Various Artists — Heatwave- The Intoxicating World Of Nexotica

Heatwave is the latest in the Righteous label's long-running Lux & Ivy compilation series, which sees respected music journalist Dave Henderson crate-digging for obscure 45s from the ’50s & ’60s. This twenty-three CD collection focuses on Exotica/ Nexotica- bringing together known/influential artists such as Martin Denny, Les Baxter, and Arthur Lyman, with lesser-known names.

As with all of the releases in this series, the CD is presented in a clear jewel case. Front cover-wise, we have a smiling, dark-skinned dancer semi in shade. Inside the glossy/colourful/ short inlay booklet, we find a page-and-a-half write-up by Henderson, a fair selection of cover artwork, track listing- including helpful where the tracks originally came from.

I think it’s fair to say that, as a sub-genre, Exotica has received the most compilation of any easy-listening sub-genre… and I’ve reviewed more than a few of them over my career.  So as a result it’s sometimes diffcult to select tracks that no one familiar with the genre hasn’t heard before, and I’d say this collection is a little middling on that front- as we have, I guess, the ultimate Exotica track, Martin Denny’s “Exotica”,  and a few other familiar names, so with that in mind I’ll pick out a few of the lesser know tracks, which will appeal to those already familiar with the genres keystones.

We open up with the wayward flute weaved,  wind billowing, bird chatter lined “Tobago” by Eden Ahbez. There’s Frank Comstock’s “Deep Night” with its steady-trudging-through-a-desert bass horn swoon meets mid-ranged eastern mystery melody & light theremin bays. We have the tip-tapping percussion, violin rapidity, guitar strums, and mood whistling of The Elisabeth Waldo Group's “Tun-Kut”. There’s The Markko Polo Adventures “Night Of Tiger” which blends darting/ twanging oriental melody touched key/string/vibes tones, sassy sax, and jaunting piano keys.

As Exotica compilations go, Heatwave is fine, with, as usual, with Lux & Ivy series, the whole thing is well sequenced to flow well and enjoyable.