Frank Orrall is the founder, frontman / multi-instrumentalist for the ‘Acous-tronic’ Rock & Soul group; Poi Dog Pondering.

He is also: Percussionist and Singer for the D.C. based outernationalists; Thievery Corporation.
(His other side projects include: Palm Fabric Orchestra, Soft Explosion, Mourning Doves and 8fatfat8).

His Solo show, “The Suitcase Show”: is a combination of unique Video and Audio backing tracks,
Stories, various instruments, and a suitcase full of surprises. He often travels with a handful of co-conspirators & musical collaborators.

Raised in the Hawaiian Ocean; Frank Orrall is the Son of a Solar Physicist Father, and a Folk song singing Mother. Learning Guitar from his Mother, and a love of poetry and nature from his Father; Frank began to record a series of homemade solo cassette albums out of his bedroom in 1984, and released them on consignment at local record stores around Honolulu and Southern California, under the moniker; Poi Dog Pondering. Since then he has recorded for Texas Hotel Records, Sony Records, Tommy Boy Records & currently, his own label; Platetectonic Recordings.

Frank has lived between Honolulu, San Francisco, New York, Austin Tx., and Chicago. Collaborating along the way with a wide array of fantastic Musicians & Co-conspirators; releasing 8 full length albums as PDP, and traveling extensively with them (and Thievery Corporation); For the love of Music, Prose & Adventure.

He is currently living in Sonoma, CA & recording new albums for Poi Dog Pondering, Los Inmortales & Mourning Doves.


ON SALE NOW!

FRANK ORRALL’S DEBUT BOOK OF PROSE, POETRY & LYRICS - 2nd pressing

Contact Frank Orrall and Poi Dog Pondering at:  info@platetectonicmusic.com

Frank Orrall is a Musician / Poet / Composer, and, the founder, front man / guitarist for the Rock & Soul group; Poi Dog Pondering
He is also: Percussionist and Singer for the D.C. based; Thievery Corporation.
(His other side projects include: Palm Fabric Orchestra, Mourning Doves, Soft Explosion and, 8fatfat8).

Raised in the Hawaiian Ocean, Frank Orrall is the Son of a Solar Physicist Father, and a Folk song singing Mother. Learning Guitar from his Mother, and a love of poetry and nature from his Father; Frank began to record a series of homemade solo cassette albums out of his bedroom in 1984, and released them on consignment at local record stores around Honolulu and Southern California, under the alias; Poi Dog Pondering. Since then he has lived between San Francisco, New York, Austin Tx., and Chicago. Collaborating along the way with a wide array of fantastic Musicians & Co-conspirators; releasing 8 full length albums as PDP,  and traveling extensively with them (and Thievery Corporation); For the love of Music, Prose & Adventure.
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Street Musician. Drummer. Guitar Player. Writer of Prose. Body Surfer.
Collector of instruments, Record albums and Swim Fins.
Touring Musician: Poi Dog Pondering, Thievery Corporation (& Federico Aubele's early tours)
He Loves to Cook, Drink Wine & Play Music.
Biggest Dream: To voyage the Pacific on a sailboat".

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Frank Orrall, Smith's cover: “THIS NIGHT HAS OPENED MY EYES”

Click photos of Album Covers to preview or Download

"AMA" Solo Album of selected songs by other artists from Poi Dog Pondering's Frank Orrall.
Including songs written by: Scott Walker, Paul Weller, Woodentops, The Smiths, Lou Reed, The Velvet underground, Cole Porter, Edwyn Collins (Orange Juice), Van Morrison, Sade & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Produced by Frank Orrall   / Mixed by Ted Cho & Frank Orrall/ Mastered by Carl Saff
 
With special guest Musicians:
Paul Von Mertens, Ron Hall,  Alison Chesley, Julio Davis, Rick Gehrenbeck, John Nelson, Ted Cho, Susana Maria Voelz, Bruce Hughes, Chris Fernandez-Pellon Larumbe, Rob Myers, Dag Juhlin, Ashish Vyas, Gilles Aniorte-Tomassian, Mariko Usui & Sanequa Young

