Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 1: Mondo Exotica

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 1: Mondo Exotica

“Ah, exotica, that most bizarre of subgenre of American jazz popular in the late 50s through the mid-60s that was an aural ersatz approximation of world music through an atomic prism. It didn’t actually sound anything like real music from a Hawaiian luau or the folk sounds of the Amazon, nor did it resemble anything out of the Andes or African tribal drums. Exotica was a pure fantasy creation that sounded right at home in the clean, rounded futuristic spaces viewed on The Jetsons. Exotica relied upon a combination of rhythms (bongos, conga, bamboo sticks, vibes) alongside found sounds (jungle cat roars, primate shrieks, and bird calls most prominently) to give the vaguest sense of travelogue and safari-like adventures. The whole thing is infinitely preposterous, and then you add in the ” read more

500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die! (500 music items)

"Built around Martin Denny’s Hawaiian-influenced sound, which gave birth to the exotica genre. Just the thing when your seduction skills would benefit from the right soundtrack. Standout track: Martin Denny, “Quiet Village”"