the sworn enemy of professionalism and/or hipness.
long wordy write-ups are unnecessary, let the music speak for itself.
If any artist would like their post removed, I will gladly do so.
IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO CONTACT ME, PLEASE USE THE COMMENT BOX ON THE POST IN QUESTION AND I SHOULD REPLY WITHIN A FEW DAYS.
So yep, another tape of noisy guitar sounds best suited for background music (not the best music to listen to small samples, better to play the whole thing and focus on something else)...and I recently started a bandcamp for Periscope Breath, and rather than this band dominating the release roster for the label, P-Breath is breaking out with "pay what you want" AKA free downloads there and super limited editions of 10 cassettes per album ($6 including shipping in US, others write first).
If by small chance you're into this stuff, check the bandcamp every few months, there will very likely be another tape.
Uuhngreh Schpuggenuh is very happy to announce the split release, with Ack! Ack! Ack! Records, between Ivan the Tolerable (Middlesbrough, UK) and Kaleidoscope Death (Greensboro, NC, USA), limited to 50 copies from either label...comes with download code and everything.
Ivan the Tolerable is the relentlessly prolific (and somehow always REALLY fucking good) solo project of Oli Heffernan, from the equally prolific/great Year of Birds...and many Ivan songs end up on Y.O.B. records. This release is even more direct than previous Ivan releases, using traditional rock band instrumentation (guitar, bass, drums, vocals) than past releases with drum machines and keyboards (not that there's anything wrong with that!). Full throttle intelligent but not too brainy post-punk-garage blasts with hooks galore burning through 12 tracks in under 15 minutes. Anyone into amped up rock should be into this...
Kaleidoscope Death doubles the instrumentation of the past few efforts (few things are more baffling to KD than having to fill 8 tracks) and the songs get a little longer (7 in under 15 minutes), one almost gets up to 3 minutes! Again, lo-fi post-punk-garagish clang and meandering vocals are predominant.
Go figure these bands met on a Country Teasers fan page and are both enormous fans of the Fall and many many others in that vein. Trans-Atlantic music nerd super split!
TO ORDER YOUR OWN COPY:
USA: $7 including shipping- email gboronoise at yahoo dot com
For YEARS I've dreamed of finding an Esquivel record in a $1 bin, but I never expected it to be in such good shape. I even found very beat up, but playable, copies of Captain Beefheart's "Safe as Milk" and Electric Prunes "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night" on later trips.
Anyway, this record is a little different than other Esquivel albums. Rather than all kinds of instrumentation zooming all over the place, this is a more "straight forward" ensemble recording, focusing more on Esquivel's unrivaled piano skills, and still with those wonderfully wacky arrangements...maybe more like this music would've sounded performed live. Few geniuses were ever this much fun.
It's weird to find world music records with boobs on the cover in the dollar bin, well the back cover's got a little mold, but moldy boobs could get at least $2-3, right?
Great high energy record, more dance parties should have music like this, then maybe I'd go to one.
Record is a bit scratchy, but no skips or anything. By looking at the cover you can probably imagine exactly what this record sounds like, whether you find that to be a good or bad thing doesn't matter. It's a good record and it only cost $1. The opening track title just about sums it up: "Temptacious."
Never heard a gamelan record I didn't like, truly amazing music...one small skip on the record though.
If only American religious music was like this...
Another cheesy dollar bin easy listening record (and plenty more to come). For the life of me, I can't remember where I know the title track from...geez. There are some great tracks on here, plenty of wacky stereo separation, and to my delight the really low clarinet (don't remember what that's called either) and other less than traditional instrumentation adds that little something extra that corny jazzy music needs to stand apart from the boring ol' pack.
Great background music for, go figure, cocktails, lounging, and/or getting into something or another...
The Pheromoans- "Does This Guy Stack Up?"
