Back in the late 50s and early 60s, music fans that weren’t into jazz, Elvis or pretty pop were looking for something a bit more esoteric and “hep” to play in their pads to impress their friends and chicks Enter artists such as Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Esquivel, Yma Sumac and Les Baxter who were the ambassadors of the style Exotica, an amalgam of sounds from the South Pacific and beyond.
This fascinating and wonderfully kitschy 3 disc set collects the moods in categories “Daiquiri Dirges,” “Rhum Rhapsodies” and “Mai Tai Mambos.” What this boils down to is some Dick Dale guitars slithering to pieces like “Blue Oasis,” “Chant of the Jungle” and “ Jungle Guitar” on the Dirges section, some other worldly female voices from the rain forest during Rhapsodies such as “Tumba,” “Isle of Love” and “Voodoo Kiss,” and some exotic rhythms, horns and organs on Mambos like “ Lion Hunt,” “Arabian Rhythm” or “Similou.”
At times the songs come across like vintage Perez Prado, particularly on the “Mambo,” whereas songs for the background to a James Bond movie are conjured on the delightful “Dirges.” Who lead the conga line with the lampshade on his head for these songs? If you want a fun party, consider this the soundtrack-everyone jump into the pool!