Exotica, Lounge, Tiki, Space Age Pop, Bachelor Pad Music

Summers wrapping up (in this hemisphere anyway) up and I've been meaning to start this thread.

In the last few years I've found I have a real sweet spot for very organic and lush sounding exotica and lounge music from the 50s and 60s (Les Baxter, Arthur Lyman, Martin Denny, and many others) and more specifically music that samples it. It's easy for me to hear but it's a bit tricky to pin it down to a certain label or movement, it's a bit hit-or-miss in terms of quality.

These are currently active artists nailing the sound:

http://youtu.be/yZAqL-lgg38

http://youtu.be/DZz9W2nCIF0

90s era, in particular The Gentle People, reference 50s and 60s exotica and lounge. There was a big revival of the music along with Tiki culture as highlighted by the popularity of the Ultra-Lounge compilations:

Certain shibuya-kei bands evoke exotica and lounge too:

Anyone else have any recommendations? I'm not looking for the array of late 90s trip-hop and downtempo, recent chillwave and garage rock, or the vast array of mediocre chillout music often played in bars and resturants. I'm looking for stuff that utilizes a lot more pluderphonics and found sound sampling, or very "authentic" sounding vintage equipment.

[youtubehd]QJ23wkRjRH0[/youtubehd]

  On 9/3/2013 at 11:07 PM, Redruth said:

[youtubehd]QJ23wkRjRH0[/youtubehd]

exactly the type of recommendation I was hoping for!

no one else digging this sound? I always felt the Avalanches fit into the niche as well

I'm very much into this kind of music but other than Les Baxter I ain't too good on names

Found a record store last week tho that had an entire wall dedicated to 50s lounge & exotica vinyl so could be stockin up soon

i love threads like this. so much music to explore.

Not sure if Broadcast is a little too dark but -

As for labels have you tried stuff by Ghostbox or Trunk Rcords ?

Ghostbox is very much in the same vein for me, especially in the found sound and recreation aspect, but much more library music or soundtrack oriented.

I need to give Trunk Records a look, I have heard this track which was used on Madvilliany:

There's a great compilation on Trunk called Now We Are Ten which gives a good idea about the stuff on the label. Here's one of the tracks on that album -

  On 9/3/2013 at 9:26 PM, joshuatx said:

I'm looking for stuff that utilizes a lot more pluderphonics and found sound sampling, or very "authentic" sounding vintage equipment.

https://bleep.com/release/42343-mike-cooper-white-shadows-in-the-south-seas

https://bleep.com/release/36267-mike-cooper-rayon-hula

Les Baxter is one of my favorites (actually have both the 12" and 10" versions of Ritual Of The Savage). Not too familiar with the other composers yet. Just grabbed an Arthur Lyman record recently. I find that the sampling of library music is much more prevalent than exotica for whatever reason. I think people are a little too hard on the genre. I noticed that The Focus Group sampled Les Baxter's 'Quiet Village' on the track 'The Flourescent Host'. Will try to think of other examples.

Another example on the stranger side of things, Andrew Pekler's Sentimental Favourites is based on easy listening records from the 60s and 70s.

https://bleep.com/release/40399-andrew-pekler-sentimental-favourites

His more recent one, Cover Versions, which I believe is based on similar material, is way farther out in left-field.

[youtubehd]kfxN4JJ_2Ck[/youtubehd]

i swear that Quiet Village was the inspiration for Pee Wees Playhouse intro.

  On 9/10/2013 at 6:13 AM, SR4 said:

i swear that Quiet Village was the inspiration for Pee Wees Playhouse intro.

It is, I'm pretty sure it's an interpolation/loose cover. Well before the Cyndi Lauper part I mean. I think Motherbaugh might of recorded it.

http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=2811&forum=11

I completely forgot about this resource: http://www.tikiroom.com/music/index.htm

what about

^damn, right on the money

  On 9/9/2013 at 7:24 PM, Tauhid said:

 

  On 9/3/2013 at 9:26 PM, joshuatx said:

I'm looking for stuff that utilizes a lot more pluderphonics and found sound sampling, or very "authentic" sounding vintage equipment.