This band is easily a favorite in contemporary music. Past efforts were rough and ramshackle DIY post-punk gems, in all their deadpan glory. The two mini-albums from 2011,"Bar-Rock" and "Darby, Joan, & Fosters," showed a path towards more, not necessarily polished, but clearer recordings and more pop leanings. This one goes another step further in that direction, and despite what many punk/garage fans may think, this is not a bad thing at all. Granted, "I'm Through with the Wedgie Cubist" (2009) is one of my favorite songs out there, and ideally I'd love more records like that, but I don't think I could continue to be interested by a band that continually played to fans' ideals.
The album starts out with a great one two punch, namely "The Final Sugar Rush" and "I'm a You-Know-What" (possibly the pop hit of the album) before venturing into more mysterious territory (odd ditties and pop hits in equal measure). "Power Watch" vaguely reminds me of "Chairs Missing" era Wire...maybe it's just the backing vocals. "Grab a Chair" plays like a cool guy slacker anthem, if slackers could bother with anthems.
Aside from art-punk leanings, there is a strong low-key garage influence too. Still plenty of wordy, smart, smart assed lyrics, that are better heard than read.
Basically, this music is hard to put into words (that's a very good thing, you know) and this record, and band for that matter, are for anyone with an adventurous taste is music and a sense of humor.
Even though this LP is more pop influenced, this is still not a record for the masses, just something wonderful for us weirdos.
The Sticks- "I Don't Like It"
I'm not entirely sure of the personnel, but this group does contain a Pheromoans member. The Sticks are even more stripped down and just as deadpan (maybe more?) than the Pheromoans. There are some similarities to their sounds, but now that I'm familiar with the Sticks, there's no mistaking them.
The first time I listened to this tape I was struck by how sparse it is...clean low-key guitar, bass, drums, and sometimes vocals all doing something completely off the beaten path. After the first listen, outside of a few tracks, I didn't really get it, but something made me keep flipping and re-flipping the tape all night. Then it made a hell of a lot of sense. I really recommend repeated listens to this band, really rewarding stuff here.
If the video below doesn't pique your interest, I really don't know what to say to you...
The Bomber Jackets- "Centurion Travel" 7"
In all honesty, electronic pop is not my favorite kind of music, granted a good song in any form is a good song regardless. My first introduction to this group (2/3 Pheromoans members, I think) was their split 7" with the Rebel. I think I'm a little partial to that one, though this one is not without its charm. I guess it is a little more electro-pop, so it just took a little getting used to for me, but considering the other contemporary electro-pop bands I have been subjected to, this one is a breath of fresh air in an array of synthetic shit.
Go figure that deadpan sense of humor is here, too...would be curious to hear their cassette releases...
As you can tell, this group of guys are really on the ball, hopefully they have more side projects I haven't heard of...a true hub of post-punk brilliance.
Up until a few months ago, I had more or less lost all hope of getting into new/younger bands (especially bands who called themselves Punk, who did not seem to have any idea what punk was about...but that's all subjective anyway), save a few of course. Then, through Oli at Ack! Ack! Ack! I started to hear more bands from the UK underground and hell if I wasn't hearing exactly what I'd been missing in contemporary music, especially the completely worthless "scene" in my hometown.
Two bands that immediately struck a chord with me were Yugoslavian Boys and Girl Sweat, and I was very excited to see that Onec Records putting out this LP, and it does not disappoint in any way, shape or form.
As for quick descriptions of the bands (sorry but comparisons are necessary...neither of the bands are knock-offs), Yugoslavian Boys remind me of a non-theatre school Screamers: no guitar, but distorted bass, bleeping synth, big fast fast beats, and manic hollering. When I sent a song to a friend, his first response was "I want to be in this band!" and he described them as "Devo on meth."
Girl Sweat reminds me of a swampier take on Dwarves "Horror Stories," sinister blues-ish garage punk through a wall of noise and presumably a drug/alcohol haze. Twisted garage stomp.
