This is a new release, by a modern band, but the sound is brilliantly-made classic exotica. If you love the holy trinity of the genre: Martin Denny, Les Baxter, and Arthur Lyman, then this album is definitely for your ears. Most definitely the best exotica recording in a decade. These all-original compositions sound so clear and intoxicating you would swear they were a lost Martin Denny record. Instead, we have an ensemble performing exotica the way it was meant to be played - organically without synthesizers or computers.
There are some killer tracks. While this Swedish group has captured the *sound* of those great recordings, these aren't retreads of old standards. There's no "Bali Hai," "Yellow Bird," "Quiet Village" or "Hawaiian War Chant." Instead, Ixtahuele -- named for a group of Polynesian islands -- has written & recorded ten all-new instrumental numbers. And though the band and album are modern, the music is decidedly classic in feel.
Here's the test: Put Pagan Rites in a mix with classics by the masters, punch "random," and see if you notice when Ixtahuele is playing. It blends beautifully!
Buy Pagan Rites. Put on your aloha shirt and/or fez. Mix up a Mai-Tai. Relax, and let the exotic sounds of Ixtahuele take you away...
Tracks
- Black Sand
- Rarohengen Dance
- Brugmansia
- Stone Gods of Bimini
- Orust Luau
- Lotus Eaters
- Searching the Souq\
- Huahine
- Dengue Fever
- Garden of Mu
- Untitled bonus
6 comments:
thanks for the post sir, great album,regards.
I'm looking forward to hearing this. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
-Xtm
Bought this some time ago. Very good modern exotica.
Nice share!! Thanks man!!
www.relaxtronica.com
DaBoss,
thanks for "Ixtahuele - Pagan Rites". this fits very well to Esquivel and some other exotica I'm actually listening to...
Thank you so much for making me aware of this great album. I have discovered so much life-enriching music through the Fat City Cigar Lounge blog.....
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