Memoir (2008)

MEMOIR REVIEW 23rd August 2008

Mode possesses eclectic talents, proved by his hilarious first novel A Café in Venice. This trio album is a companion to his second novel, The Mozart Maulers, which tells the unlikely tale of a Sydney Conservatorium rugby league team. Where the book is comic, however, Mode’s lyrics are pastel-hued observations and gentle confessions. Swirling amid the sensitive playing are musically resourceful songs, overlaid with words containing poignant little stings, which suck you into Mode’s very personal and satisfying vision.   

JOHN SHAND - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

A Cafe in Venice (2002)

Stephen Sondheim has observed that a well-crafted song is like a one-act-play, with a beginning, middle and end, and character development. It is an observation that applies beyond music theatre. Dorian Mode crafts songs to take the listener on a journey. They tell old stories of loves lost and hearts broken, but with individual quirks of perspective and imagery. It is the same flair that informs his funny, sad and metaphysical novel which shares this album's title, and which incorporates some of the lyrics. The CD, in turn, includes a reading from the wittily entitled Alas, that was the Winter of my Discount Tent chapter, with atmospheric commentary from Mode's piano and Jason Morphett's tenor saxophone. There is an uneasy tension between the melancholy of most of the songs and the rather neutral crooning style Mode adopts to sing them. Yet the lyrics keep you listening, and the arrangements are shrewd, with stylish solos from Morphett (especially his soprano on At Midnight and trumpeter Don Rader. Singer Nicky Crayson duets attractively with Mode on Out of the Rain, and, beyond the originals there is a fine reading of Prince's Sign O' the Times - John Shand, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Man, Dig That Groovy Mode (1989)

Dorian Mode is a fledgling jazz sensation - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Dorian mode is very, very hip. A great debut album - DAILY MIRROR

Backed by a neat little combo, ‘Man, Dig that Groovy Mode’ is refreshing and should live up to all expectations - PLAYBOY

Rebirth of the Cool (1991)

Mode swings stylishly on Rebirth of the Cool with songs that conjure up late night moods through their upbeat melancholy and seductive grooves - SUNDAY TIMES

Rebirth of the Cool shares a lot of characteristics with other jazz artist such as Vince Jones and Harry Connick Jnr; a sense of heritage and delivery that is somehow simultaneously warm yet cool, and the power to fill a room with a velvet ambience that enshrouds and engulfs. - ON THE STREET

Cool album, big impact, from a great artist - SWING JOURNAL JAPAN

As the title suggests: cool voice, cool music, a cool jazz feeling that engulfs you - JAZZ LIFE JAPAN

His effortless synthesis of influences and passion for producing accessible contemporary jazz belie a great gift - the ability to extend tradition without trying to impress. He is simply a natural. This album is class stuff. - NEW WOMAN MAGAZINE

His music can be described in one word: stylish! - AD LIB JAPAN

Cafe of Broken Dreams (1993)

Dorian Mode is unquestionably one of Australia’s great jazz artists; a reputation that is only enhanced by the release of his third album ‘Cafe of Broken Dreams’. Simply put, this is a brilliant effort and heartily welcome. - SYDNEY NEWS CRITICS CHOICE

A quality singer who excels on the piano and organ. - THE BULLETIN

Dorian Mode was a pianist first till everyone began hounding him, saying, can you sing? And boy, can he do both! A great album - THE ADVOCATE

Dorian Mode is a wonderful artist as a vocalist and composer and arranger. His originals have a unique tone of hopeless longing. I could not help but be absorbed in listening. - SWING JOURNAL JAPAN

I was impressed after listening to his latest album. The complicated harmony used to create a more sensual sound has made this album not only vocally but instrumentally appealing. - AD LIB JAPAN