Most importantly both of these bands keep their approach to music fairly simple, rough, dirty, and volatile (all big compliments in my book). Both exude a sense of Rock n' Roll/Punk danger, not some hokey tough guy shit or posturing, but both provide a great soundtrack to go out and fuck shit up. Punk isn't supposed to be some grandiose gesture, it's low-brow art or anti-art and reductive in nature, but through that reduction bands can tap into a much more potent vein of creativity, which to me is far more endearing. It's also a very personal form of expression, basically just doing your own thing and not giving a fuck what other people think. Too many bands try too hard in many ways and want so badly to be thought of as amazing or some shit, but in doing so render themselves mediocre. These two bands stand apart (and above) by each taking a simple, direct approach and each putting their own spin on it, you know...what Punk Rock was supposed to be about in the first place, and the fact that it exists in 2012 outside of the Anarcho/crust/take everything so fucking seriously while all the bands all sound the same crowd is very comforting indeed, and like good punks, these bands don't want to make people comfortable and seem to have a damn good time doing so.
The record is limited to 100 copies, and unfortunately for you, may already be sold out...worth looking into ASAP, also comes with download code featuring 7 bonus tracks.
#1 is a bit constipated for now, but whatta #2 I've got here. 30 minute cassette of queasy guitar noise background music (no delays or loops allowed)...uuh, ambient noise drunk slacker lounge? Kaleidoscope Death side project.
Cassette comes with download code and I've got stickers coming soon, which will also be included.
Have 2 or 3 more releases in the works for the fall. More, and more to come at: http://uuhngrehschpuggenuh.bandcamp.com/
Order at: gboronoise at yahoo dot com
$5-in person
$7- mailed in USA
Everywhere else- Contact me and I'll figure it out.
$3 download on bandcamp.
Been thinking about it for a while, but I'm throwing caution to the wind and starting a small label.
I have 2 releases coming up:
1) Kaleidoscope Death- Normal Time (lathe cut 7")
2) Periscope Breath- Turdle-Head Blues (30 min. cassette)
There is a bandcamp page in the works, but not up and running yet.
So far it's only my own music, but hopefully that will change soon. I will gladly listen to demos etc., but no digital copies, please. E-mail me at gboronoise at yahoo dot com for mailing address for your tape, CD, or record. Hopefully I'll get enough to pull off a comp. soon, hint hint...
Music: http://uuhngrehschpuggenuh.bandcamp.com/
News n' such: http://www.facebook.com/UuhngrehSchpuggenuhRecords
I have a pretty good idea why but still have no idea why this band is still so unknown. Way better than almost every band that got decent attention in the 90's.
TFUL 282, whenever you do more shows, c'mon down to NC why not?
2x4's
Undertaker
Elgin Miller
You in a Movie
Waited Too Long
Holy Ghost
Million Dollars
The Operation
Four O'Clocker 2
Brains
More Glee
Most of Fellini's films made after 8 1/2, with the exception of Amarcord, seem to get mostly unenthusiastic reviews. Sure they are less structured, but to me that is not a negative trait at all. I think every film he made (still haven't seen La Voce Della Luna, not an affordable copy with English subtitles to be found) is great and the ones from his less popular period definitely get better the more I watch them.
Casanova was especially under-rated and one of his most dream-like films, even though they all were, which is certainly aided by Rota's haunting score, and I will admit that after Rota's death, the music in Fellini's films was not as strong. Though there are only a few melodies, re-done, on this album, it is no weakness. From the almost spooky Theme to the robotic rhythms to accompany Donald Sutherland's fully body lunge humping, this is a wonderfully atmospheric record I'm having a lot of trouble removing from the turntable.
Arthur Lyman got his start in Martin Denny's group, and after the first couple albums he took his Vibraphone and started his own group, which to me, made more dream-like albums. Hawaiian Sunset Vol. II is a perfect example of this. My brain feels melted after a few seconds and I only begin to somewhat snap back after the needle stops at the end of side 2...some of the most relaxing music I've ever heard. At least with this digital file you don't have the all too difficult task of getting up to flip the record.
