Attic Beats

Attic Beats 021 - Recorded February 1, 2006

aka “The Episode Where I Say ‘Interesting’ Entirely Too Many Times”

I admittedly have only a beginner’s level of knowledge on this week’s theme: exotica. So much so that I’m combining exotica, lounge, and space age pop into one big batch, which may make more knowledgeable fans cringe. For those interested in the actual distinctions between genres, check out What is Space Age Pop?.

Lots of groovetastic music this time around, with great sounds from Bernie Green, Andre Popp, and the only artist that is common to both my record collection and my dad’s: Enoch Light.

Here are a few links to help you explore the wonderful worlds of exotica, lounge, and space age pop:

• Tapeheads and Sound Effects Geeks - A great rundown on space age pop and some of the innovative recording techniques involved in making those records. The section on Bernie Green’s Futura makes him sound like the godfather of sampling: “The creator of Musically Mad! for RCA and Mad! Magazine, Green debuted “Animated Tape” (i.e., tape manipulations) on Futura, one of the best in RCA’s Stereo Action series. For “Kiss of Fire,” he wrote out a solo passage for trumpeter Tony Greenwald. Instead of having Greenwald simply play the solo, he recorded him playing separate notes, then spliced the solo together from these samples, according to precise tape length measurements–seven inches for a quarter note, twenty-eight inches per bar. The resulting manufactured solo included 778 splices for less than 20 seconds of music.”
• Hyp Records/Vinyl Safari: Exotica - Features an extensive listing with ratings.
• Cocktail Music for Robots - An LP Cover Gallery of the Music of the Future (circa 1959).
• Weirdo Music
• Two Zombies Later - Netlabel Comfort Stand’s debut release, a two disc set of original exotica.

Click through for the playlist…

• (ab) Sunshine Superman… Enoch Light
• (ab) Golden Earrings… Los Admiradores
• Futura… Bernie Green
• Futura (Reprise)… Bernie Green
• Punctuated Performance… Henri René and His Orchestra
• Shopping in Paris… Andre Popp & His Orchestra
• Mama Inez… Xavier Cugat
• Theme From… The Mind Expanders
• The Last Roundup… Leo Diamond and His Orchestra
• Constant Rain… Warren Kime
• A Little Fugue For You and Me… Enoch Light