Aug 30 2018
Hawaiian Spotlighters Official Site (Label) Mauna Kea Breeze, Dionysus Records 2017 (Original release date: 1964) You may recall how I briefly brought up this album last year as a preview of sorts for the 2018 Freaky Tiki Surf-ari. Mauna Kea Breeze might not have a single shred of a horror connection but it’s still worth …
Aug 28 2018
Creepxotica Official Site Swinging Sounds From Beyond The Nether Regions, Dionysus Records 2017 Creepxotica Featuring Rachel DeShon, Dionysus Records 2017 2017 was a busy year for the Creepy Creeps’ side project Creepxotica. Not only did they release Swinging Sounds From Beyond The Nether Regions on vinyl and digital download, but they also released Creepxotica Featuring …
Aug 24 2017
Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited Official Site (Label) Music From The 6th Floor, Dionysus Records 2016 It’s been ages since I last reviewed something by Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited and the group seems as mysterious as ever. In fact, I hadn’t heard anything from them in so long that I had assumed they had quietly disbanded! …
Aug 14 2017
Robert Drasnin Official Site Voodoo III, Dionysus Records 2017 Exotica legend Robert Drasnin had been hard at work right up until his passing in 2015. 2011 saw him working with the Waitiki 7, both on covering his past hits and playing his new composition “In A Dorian Mode.” He was also hard at work on …
Aug 26 2016
Kava Kon Official Site Maritime Mysteries, self-release 2016 It’s been a long time since we last heard from Kava Kon. Although the proposed EP Virgin Lava has yet to materialize, I can’t complain since we got a full album instead. That’s right, Maritime Mysteries is the band’s third album and the wait was completely worth …
Aug 08 2016
Alika Lyman Group Official Site Leis of Jazz, Vol. 2, Dionysus Records 2014 For those not in the know, the original Leis of Jazz was released by the legendary exotica artist Arthur Lyman back in 1959. Leis of Jazz, Vol. 2 is the creation of his great nephew Alika. I can’t claim to have my …
Aug 30 2015
The Voodoo Organist Official Site Organ Voodoo, Dionysus Records 2015 Ever since the overstuffed first installment of the Freaky Tiki Surf-ari back in 2010, I’ve always made a conscious effort to keep my reviews limited to two exotica albums and two surf albums per year. But when Dionysus Records told me about this album, I …
Aug 21 2015
Ding Dong Devils Official Facebook Space Fezcapade, Tiki Tunes Records 2014 It has been a year since I had last covered the Ding Dong Devils here and the outer space album promised in that last review is now a reality. Hardcore exotica fans will recognize the name and cover art of Space Fezcapade as being …
Aug 12 2015
The Crazed Mugs Official Site Find Forbidden Island, Orange Seal Entertainment 2011 The Crazed Mugs are a Florida-based exotica band which only could have formed in the internet age. Founded in 2004 by the mystery man known only as “pablus,” he met Ken Kanaka through the Tiki Central website. Mr. Kanaka was the man behind …
Aug 26 2014
Creepxotica Official Site Creepxotica, Dionysus Records 2011 Haunted Bossa Nova, Dionysus Records 2013 Creepxotica has a rather interesting history. It’s actually a side project of the horror surf band The Creepy Creeps, which is in turn made up from former members of bands like Struggle, Tarantula Hawk and The Locust (among others). Hailing from San …
Aug 14 2014
Ding Dong Devils Official Facebook Hello Little Olives, Tiki Tunes Records 2012 The Ding Dong Devils are back! While the songs are all new, their unique brand of playful exotica/surfabilly/fuzzy rock is still the same. Hello Little Olives is loaded with musical shout-outs, which ranges from Don Ho to GG Allin! “Meet Me At the …
Aug 29 2013
Les Baxter Official Site Ritual of the Savage, Rev-Ola Records 2006 (Original release date: 1951) The Passions, Rev-Ola Records 2006 (Original release date: 1954) Ever since I first started the Freaky Tiki Surf-ari, I know that someday I simply had to cover the work of Les Baxter in some way. Considering how his album Ritual …
Aug 22 2013
Hans Karl Official Site Shagxotica!, Hans Karl Music 2002 The works of Josh “Shag!” Agle have an undeniable place in the world of Tiki culture (and vice versa). But for some reason, that only seems to apply to the art of Tiki and not the music. While it is true that Shag has designed covers …
Dec 22 2012
King Kukulele and the Friki Tikis Official Site Luau In December, Friki Tiki Records 2008 [audio:http://www.gravediggerslocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/King-Kukulele-the-Friki-Tikis-Santas-Menehune.mp3] Even if you’ve never heard one of their albums before, chances are that you’re already aware of King Kukulele and the Friki Tikis. Although active for quite some time on the West Coast, King Kukulele officially made his presence …
Aug 31 2012
Clouseaux Official Site Clouseaux, Air Y Hola 2001 Destination Oasis, Air Y Hola Records 2003 Lagoon, Dionysus Records 2004 Beyond Good and Evil, Self-released 2006 When one thinks of exotica, visions of Polynesia and Hawaii immediately spring to mind. However, exotica groups can be found all over America (and the world). Houston, Texas might seem …
Aug 21 2012
Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica Official Site Third River Rangoon, Self-released 2011 One cannot discuss Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica without first discussing Juan García Esquivel. More popularly known as “Esquivel” or “The King of Space Age Pop,” he got his start piano playing for a Mexican radio station when he was only eleven years old! Six years later, …
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