Don Tiki - South of the Boudoir (16 tracks) +Album Reviews

Don Tiki Unleashes a Modern Exotica Masterpiece

Fluid Floyd | Honolulu, Hawaii | 10/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don Tiki - the keepers of the exotica flame - have released their fourth album, [[ASIN: B002N7SXHU "South of the Boudoir.]]" This new album is their first in five years and features 16 fresh tracks and over 70 minutes of lush, seductive melodies. Drawing inspiration from original exotica masters Marty, Arty and Les (Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Les Baxter), Don Tiki boldly moves this evocative genre of music into the 21st century.

Don Tiki kicks off the CD with "Friendly Islands," a sweet exotica classic sung originally by the sultry Ethel Azama back in the late 50s when Hawaii became the 50th State. The sweet `n loverly Hai Jung will set your heart afire with her sexy vocals, while Sharene Lum gently plucks your emotions on harp. The track also features Hawaii's most stellar musicians - Noel Okimoto on drums and vibes, Dean Taba on bass, Carlinhos de Oliveira on guiro, caxixi, and rainstick, and Don Tiki's fearless leader, Perry Coma (Kit Ebersbach) on piano and celesta.

The next song, "Odd Man Out," features forbidden sounds played on visually spectacular instruments smuggled in from Burma, Thailand and Viet Nam. The patwaing, the patellar, naal, and Chinese tomtom blend magically with Hawaiian and Brazilian percussion instruments like the `ili`ili, kala`au, ka`eke`eke, cuica, pandeiro, udu and chimta. Lopaka Colon, son of Augie Colon, adds a jungle jazz overlay on bongo and dumbek.

"Turkish Delight" conjures up the perfumed, divan-pillowed chambers of a traditional pashas harem. Next up is "The Forbidden Finger," a jazzolicious romp, lovingly dedicated to the vocalese doodlings of Esquivel, Swingle Singers, and Les Double-Six de Paris. The intrepid Jim Howard contributes an amazingly effortless solo over some twisted chord changes, ones which would easily trip up mere mortal flautists. Delmar De Wilde, Hai Jung, and Starr Kalahiki soar on vocals with Rockford Holmes on alto flutes, Noel Okimoto on bongos and vibes, Dean Taba on bass, and Perry Coma on piano.

The tantalizing "Bla Bla Cha Cha" features Don Tiki's own cover girl, Sherry Shaoling, on bravura vocals, with Rockford Holmes doing his level best to keep up with her on the saxophones. Ms. Sherry "owns" this tune and it has become a Don Tiki live show stopper with quixotic choreography and elaborate costumes. Put on your "Tinfoil Hats" as Ryoko Oka deftly creates a mesmerizing rhythmic pattern on the t`rung, an unearthly Vietnamese glockenspiel constructed exclusively of bamboo tubes and rubber bands.

Come fly away with Don Tiki as they continue on their global musical trek. On the album, you'll encounter "Billions of Brazilians," or find yourself "In Thailand" where the temptations prove to be too much for mere mortals. Jimmy Borges contributes his smooth vocals on the Yo Ma-Ma mix, in sharp contrast to Delmar's Deluxe mix on the final bonus track.

Forget it all in Don Tiki's secret Bedouin bar as you sip your "Pagan Lust" slowly. The next thing you know, you're "Pussyfooting" into a "Chinatown Bar" with Delmar deWilde for more delusions of sensual satisfaction. Evoking the sounds of a paradise lost, this tiki-lounge experience transports you to another world - one filled with the music of a forgotten past but infused with an unmistakable modern lounge vibe. Find yourself...lose yourself...the exotic journey is up to you."

Eastern Exotica Excellence!

Old Man Parker | The Big Island, Hawaii, USA | 11/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another amazing neo-exotica album from the long time world champs of lounge acts. Get hip and get this album.

The music is first rate - using extra-exotic instruments from far away lands - and that thats where it all takes you. Say good bye to Kansas and hello to Bang-Cock (with all the rum in cheek meaning implied). The tropical twister of tunes whirles you off to tiki wonder land. A ride that HIP-notizes you to swanky islands in erotic oceans. Leaving the big finish for near last.

