The Tikiyaki Orchestra - Tropika CD (Future Primitive) 

California based exotica combo Tikiyaki Orchestra have really been one of the frontrunners of the genre for the last two decades or so. Their album releases are adventurous, while still appealing to fans of the vintage Martin Denny/Les Baxter/Arthur Lyman sound. However, this one takes things even further to my ears it seems to combine the sound of their earlier albums with what they achieved with their rockier incarnation Tikiyaki 5-0, with just a splash of prog rock to finish the sound off. The latter observation might sound out of place, but 5 of the 11 songs clock in at well over 4 minutes, which is almost unheard of in the world of exotica. The extended song lengths allow the vibe and melodies to be explored to their fullest. It also showcases the talents of each member of the band, especially the pianos and guitars. My personal faves were “Rumba In The Jungle”, “A South Pacific Sojourn” and the first single from the album “The Outbreak” (this last tune has some excellent, twangy guitar and expressive piano playing on it). This disc is undoubtedly one of the top exotica/lounge releases of 2023. Oh, it also sports original artwork by the much beloved tiki artist Shag! 

Tracks: Bombs Away! - Walkabout - Space Tango - The Outbreak - En Flambe' - The Boobam Song - Espionage-A-Trois - Rumba In The Jungle - Hotel St. Serenade - A South Pacific Sojourn - Ua Tropika