Exotica - Martin Denny

Exotica
Martin Denny
Liberty LST 7034
1959

My parents had no exotica records nor do I remember any of their friends playing this stuff at their parties.  I suppose they were a little too young for it, by the time I came around this stuff was probably already considered passé.  Bossa nova, samba or crooners were more their style.  If my father wanted to hear something exotic, he put on Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.  I grew up unaware of Martin Denny and probably would have gone to my grave without ever hearing him were it not for the lounge revival of the 1990s.  What were once thrift store nuisances, suddenly became collector's items to hipsters.  Exotica and lounge bins appeared in record stores stocked with over-priced Les Baxter albums.  I didn't bite but when the fad eventually diminished, I ended up with a bunch of Capitol's "Ultra-Lounge" series of CD compilations when a friend who did bite, decided to pare down her CD collection and gave them to me.  To my surprise, I actually liked much of the stuff on the comps which is how I ended up with this album, my first Martin Denny record which I picked up for a buck in a thrift store.  Exotica collectors generally prefer the mono version of this album which was recorded in 1956 and released in 1957.  The stereo album was re-recorded later to cater to the growing hi-fi market and cash in on the success of the single release of "Quiet Village."  I'm happy enough with this version which sounds great.  The album consists entirely of Asian and Polynesian flavored instrumentals driven by Denny on piano and Julius Wechter on vibes.  The best song is "Quiet Village" which was originally recorded by exotica pioneer Les Baxter.  The band adds exotic bird calls to the song and with its languid bongo rhythm track, it is a tiki classic.  "Return to Paradise" is a cover of a Dimitri Tiomkin tune for the film of the same name.  It is too sedate and stodgy for my taste.  "Hong Kong Blues" is a cover of a Hoagy Carmichael song.  It is incredibly corny and stereotypical, but I appreciate its energy.  The Denny group returns to Les Baxter for a lively version of "Busy Port" that is one of the most exciting tracks on the album.  Cyril Scott's "Lotus Land" gets a light jazz adaptation that is mostly successful.  Side one ends with "Similau" by Arden Clar and Harry Coleman which gets the full tiki treatment, bongos, bird cries and bamboo sticks.  It is one of my favorite tracks on the record.  Side two opens with another robust Les Baxter cover, "Stone God."  August Colon's strong percussion playing propels it forcefully and Denny and Wechter offer dynamic performances on top.  Another winner.  The group slows the pace for an atmospheric performance of Baxter's "Jungle Flower," which like all of the other Baxter songs on the record, was taken from Baxter's classic 1951 album "Ritual of the Savage."  Asian musical cliches return for "China Nights" by Nobuyuki Takeoka and "Ami Wa Furi" by Gil Baumgart.  They are followed by the dreamy and romantic "Waipio" by Francis Brown.  The group tackles Baxter once more for the album closer, "Love Dance" which rehashes "Quiet Village" to give the record a strong finish.  I enjoy this record, but I'm hesitant to fully recommend it.  If I'm not in the right mood, it sounds like vulgar kitsch to me or even worse it puts me to sleep.  Neither Wechter nor Denny had the musical ability to transcend the stereotypes inherent in this musical approach.  Nonetheless when I'm feeling romantic or nostalgic, this record can push a lot of my buttons.  Plus the cover photo is fabulous.  Recommended as a soundtrack record next time you are drinking a Mai Tai on a warm summer evening.