A mix of post-war exotica. Shiman is the archivist and programmer at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, and proprietor of Office Naps and The Exotica Project, both stellar repositories of obscure sounds. These records—among them the lush, sylvan orchestrations of Les Baxter, the cool Polynesian jazz of Martin Denny, and the ululating Andean wail of Yma Sumac—summon desert oases and tiki-laden paradises. Shiman's selection unearths 45s and LPs produced by forgotten exotica labels in the 1950s and 60s, whose output ranged from instrumental rock bands covering Arthur Lyman's faux-Polynesian "Taboo" to careening mambos played by Latin American orchestras. These fantasias juxtapose thrush songs and cruise-ship combos, teenage-girl groups and African percussionists, R&B professionals and washed-up lounge singers.
Track listing:
Tommy Burchard and his Cordovox, "Romero Sunset" (7" 45) Buddy Collette Septet, "Tennin (Polynesian Suite)," Polynesia LP Big Black, "The Snakecharmer" (7" 45) Noro Morales and his Quintet, "Saona," No Blues Noro LP Gene Sikora