The music of American composer Raymond Scott is sometimes recognized as a precursor to exotica, as several of his songs were written with the intent of transporting the listener to exotic locations via novelty instruments and sound effects.Īs a result of the popularity of exotica during the late 1950s, a large number of records were released that featured covers of recently released exotica songs (mainly by Les Baxter) and Hawaiian and easy-listening standards. Abstract, siren-like ululations, chants, vocalized animal calls, and guttural growls are common. Though there are some standards which contain lyrics, singing is rare. Additionally intrinsic to the sound of exotica are bird calls, big-cat roars, and even primate shrieks, which invoke the dangers of the jungle. The distinctive sound of exotica relies on a variety of instruments: conga, bongos, vibes, Indonesian and Burmese gongs, boo bams ( bamboo sticks), Tahitian log, Chinese bell tree, and Japanese kotos. Soon the new technology of stereo further opened up the musical palettes of Denny and other prominent exotica artists such as Arthur Lyman and Juan García Esquivel. The song reached #2 on Billboard's charts in 1959 with Denny's Exotica album reaching #1. In 1957, Martin Denny covered Les Baxter's "Quiet Village", with exotic bird calls and a vibraphone instead of strings, which established the sound of the Polynesian styled music. Baxter claimed Ravel and Stravinsky as influences on his work. As the 1950s progressed, Baxter carved out a niche in this area, producing a number of titles in this style including Tamboo! (1956), Caribbean Moonlight (1956), Ports of Pleasure (1957), The Sacred Idol (1960) and Jewels of the Sea (1961). This album featured lush orchestral arrangements along with tribal rhythms and offered such classics as " Quiet Village", "Jungle River Boat", "Love Dance", and "Stone God." Ritual is the seminal exotica record, influencing all that came after it. Les Baxter's album Ritual of the Savage ( Le Sacre du Sauvage) was released in 1952 and would become a cornerstone of exotica. Les Baxter's Ritual of the Savage ( Le Sacre du Sauvage) is one of the definitive albums of the exotica genre.
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