Martin Denny takes a much different approach than the Jackie Gleason, "Aphrodisia" album posted below. The album opens with an energetic jungle beat accompanied by the buzzing of a fly, and is followed by songs that sound like they're meant to accompany ritualistic sex, no matter how easy going (still plenty of jungle calls, too).
A must for Denny fans, and a good starting point for virgins...Denny and company will easily have their way with you here.
Many people may only know Jackie Gleason as a fat bus driver threatening to beat his wife on The Honeymooners, but he also made tons of albums of tender songs for the sole purpose of creating an atmosphere for romance, and he was sure great on both fronts. Gleason also never used percussion, which makes his music that much woozier. Instead of the usual solo trumpet, a wheezing organ takes the lead on this album which is a nice touch. This record will turn your brain to butter whether you want to have sex with someone or not.
Some of you may know Anton Karas from his intoxicating score to Carol Reed's, "The Third Man" (a re-recording of the theme is featured here). If you know that then you'll have a good idea of what to expect here, and while the tracks featuring more instrumentation are very good, I've gotta say I prefer the solo zither tracks. I've never been to an Austrian Wine Garden, but outdoors, wine, and music like this seems like a perfect combination. I love music that makes drinkers feel classy, plus the zither is just a really cool sounding instrument, and Karas is an incredible performer.
As you may be able to tell by the titles, these are two records put out by the Crown Records label that are very heavily influenced by Duane Eddy. These may not be the most amazing instrumentals you've ever heard, but instrumental rock makes great background music and that is the best purpose for these records. With plenty of twangy guitars, big beats, and wailing saxes, here's 22 tracks of obscure Rn'R you'd probably've never heard otherwise....get cool!
This was taken from 3 sessions, two from '93 and one from '94. Unfortunately (or do I mean thankfully?) Trumans Water probably won't be part of the recent "I love everything 90's" trend (20 year pop-culture recycle program needs to be shut down, anyway) because they are probably just as challenging today as they were then (meant as a complement).
Somewhere I saw someone compare them to "early Pavement meets early Boredoms, but not as spazzy." There's a lot of room to go wrong there, but it's still pretty accurate, but I like these guys better than Pavement or Boredoms. I do hear post-punk and kraut rock influences, but they're still of their own time. I would think they would have a lot of appeal to Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 and Sun City Girls fans. Definitely not a band to play by any rules, thankfully.
This is the best young/contemporary band out there. Ramshackle post-punk with a sense of humor greatness.
So here's a collection of songs from various albums and EPs. The process of making a zip file created the order of the tracks, but it doesn't matter what order their songs are in...they're all really fucking good on their own. Listen repeatedly for your own good, and most importantly buy their records. Money spent in support of a band this great and the wonderful folks who run the labels that put these records out is money you should be spending. How the fuck do you think bands are able to make more records?
These guys have put out a lot of stuff in a handful of years and I sure hope they'll continue...
**better to watch it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F44SYrPljwA
Basically this is an experimental visualization of an 18 minute piece of experimental music, really cool stuff, reminded me a bit of Bill Morrison's "Decasia."
I recommend watching it on the biggest screen possible, in the dark, loud-ish, etc. It sounds cheesy, I'm sure, but no matter what you think of them, cliches became cliches because they're the truth. This is very atmospheric music and film, best to engulf yourself.
Anyway, with this gem, I may try to begin posting more film work, too. If you have any suggestions, put a link in the comments.
Excellent comp. limited to 50 cassette copies from Middlesbrough, UK's Ack! Ack! Ack! Records. Featuring out of print or unreleased tracks from The Rebel, Mike Watt, Jad Fair, GW Sok (from The Ex), dustDEVILS, Yuri Landman Ensemble, Year Of Birds, Kaleidoscope Death (my band), and many others from punk to lo-fi, garage, avant-garde, psychedelic, etc.
Up until recently I really hadn't heard any contemporary music that did much for me at all, but dammit if there isn't a totally kick ass UK underground scene. The Pheromoans are a new favorite, and if anyone has more recommendations, please share! Anyone who wants to share new music like this, your own or a mix tape, please post a link below in the comments.
