Customer Reviews

Hypnotique & Exotica 3

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"Hypnotique", one of Denny's own personal faves, runs hari-kari through the streets of Singapore to the tourist hot spots of Bali, and some of the comical arrangements are a little cornball, but when its right--its beautiful. The two opening tunes("Jungle Madness", with it's wild bird calls, and "On a Little Street", with it's shimmering sinuousness)set a standard that is hard to top, but many of the other numbers are wonderful in their own right; the second part of this CD, "Exotica III", is also captivating, beginning with the delicious "Jungle River Boat"(borrowed from quasi-competitor Les Baxter!)down thru one of my favorite tracks, "Congo Train"(also from Baxter!). These sessions proved to be maddening for Martin, who had a terrible time trying to get this record right. Maybe all the fatigue surrounding it's original taping is what produces a bit of malaise in the music(it might put you in a stupor before it's over). Still, Denny's collage of instruments dance around you in stereo with the tricky steps of a circus clown escaping an untamed leopard. It's a delightful excursion.

I loved them when I was five and even more now. All ages appreciate Martin Denny as they stop to listen and then glisten.

ANY TIME YOU CAN PICK UP TWO MARTIN DENNY ALBUMS ON ONE CD, YOU SHOULD DO IT. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF THESE TWO-FER DOUBLE ALBUM CD'S RELEASED, AND THEY ARE ALL GOOD. IF YOU LIKE EXOTICA MUSIC, THAN YOU CAME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. ALL OF THE MARTIN DENNY RELEASES FROM THE 1950'S ARE GREAT, THEY BLEND A LOT OF PERCUSSION, CHANTING, BIRD AND JUNGLE ANIMAL SOUNDS, CHIMES, PIANO, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS INTO A LOT OF REALLY OVER-THE-TOP LOUNGE MUSIC.