01: Duchess ->>>  Writer: SCOTT WALKER
02: My Ever Changing Moods ->>>   Writer: PAUL WELLER
03: Everything Breaks ->>>   Writer: ROLO MCGINTY
04: This Night Has Opened My Eyes ->>>   Writer: JOHNNY MARR, STEVEN MORRISSEY
05: Over You ->>>   Writer: LOU REED
06: Coney Island Steeplechase ->>>   Writers: VELVET UNDERGROUND
07: I Concentrate On You ->>>    Writer: COLE PORTER
08: Intuition Told Me, Part 1 ->>>   Writer: EDWYN STEPHEN COLLINS
09: Crazy love ->>>   Writer: VAN MORRISON
10: By Your Side ->>>   Writers: SADE ADU, STUART MATTHEWMAN, ANDREW HALE, PAUL S. DENMAN
11: The World's Strongest Man ->>>   Writer: SCOTT WALKER
12: Aguas de Marco ->>>   Writer: ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM

Platetectonic Music Announces Release of
SOLO ALBUM BY FRANK ORRALL
(of Poi Dog Pondering)
A hand made recording entitled: "Never Trade These Days"
Available for digital down load & CD mail delivery at
http://www.poidogpondering.com/store_NeverTradeTheseDays.php

Coming soon to itunes

Track listing:
 
1 - CALL OUT TO ME
2 - THREE SUMMER STORIES
3 - LIFE IS HARD
4 - GODLESS CHURCH
5 - I'M NOT GONNA WANNA LEAVE WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO
6 - MY PAST IS A MYSTERY & MY FUTURE IS UN-WRITTEN
7 - NEVER TRADE THESE DAYS
8 - LITTLE BLOSSOMS FALLING DOWN
9 - YOU'RE LIKE A WHISPERWILL
 
 

Written, Recorded, Mixed & Produced by Frank Orrall
Recorded at Hibiscus Blood Muscle
All instruments played by Frank Orrall
C & P 2012 Guava Juice Music BMI
(Life Is Hard contains a sample of Kahil el Zabar on his home made Hand Drums)

NOTES ON THE MAKING OF THE RECORD : By Frank Orrall
 
 
"Every record is a new experiment.
One of the major driving factors for me making this record was that I missed the simple process of how when I first started writing and recording music, at first on my brother's 4 track cassette recorder (and then later with a Fostex cassette 4 track I bought, and set up make shift studio in my bedroom).  Don't get me wrong... I really, really love the proper modern recording studio; fully... to the maximum. However, I also love the original song idea that comes about when you are brain storming pre studio. The Home Studio.
The first 2 PDP records where based on songs from bedroom recording cassettes (the 1st PDP cassette albums).
There is a little magic that gets captured when the vibe is easy and loose.
And with the advent of high quality portable recording gear, what we used to make as demos can now very easily be master recordings.
Now more than ever, it is available to us to capture great quality recordings anywhere (and if the first take is good, which it often is.... you get to keep it:).
Whenever PDP records in a proper studio we make arrangements with the owner of the studio for us to sleep on the couch or the floor if we need to. I like to sleep where I am recording so I can wake up and work when ever I want...& follow the ghost of the song no matter what hour it comes to me.  So, for this record, I made a monk's bed in my living room studio & took my meals, coffee and wine at the mixing desk & slept 4 feet away from my recording equipment and in the room with all my instruments. It really brought me back the a really good place for writing songs; a gentile place where song buds can bloom, free from any expectations,  except to just be their own unique selves. I am very happy to visit the original process again".

"A Lusciously Cinematic 10 song suite. An ever unfolding tour de force of sublime musicality. A Naturalist's soundtrack; subtly stunning".

The Debut album from Frank Orrall's ELECTRONIC Solo project, 8fatfat8. This album was recorded around the same time as "In Seed Comes Fruit" and features lots of brilliant guest appearances from many PDP members and friends.

FEATURING: Charlette Wortham, Alison Chesley, Susan Voelz, Paul Mertens, Carla Prather, Ari Brown, Joe Sonnefeldt + more.