S &D: space-age spy exotica lounge

I'm also greatly enamoured of Latin-flavored swing, which sort of fits into an adjacent genre.

For us, noughties anglo-saxons, we've gone through ironic dabbling, whole sale sampling, and at least one loungecore wave. Now I'd say this is as live a subgenre of contemporary pop as electronica or metal.

I's search : Tipsy, Leggo Beast or many trip-hop / downtempo artists who sample this stuff.

For the real thing : check Enoch Light. Some of his stuff is genius.

I second that! (altho I do like Esquivel as well) Get Enoch Light's "Spaced Out" -- Bach, Beatles, and Bacharach, all interpereted with the help of moog synths and "the big guitar sound".

The 'Easy Tempo' series of Italian soundtracks is a decidedly mixed bag. I like v. 2, Psycho Beat best, and anything credited to Lesiman.

I've recently decided, via the Exotica compilation, that my favorite Sun Ra stuff is the stuff that's often described as 'exotica,' but I have never heard any actual exotica or space age lounge music that sounds anything like this period of Sonnys music, aside from certain Duke Ellington tunes. What exotica was Sun Ra influenced by, exactly? What are some primary sources that might have been an influence on him? I certainly don't hear a lot in common with what little Martin Denny or Les Baxter I have heard. I guess I need to go deeper?

not a Sun Ra scholar here, but I was always kind of under the impression that due to the low critical standing of that exotica/lounge scene (until relatively recently), its not something that was really talked or asked about in the serious music world, so I'm not sure how many other specific records or artists from that scene we can say for sure that Ra was specifically influenced by. (heads correct me if I'm wrong obv.) I agree that Ive always heard the basic inspiration of Baxter and Denny in those cuts without finding them super similar to the actual records in question, Ra takes the building blocks and goes way farther than either of them.

I just came across this modesto duran record recently and its been hitting a lot of the same pleasure centers as my favorite parts of the sun ra exotica comp, afrocuban rhythms with big lurid hollywood horns:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVjwj2hCFvM

that modesto duran is so good. thanks!

i think stuff like "We Travel the Space Ways" derfinitely fits in with 'exotika' stuff.

I will have to think about your question but there are definitely a few film scores of the “hi fi” era that hit that exploded exotica ra-esque note

Yeah, that Modesto Duran clip fits the bill for sure! I need more like that. Those drums!

What about Esquivel? I'm pretty sure I've never heard a note of the man's music.

I love Esquivel, but while his approach to arranging was certainly novel, at the end of the day his recordings still fall pretty comfortably in the realms of easy listening or instrumental pop. I hear a lot more Afro-centric, or Afro-Cuban, jazz in Sun Ra. Plus, you know, music from Saturn.

I enjoyed the recent Blindboy podcast where he talked about realising Hosono / YMO covering Denny's Firecracker was a funny and sharp comment on Denny's sweeping and super crass orientalism.

You can't go wrong with Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra's Futuremuzik. (Especially if you dig on "This is Hardcore").

i only have this by Peter Thomas, but it totally hits the spot re this genre

https://www.discogs.com/Peter-Thomas-Sound-Orchester-Raumpatrouille/release/830192

@paul The closest I’ve heard to the Ra exotica is Elisabeth Waldo “Sacred Rites”

http://www.spaceagepop.com/index.htm

(a good companion since the days of audiogalaxy)

So, this has finally been reissued.

https://numerogroup.com/products/technicolor-paradise-rhum-rhapsodies-other-exotic-delights?variant=42411309301958

I missed it the first time but I'm thinking about grabbing the repress. It seemed to inexplicably become really rare really fast. I sure do wish Numero still pressed CDs, though.

i was lucky to get it first time round. it is fabulous.

The Cocktail Nation podcast is a good listen. It's not all spyvibe/exotica--there's quite a bit of big band/crooner material--but they release at least a couple of episodes every week.

A couple episodes a week sounds like a lot to keep up with, but I'll definitely check it out!