, You're the Devil compilation CD Cactus Gum Records 1997
"When the Sky Was Falling Down On You" on Something Cool compilation CD Cher Doll Records 1997
"Wings Greatest" + "The Ballad of Sonny Jim" on Little Darla Has A Treat For You Vol.6 compilation CD Darla Records 1997
"Holiday" on I Sarted A Joke (Bee Gees Tribute) compilation CDEP Sunday Records 1997
"Remember the Summer" on Little Darla Has A Treat For You Vol.7 compilation CD Darla Records 1997
"Don't Ever Tell Me You Miss the 70's" on Little Darla Has A Treat For You Vol.8 compilation CD Darla Records 1997
"Glorified Abyss (Psychic Hindu Mix)" on Winter Rose compilation CD (w/Beikoku Ongaku Magazine issue 10) Beikoku Ongaku 1997
"In Springtime" on The Rain Falls on the Shortest Haircut compilation 7" Motorway Records 1997
"Cinema Creation" on Mind Expansion Vol.3 compilation 7" Expansion Records 1998
"Springfield" on Eyes...Easy on the Ears compilation CD Blackbean&Placenta 1998
"Lucky 13" on The Travelling Companion compilation 12" Blackbean&Placenta 1998
"Out of This World" on Little Darla Has A Treat For You Vol.12 compilation CD Darla Records 1999
"Palm Tree Heaven" on The Bedtime Record Comp. compilation 7" The Bedtime Record 1999
"Sweetest Girl in the World" + "Oceanside 72" on Summer Sampler '99 compilation CD Blackbean&Placenta 1999
"Dream a Summer Dream" on Pop in Clap compilation CD Vroomsound 1999
"Her Mellowness" on Little Darla Has A Treat For You Vol.13 compilation CD Darla Records 1999

split releases

"Crisp Lettuce" + "Fast Food Part 2" w/Fuxa split 7" Astolane Records 1996
"Crystal Lake" + "Sunday Kind of Girl" w/Tricycle Popstar split 7" Blackbean&Placenta 1997
"You Don't Want Me Anymore" + "Shell of a Dreamer" + "The Brightest Sunrise" w/Beanmix split 7" Myke Droner 1997
"The Sky is Empty" + "Secret Nature Sings" w/Mandorris split 7" Blackbean&Placenta 1998
"When the Sun Shines Down on the Town You Leave Behind" + "Sky Blue Ocean Song" w/Denver split 7" Blackbean&Placenta 1998
Good Morning Shiva EP w/Metronome split 12" Blackbean&Placenta 1998
"There's Always A Light That Shines" + "Someone To Live For" w/Beanmix split 5" Blackbean&Placenta 1999

miscellaneous

"Ocean Sunrise" on Belly Up and Down For Davey Jones compilation cassette Flannel Banjo 1996
"Summer Sunshine Girl" on Cheese compilation cassette Nearsighted 1996
"Val Ginger" on McBain compilation cassette (w/Runaway Balloon fanzine #2) 1996
"Belly of the Whale" on Prisoner of the Spectacle: A Tribute to Charlie McAlister compilation cassette Doormat 1997
"Space in Waves" on Switzerland is My Beat compilation cassette Granted Passage 1997
Silver Lining Under Water cassetteLP Clover Records 1997
Smiles 4 Sale cassetteLP self released 1999
Red Rose Speedway cassetteLP Best Kept Secret 1999
various self released cassettes in the early 90's

Further Information

orangecakemix

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