 

https://bleep.com/release/42343-mike-cooper-white-shadows-in-the-south-seas

https://bleep.com/release/36267-mike-cooper-rayon-hula

 

Les Baxter is one of my favorites (actually have both the 12" and 10" versions of Ritual Of The Savage). Not too familiar with the other composers yet. Just grabbed an Arthur Lyman record recently. I find that the sampling of library music is much more prevalent than exotica for whatever reason. I think people are a little too hard on the genre. I noticed that The Focus Group sampled Les Baxter's 'Quiet Village' on the track 'The Flourescent Host'. Will try to think of other examples.

 

  On 9/9/2013 at 7:39 PM, Tauhid said:

Another example on the stranger side of things, Andrew Pekler's Sentimental Favourites is based on easy listening records from the 60s and 70s.

 

https://bleep.com/release/40399-andrew-pekler-sentimental-favourites

 

His more recent one, Cover Versions, which I believe is based on similar material, is way farther out in left-field.

These are great, very much what I was seeking out in terms of recent music.

[youtubehd]hxKGfbGKbrM[/youtubehd]

one of the best exotica mix tapes ever right here

http://canopycanopycanopy.com/podcasts/23-time-is-endless

Now HERE's a thread!

Let's see...

Is Joe Meek too obvious? Ah hell, let a man do what he wants. I'm out here in the tropics and I'm wearing my mosquito gear. This just in: Every Hawaii album that has ever been for sale at goodwill is lush, 99 cent exotica.

  On 9/9/2013 at 7:39 PM, Tauhid said:

Another example on the stranger side of things, Andrew Pekler's Sentimental Favourites is based on easy listening records from the 60s and 70s.

 

https://bleep.com/release/40399-andrew-pekler-sentimental-favourites

 

His more recent one, Cover Versions, which I believe is based on similar material, is way farther out in left-field.

That cover is phenomenal, and so is the music so far.

Just thought of something: I would say that Dolphins Into The Future bridges the gap between exotica and vaporwave.

Yeah that Pekler album has been one of my current faves since it came out, and by far the best thing he's ever done. I think it got overlooked by most people.

And speaking about thrift stores, got these two box sets recently:

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Mood-Music-For-Listening-And-Relaxation/release/2486487

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Music-For-Your-Every-Mood-Background-Moods/release/2067240

Full of gems I hope.

  On 9/18/2013 at 8:24 AM, Tauhid said:

Yeah that Pekler album has been one of my current faves since it came out, and by far the best thing he's ever done. I think it got overlooked by most people.

Yes, by me, but no more! It is subtle brilliance man. I wish I had it on tape though.

  On 9/18/2013 at 8:24 AM, Tauhid said:

Yeah that Pekler album has been one of my current faves since it came out, and by far the best thing he's ever done. I think it got overlooked by most people.

 

And speaking about thrift stores, got these two box sets recently:

 

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Mood-Music-For-Listening-And-Relaxation/release/2486487

 

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Music-For-Your-Every-Mood-Background-Moods/release/2067240

 

Full of gems I hope.

That settles it. I'm getting a ten dollar bill and going to the best goodwill in town. That first one looks so perfect. I love the music for dining. Tell me how it is, I might keep an eye out.

One of my best memories of goodwill records was some kind of a small dinner party my wife and I had in Ohio, and a friend of mine brought over lots of root beer and real beer, and we listened to The Magic Organ over and over, and danced to this one song, "Alley Cat." I just imagined we were old men dancing in some tavern on Zelda.

I can't help to think that http://www.moodhut.com/ is related in some way.

i feel a new playlist coming on...

joshuatx wins this thread!!!