Exotic Percussion – STANLEY BLACK****

Temptation/By The Waters Of Minnetonka/Adieu Tristesse/Jungle Drums/Hymn To The Sun/Babalu/Old Devil Moon/Baia/Moon Of Manakoora/Misirlou/Flamingo/Caravan

Exotic Percussion was an excursion into exotica from British bandleader and conductor Stanley Black, a transient sub-genre more popular across the Atlantic than in Britain. (US:30)

“Stanley Black's music can be addictive and you must have more. The arrangements, orchestrations and piano playing are so very relaxing and thought provoking that you must listen to more and more of his music.”

“A classic example of America's pop culture past. Exotic Percussion was an obvious attempt to cash in on the tiki exotica craze. It is a great listen. It reminds you of the music played on contemporary hi-fi consoles. Features some female vocals to give it that mystic feel.”

“This LP features light music at its most adventurous. Exotic Percussion was an early example of multi-miking. In it, Black made arrangements for various percussion instruments, recorded closely and intimately, along with a small orchestra and a female chorus. Throughout, the arrangements are both innovative and entertaining. In Babalu and Jungle Drums, the chorus makes a delightful addition, creating a suitably romantic atmosphere.”

“The particularly colourful Exotic Percussion picks up the threads of the North American exotica craze that reached England during a time when its novelty factor was already wearing thin in the US. It remains one of Black's best-known genre-related works thanks to its focus on the percussive instruments.”

“Exotic Percussion stands the test of time and remains to this day an awe-inspiring work thanks to the large amount of wood sticks, congas, timpani and the prominent choir who perform the lyrics in a positively melodramatic fashion. Luckily, the twelve numbers are neither pompous nor over the top, but inherit the spirit and intimacy of the original pieces most of the time.”

“Phase 4 Stereo was an example of the sort of record that you used to find back in the early days of stereo, a demonstration of supposedly cutting-edge, high-end stereo technology. The music is arranged accordingly.”