Maybe it was 2005 when my buddy Erik was going on and on about this band and always playing this CD demo...completely smitten. Over the moon, even. I must admit his enthusiasm rubbed off on a bunch of us...I hope to do the same here.
Lo-fi (4-track) minimal jangle-y loose pop with noise interludes, in short, but let me tell you, these ladies have got some serious chops, good enough to pass love songs through my filters (not an easy task), and there's just some really great songs here, perfectly stripped down. Great soundtrack to Springtime intoxication. Good times!
Most of my friends seem frustrated at my complete lack of affection for any new/young bands. Sorry, but most of it doesn't speak to me at all. So imagine my surprise when I put this CD EP on. Quick bursts of lo-fi-post-punk-rawk. I hear influences of The Fall, Country Teasers, The Yummy Fur, and Urinals with plenty of Garage-y energy, AKA right up my weird narrow alley. This was originally released on a split cassette with Girl Sweat (from Leeds) December, 2011. How's that for contemporary music appreciation?!
For fans of The Rebel, you may recognize Year Of Birds (from Middlesbrough, England) from the most recent split LP, (limited to 250 and still available...see link below to get one before they run out and you have to pay overblown e-bay prices) both sides of which are excellent, but I gotta say I like this E.P. best of all, including the Rebel's side (which I've gotta say is a step up from "Five Year Plan"). These 5 rockers (in 7 minutes) draw way more repeated listens than any of the above, at absolutely no fault of any of the above.
So here it is, the first ever winner of the Uuhngreh Schpuggenuh best new band award. Year Of Birds is definitely a band to watch out for.
http://www.mediafire.com/?ka2lze27ql5izyq
http://ackackack.bandcamp.com/
and here's a link to the Girl Sweat side of the tape. Great lo-fi noisy garage skronk:
One of the main things I like most about Secret Message Machine is its balance-it's modestly confident but nothing is overdone, it's lo-fi but surprisingly clear, poppy but not too poppy, sometimes melancholy but not maudlin, etc. etc. like I've written on every SMM review by now. If any of you have downloaded "Capitalist Bastards Communist Fools" or "Orphanville" from this blog, this one falls right in-between those chronologically and sonically. "Abandoned Children" was made of out-takes from this album, too. Can't you tell I'm trying to do you a favor?! See some samples below. Even though it's good the first time around, I also found that this album really starts to unfold after a few listens. Time invested in any SMM album is time well spent. Download them all and find out for yourself, dammit.
Homer and Jethro were basically like a hillbilly version of Weird Al, well, decades before Weird Al. Maybe because it's older it's way cornier plus it's purposely very stupid, much to my delight. Being a southerner who hates the serious and loves corny, stupid, and old things, I can't help but love this stuff. Don't expect to have your mind blown, but prepare to smack your palm to your forehead at this joyous idiocy. There is absolutely nothing cool about these guys, thankfully. Just listen all the way through at least once to make sure you still have a sense of humor.
I may not like this one as much as "I Love Paris," or a lot of his movie scores (esp. Nouvelle Vague stuff) but it's still really enjoyable. The arrangements are still better than most easy listening/jazz band leaders. His arrangement style is pretty romantic and cinematic, which definitely helps an instrumental album of Parisian tunes. I like the cut and paste nature of the delightfully cheesy, "Boum," plus it also features a version of the tune from Truffaut's, "Stolen Kisses," that was always getting stuck in my head ("I Wish You Love," see below). At least now I have an instrumental version of the song. If you're familiar with any of Legrand's 60's output or possibly a fan of French New Wave music meets more stereotypical "French" music, this is definitely worth a listen. Easy going...
Recorded on same tour as "In A Hole." This one may not be quite equal the high level of manic energy of "In A Hole," and the recording is a bit drier but it's still really fucking good. A great live recording for some similar, some different reasons. I do like that this one includes more stuff that was to be on "Perverted By Language," one up there on my long list of Fall favorites.