The tiger-stripped-Elvis king of swank, Delmar deWild, croons a new Don Tiki hit with "Pagan Lust" at track very lucky 13.

Two Bonus tracks float you back to the mainland in the Wizard of Ahhs hot air baloon, after a flight of red hot and balmy tropical wet dreaming. Whew!

There have been many new neo-exotica bands releasing really great albums recently, but it's the ultimate gift from the Tiki Gods to have a new, much long awaited, DON TIKI album. They are the cream of the top. The Album packaging is beautiful: Shery Shaoling's aluring smouldering gaze on the cover, and Robb Hamels tiki-rific black velvet tiki paintings on the liner notes and back. No kidding - B L A C K V E L V E T T I K I Paintings!

The midnight darkened lounge wrapped in red and blue mood lights, tell you be prepaied to have a mai tai knock you on your butt as DON TIKI does it again - and even better than before.

Buy it. Listen. Love it."

Party on a Platter

Melissa Jackson | Hawaii | 11/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The other side of the world from Ibeza is Hawaii where pomo hipsters aren't overly self important and bring affection to the gig. They had Martin Denny jam with them on their last release and with puns, double entandres and mai tais in hand, they throw the doors open for another round of chill party music that comes to the party feeling like Martin Denny jamming with Thievery Corporation, but he jammed with the Tiki crew so how much more authentic and reliable to you want your contemporary exotica to be? A great party on a platter that brings fantasy Hawaii to whatever snowbound hole you're stuck in. Upbeat, fun stuff that's simply irresistible."

Exotic Melodies at their finest

Holden W. Westland | 02/04/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've long been a fan of the world's premier Tiki band, "Don Tiki" and this cd is Exotica at it's finest. Don Tiki has carried the tiki torch longer then any modern day band and by staying true to their stylings, and not selling out to modern era stylings, I must say that this cd is the best release of the year! I own and run Tiki Farm, argued as the largest entity in the "Tiki" world and have heard scores of different music from countless "Tiki" bands but none or at least a few match the caliber of Don Tiki. If you are an afficianado of exotica style, this cd is an absolute must for you! Now go have a mai-tai!"

A great band returns to limelight

Robb Hamel | 01/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of those rarest of the rare albums: the kind that gets better with each listening until you finally realize that most of your favorite bands don't seem to be even trying.

But it is NOT one of those over-engineered pieces of work where dozens or hundreds of layers of sound attempt to camoflage the artists' obvious flaw: they do not really know what they want.

Don Tiki knows exactly what they want and they present it without going too minimal, either. This album is the result of a clear, confident, passionate vision and could clearly be played live.

By passionate I mean randy, in the old sense of the word. Unlike most albums you'll hear, this one is not cold and analytical, nor is it what you'd describe as part of your "digital lifestyle".

It is playful, old-fashioned, and subtly but consistently naughty. Heard on a good sound system, the breathy, sexy singing can slowly raise my body temperature until I'm looking around for my partner with longing. The quality of your sound system is important here because the warm heart beating beneath the surface of the sound can't be felt without it. The fun of the songs will come through, but your body temperature will stay the same.

By old-fashioned I mean that there is an early 20th Century stage show quality to Don Tiki's sound, as if you are on a cruise to the South Seas and this is the show the steamship puts on en route. You can almost see the stage flats, props and colored spotlights in your mind's eye.

What it comes down to in my mind is that you have "normal" bands doing what's expected of them and fitting into neat categories while pretending to have "attitude", and then you have "True Artists" who do what their artists' vision moves them to do. These artists pave the way down unknown paths and expand the vocabulary of music."

Search - Don Tiki :: South of the Boudoir

CD Details

CD Reviews

	Don Tiki South of the Boudoir Genres: International Music, Pop Track Listings (16) - Disc #1 Friendly Islands Odd Man Out Turkish Delight The Forbidden Finger Bla Bla Cha Cha Tinfoil Hats In Thailand (Yo Ma-Ma Mix) Chinatown Bar Cha Cha Cha Pussyfooting Jungle Julie Billions Of Brazilians Pajama Tops The Palanquin Pagan Lust Rapture Of The Deep In Thailand (Delmar's Deluxe Mix)
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