The Tikiyaki Orchestra - StereoExotique (2007)

Exotica and Surf music have long been far apart on the spectrum, but the Tikiyaki Orchestra fuses the two together into a sound that is all their own. This debut album by the Southern California band is at the top of my playlist. The style is steeped in the classic 60's surf sounds, ala reverb drenched guitar lines and the other-worldly Exotica that clearly evokes Martin Denny, Les Baxter and Arthur Lyman. The instrumentation is thick and lush with tons of percussion and beautiful vibes taking the lead on most tunes. The outstanding track for me is "Waikiki Serenade" & "Koko Sufu"; both of which make you want to take off your shoes and walk barefoot on the beach. I cannot recommend this CD enough! Make a Mia Tai and sit on the beach while you listen to this album.