1) I Feel Voxish (sounds like it's still being worked out) 2) Hard Life In Country 3) I'm Into CB 4) Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul 5) Solicitor In Studio 6) Tempo House 7) The Classical 8) Marquis Cha Cha 9) Room To Live 10) Hexen Hour/Strife Knot 11) Deer Park 12) Totally Wired 13) Joker Hysterical Face 14) Hip Priest
Poodlestick self description: "Back in 2005, in a two story duplex on Wilson St, Poodlestick came together and recorded their one and only album, "Reasonable People." Although it is the only album released under the poodlestick name it is part of a continuum of experimental / noise recordings made by Erik Chaplinsky (Summer Camp Casanova) and Michael Barrett (Secret Message Machine). The first of those is blank_blank’s find the phantom limb. In some ways, this is the follow up to that release. blank blank went on to record as a five piece band and Erik and Michael continued the experimental recordings as poodlestick and then Mystery Pill with Chuck Chambers (Kaleidoscope Death). With intense drum beats and synth monoliths, "Reasonable People" has its fair share of melody and rhythm. Sometimes chaotic, sometimes ambient. The recordings were mostly improvised, with some set songs. Later the recordings were further produced through some overdubs, mixing, and blending the songs together so that what you get is basically two pieces of music composed of smaller fragments of songs."
To me, Poodlestick was always a great combination of loose, lo-fi, noisy yet musical, immediate tunes for short attention spans. Maybe why the band was so short lived. Anyway, this is great background music, which to me is a true sign of quality instrumental music. This Deluxe Edition also includes one recorded piece from their all too brief 2008 reunion and an entire set recorded and broadcast live on college radio (WUAG) in 2005, which is a personal favorite of mine. I may be biased on that one because I had done an uncomfortable solo set just before them, went out to Michael's truck to drink beers and listen to Poodlestick before going back in to join them for a Mystery Pill set. Good times and good tunes. Very pleasing spontaneous sounds.
Another fine album from the Stereo Action series ("the sound your eyes can follow). I could never say that anyone sounds like Esquivel, but stereo mixing-wise, this is similar, groups of sounds drifting between speakers with solo instruments zooming all around. His album "Latin-Esque" was put on by Stereo Action and Crazy Rhythm also utilized two separate groups of musicians recorded in separate studios for maximum stereo separation. They also picked songs to suit this recording and mixing style. So here we have another wacky collection of pretty corny instrumentals. If the opening track, "Expresso" doesn't win you over, then this may not be the record for you. I do like this record a little more every time I hear it, too. Try through headphones for a weird experience. Personally, I can't get enough energetic corn music.
D'Indy: Symphony on a French Mountain Air Saint Saens: Piano Concerto No. 5 in F, Op. 103, "The Egyptian"
This is not an audiophile copy, pretty scratchy, but that doesn't bug me, at least. I like "Symphony on a French Mountain Air," but I only ever listen to the Saint Saens side, and like most of his work I've heard, this piece is quite beautiful and wonderfully crafted. An early morning favorite, sounds great with the sounds of brewing coffee and frying eggs.
Part I- Piano and Clarinet Part II- Tibetan Human Thigh Bones Part III- Cowbell, Bicycle Wheel, and Vibes Part IV- New Guinea Headhunter's Pipe, Large and Small Drum Part V- Piano and String Machine Part VI- Recording Made at Jonestown, Guyana at the time of the Suicides Part VII- African Initiation Drum and Animal Tusk Horn Part VIII- Various Temple Bells, Gongs, Cymbals and Vibes
An album to be used "in...rituals as functional music intended only to aid in the process of making things happen," and also meant to be a practical tool. Makes perfect sense to me. It's easy to picture some tribe or cult having ritual music like this. The functional/practical part seems subjective, to me. Try listening to this while doing anything creative (or even just take a walk) and there's a good chance the music can work its way in, invade your mind and the effect is pretty empowering. Hell, listening to this while walking through an old cemetery on a cold foggy day with an old manual camera and some black and white film was a hell of a lotta fun. Recommended for Throbbing Gristle fans who may be turned off by how polished Psychic TV studio albums can be.
