The Perfume of Creosote: Desert Exotica Part 1

Smoke & Mirrors | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 20, 2003)
• Original Release Date: June 10, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Aural Fixation Records
• ASIN: B0000AYDVE
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #794,716 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Surya, the Divine Sun

2. Tarantulas 

3. Inside Saguaros

4. Mirage

5. Rattlesnake 

6. Adventures of a Pack Rat 

7. When the Devil Was a Little Boy

8. Ocotillo 

9. Petroglyphs and Bones

10. Thunderbirds 

11. Monsoon 

12. The Perfume of Creosote 

13. Riparian Oasis 

14. Roadrunner 

15. Rock Gardens, Swimming Pools and Barbeques 

16. Turquoise and Copper 

17. Sonoran Sunset 

18. Pink Fairy Duster and Hummingbird Moths 

19. Ring Around the Moon 

20. Dance of the Scorpions 

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Although each track on "The Perfume of Creosote" stands on its own, this body of work is intricately crafted to take the listener on a daylong sojourn through the desert from emboldened sunrise (Surya, The Divine Sun) to the dreamlike, UFO-infused night sky (As Heaven Falls from the Sky). With repeated listenings, the journey becomes more joyful and compelling. These unique electronic soundscapes contain elements of ambience, world music, alternative rock, lounge music, music for film, and hints of psychedelia and jazz. From the lush and romantic Inside Saguaros to the bewitchingly ambient Mirage, from the wild, uptempo, When The Devil Was A Little Boy to the beautiful and haunting Tarantulas you’ll hear underlying shades of exotica inspired by such artists as Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, and Les Baxter. Instead of the tropical flavor favored by those artists, each piece is inspired by the desert—the lush Sonoran desert in particular—capturing the exotic essence of the creatures, fauna and climate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars World-jazz-rock-ethno-ambient fusion!, November 17, 2003

By 

Dodds Wiley (Montana, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Perfume of Creosote: Desert Exotica Part 1 (Audio CD)

East meets southwest in a vibrant world-jazz-rock-ethno-ambient fusion[whew]. This is definitely a unique recording blending many different genres together. In the first track "Surya,The Divine Sun" for example, didgeridoo, electric guitar, drumkit, percussion and vibes join forces in a loping, strutting, rhythm across the desert floor, with an eastern sounding melody.

There are 23 tracks on this disc that blend together expertly. Most tracks feature some type of drumkit, keyboard, percussion, and guitar, with desert textures. Some other highlights: "Mirage"-dreamy, echoing guitar with percussion and cymbals. "Rattlesnake"- a perky electro strut with spaghetti western guitar. "Adventures Of A Packrat"-nice piano melody with percussion, synth, electric bass and drumkit. "Monsoon"-juicy bass and guitar work in a nice groove over a swaggering rhythm. "Roadrunner"-a rapid fire synth, nice guitar and a sturdy rhythm propel the listener down the highway. You can see the heat rising off the sand and feel the desert wind. This list could go on and on. Pretty much every song on this disc is a highlight. There are enough killer grooves and ideas packed in here for three or four albums,and the quality of musicianship is excellent!

Not exactly ambient,but good music is good music! Fans of fusion music will love this. If you are looking for a different sort of musical adventure this is a sonic vacation you may not want to come back from. Pack your bags and go away for the weekend.

5.0 out of 5 stars oh yeah, this is a great cd!!, May 31, 2004

By 

Billy Bybee (QUECHEE, VERMONT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Perfume of Creosote: Desert Exotica Part 1 (Audio CD)

I LOVE THIS MUSIC. JAMES AND MICHAEL HAVE MADE A GREAT CD, SO FULL OF LUSH SOUNDS (AND VISIONS).THEY PUT SO MUCH VISUALLY INTO THE MUSIC-TARANTULAS, RATTLESNAKES, DUST DEVILS, THUNDERBIRDS, ROADRUNNERS, SCORPIONS, SUNSETS, EVEN A PINK FAIRY DUSTER(WHATEVER THAT IS!). PUT ON THE HEADPHONES, CRANK IT UP! MY FAVS ARE- SURYA,THE DIVINE SUN- ADVENTURES OF THE PACK RAT- WHEN THE DEVIL WAS A LITTLE BOY- ROCK GARDENS- ROADRUNNER- AND THUNDERBIRDS!!! THE PERFUME OF CREOSOTE: DESERT EXOTICA PART 1! I'M HOPING FOR MORE MUSIC FROM SMOKE & MIRRORS!!! PEACE & ENJOY

5.0 out of 5 stars An album that is greater than the whole of its 23 tracks, May 12, 2004

By 

E. Whitney "E. Whitney" (Saratoga, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Perfume of Creosote: Desert Exotica Part 1 (Audio CD)

Every day, I have a different tune stuck in my head. Few things in life give me greater joy than discovering a musical gem that I find myself wanting to listen to over and over again. The Perfume of Creosote is such a gem. Each track has a definite hook. The variety keeps the album interesting, and the images it invokes are as vivid as the accompanying soundtrack. Yet, the soundscapes do not hit you over the head as much as the track titles might suggest. For example, I never would have guessed the dreamy, hypnotic, earworm-inducing "Tarantulas" was inspired by large furry arachnids, yet now that I know, I can easily envision the gentle creatures methodically combing the desert at twilight. The various tracks are lush with plenty of exotic percussion (a personal favorite of mine) yet not so overpowering as to leave nothing to the imagination. There is nothing deceptive about Smoke & Mirrors. These guys have nothing up their sleaves. They know exactly what they are doing, and it is brilliant.