Customer Reviews

Skinny Dip With Don Tiki

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I need to disagree with a few of the posts below. Don Tiki's new effort is not that similar to their first album.
- There are far more vocal pieces on this album
- The instrumentals aren't as hot or lush

Where the first album was like Les Baxter or Martin Denny, this one is more like Don Ho (although, admittedly with one Yma Sumac-like number). This isn't a bad thing, just a different thing than I was expecting.

This album is far more coolly produced as well, never reaching the true fiery energy that permeated The Forbidden Sound on tunes like Hot Like Lava, Barbi in Bali, Itchy Palms or even the luscious Maidenhair Fern.

It's a good time though, and certainly better than most of the garbage being produced today. Slap it on at your next luau or barbecue, with a mai-tai in one hand and your hula honey in the other, and see if it doesn't keep the party going.

"SKINNY DIP WITH DON TIKI," by Don Tiki, Taboo Records 8889

Don Tiki is Martin Denny for the millennium, purveyors of the musical style that's come to be known as "exotica," complete with tropical percussion, mystical bird calls, demure vocals.

They also call it "lounge music," and it casts its own special spell.Don Tiki is Perry Coma (keyboards), Hai Jung (bass, vocals), Noel Okimoto (mallets, drums, percussion), Carlinhos de Oliveira (Brazilian percussion), Jim Howard (flute) and Abe Lagrimas (drums). But a coterie of other musicians and singers - described as the Tiki Tribe - contribute both attitude and allure, and a party spirit prevails.Take "Primitiva," an homage to Denny, who composed it and earlier recorded it, a percussion-driven piece with Lopaka Colon's jungle-sound atmospherics (bird calls and all). "The Natives Are Restless" has marvelous vocals featuring Delmar deWilde, throbbing with the seductive syncopation of the genre. The 'ukulele work is that of - guess! - Jake Shimabukuro of Colon.For a quiet ballad, examine "Sweet and Sour," sung by Jung, which dwells on the see-sawing flavors of love in a relationship.

Exotic music has a flavor and language of its own, a blend of jungle juice with samba seasoning. It's alternately playful and romantic, haunting and mesmerizing, toe-tapping and heart-tugging. Co-producer Kit Ebersbach wrote or co-wrote most of the songs here. Part of the charm is trying to figure out who does what, because there's a whole community of stellar talent contributing roles big and small, from Teresa Bright to Emmett Yoshioka, Rachel Gonzales to Ben Vegas, Sam Ahia to Lana Warner, Salaam Tillman to Aaron Aronita. And lots more.

The follow-up to Forbidden Sounds, Don Tiki's new album again combines sweeping range of exotic, mellow, upbeat, and loungy tunes, moving the art of Exotica forward into the new millennium. The album features 15 tracks, with a sound consistent with their previous release. The vocals are more native/island sounding that your typical mainland-produced track from the 60's, but here it only adds to the atmosphere. The liner notes are written by none other than Sven Kirsten, author of the Book Of Tiki.

This is a disc that any Exotica collector must add to their collection. Pick this album up and listen to it, now. It's another glimpse into the almost non-existant genre of Modern Exotica.

Don Tiki's second CD, "Skinny Dip with Don Tiki" has a more lush, suave sound that tries to bring the exotica vibe into the 21st century. The hard-driving rhythms in songs like "Pinakbet" and "Heat" show off their Latin jazz influences, while their slow seductive arrangements of "All Quiet Flows the Don" and "Wet Cave" transport you far away from civilization. In the midst of the CD's sincere instrumentals, the band still finds time for tongue-in-cheek vocal numbers, like the inviting "The Other Side of the Moon," sung by Hai Jung, the velvety "The Natives are Restless," crooned by Delmar de Wilde, and the eerie yet intoxicating "Axoltl," which is their tribute to multi-octave exotica singer Yma Sumac.

The seamless flow of their second release is mesmerizing. Their live show is not to be missed, but if you can't catch them in person in Honolulu, check out their website for QuickTime videos of the band performing with their troupe of gorgeous Polynesian dancers.
~Alden Gewirtz

Having seen Don Tiki perform at the legendary closing of the 50's Polynesian-styled Kahiki Lounge in Colombus, Ohio in 2000, it is a pleasure to see the Hawaii-based bearers of the musical Tiki Torch return to the studio to represent again on record the Spirit of Exotica. Performing under the baton of Fluid Floyd and keyboardist Perry Coma, this versatile combo represents the century 21 version of paradise envisioned by pioneer Martin Denny the 1950's. To insure Denny's legacy a cover of his "Primitiva" is included here on an album brimming with provocative titles like "El Producto", "Bwana Banana", and "Wet Cave". Fans of the band's first album "The Forbidden Sounds of Don Tiki" will be pleased to note the growth of their sound as well as a remarkably well recorded product from Taboo Records. This album pickes up where the first one ended and showcases maturation of the group who despite adding new musical ideas, keep the sound true. Mix a Stardust, slip into something scant, and prepare to take an exotic Skinny Dip with Don Tiki.

If you love Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, and similar exotica---then you will probably enjoy "Skinny Dip" as well. However, you will only love the CD if you also dig jazz greats such as Flora Purim, Yma Sumac, and Chick Corea. The only reason I rated this 4-stars instead of five-stars, is because I just didn't think this CD offers the consistent level of originality associated with other Don Tiki albums. Don't get me wrong, it's hands down a great CD... but aside from a couple of very original gems like "The Hypnotizing Man" and "All Quiet Flows the Don", you may be better off buying CDs from the originals masters.

Having seen Don Tiki perform at the legendary closing of the 50's Polynesian-styled Kahiki Lounge in Colombus, Ohio in 2000, it is a pleasure to see the Hawaii-based bearers of the musical Tiki Torch return to the studio to represent again on record the Spirit of Exotica. Performing under the baton of Fluid Floyd and keyboardist Perry Coma, this versatile combo represents the century 21 version of paradise envisioned by pioneer Martin Denny the 1950's. To insure Denny's legacy a cover of his "Primitiva" is included here on an album brimming with provocative titles like "El Producto", "Bwana Banana", and "Wet Cave". Fans of the band's first album "The Forbidden Sounds of Don Tiki" will be pleased to note the growth of their sound as well as a remarkably well recorded product from Taboo Records. This album pickes up where the first one ended and showcases maturation of the group who despite adding new musical ideas, keep the sound true. Mix a Stardust, slip into something scant, and prepare to take an exotic Skinny Dip with Don Tiki.