I've bought a lot of bad Hawaii albums out of dollar bins, but when you find one like this it's all worth it. It's got that mind melting laziness of slow strumming and Hawaiian slide guitar, but these guys listened to Exotica, too. They come across like Budget Exotica (I could kind of tell by how cheaply this record was made that I had a good chance of liking it). Kind of like what Garage Rock was to the Kinks, but these guys were presumably looking up to Martin Denny with part stereotypical Hawaiian tunes, the other part Exotica. An all around great soundtrack for immobility.
Another wonderful collection of wacky greats by the almighty Esquivel. If you like constant changes in instrumentation and sounds flying back and forth between the speakers, I assume you already know Esquivel, but if you don't please enjoy. You don't come across stuff like this often, unfortunately. Contains the classics "Lazy Bones" and "Whatchamacallit" and plenty of "zoo zoo" lyrics. Esquivel also never seems to get the respect he deserves as a pianist either. Fucking amazing.
I love these old Mambo records. They always change the atmosphere of the room, in a matter of seconds, to be more fun, lively, and lighthearted. The Mambo just sweeps my cares aside and I can simply enjoy myself for a while. Big rhythm and slightly off kilter melodies gotta try real hard to go wrong. Ever notice how often Fellini used Mambo in night club scenes and how well it worked? And this record is probably my favorite that I've heard so far. Great stuff.
It is a bit funny that Martin Denny's 6th album is titled, "Quiet Village," even though that single reached popularity before the first album, which it was also included on. At least they tacked it on to the 12 song album, rather than taking one of those tracks off to replace it. Easy way to sell more records, I guess. Doesn't matter, though. This record should have been more than good enough to sell itself. Enough jungle calls, catchy tunes, and mind numbing/imagination inducing ambience for anyone. If you're in doubt, listen to "Tune From Rangoon." If you aren't into it, I don't know what to tell you. See original liner notes below for more gushings.
Albums: Hawaiian Sunset, Isle of Enchantment, and Taboo (CD copy, my vinyl skips a bit).
I think Arthur Lyman gets a bit overlooked in the world of Exotica, even if he had hits in the Top 10 in the past, Martin Denny and Les Baxter seem to get all the credit, not to say that they don't deserve it. Lyman was the vibraphone player in Martin Denny's group for the first couple of albums, and in my opinion, Denny's music lost some of its exoticness when Lyman left and took those subdued moody vibes to his new group. There's something more primitive (intended as a compliment) about this group, it was only a 4 piece, but it's more than that. Their approach seems more artistic and slightly less for the tourists (both Denny and Lyman did tons of performing at Hawaiian hotels). Another thing that gives these records an odd feel is that all Lyman's records were recorded in the Aluminum Dome at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel. 3 dreamily exotic LPs, and at least you downloaders don't have to break the mood to get up and flip the record...
All 3 albums in one file: http://www.mediafire.com/?wdz9ds4tx2jlat4
Side one is a variety of Waltzes you'd hear on many other Vienna albums, but this is a bit more stripped down- just piano, guitar, and bass performed by the Belvedere Trio. Unfortunately the track listing on the record does not correspond to the order of the songs...so no tracklist for side one. Nice stuff. Side two is an orchestral medley of, you guessed it, waltzes, this time by Viennese Symphonic Orchestra led by Franz Lehar. Good n' woozy. Both sides are great background music for anything with a nice and easy pace.
I'm sure all you hipsters and collector nerds turn your noses up at best of comps., but good music is good no matter how it comes. 12 great exotica tunes from 12 albums, plus his biggest hit "Quiet Village" is not on this LP, a nice touch. It still flows like one great record that can still provide a soundtrack to easily help you unwind and forget (attn: hipsters and collectors). No complaints from this grump!
