MattCrunk
Joined: Apr 19, 2007
Posts: 92
Town Creek, Alabama
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Posted on Nov 04 2009 05:00 PM
I'd like to hear from some of the "experts" on this . . .
I have just recently begun to explore the world (and origins) of Exotica, which obviously pre-dates Surf by at least a decade.
What's your take on the genre, and how much of an influence do you think Exotica had on Surf both in it's early 60's origins and modern surf today, with bands like The Blue Hawaiians and APE?
Do you think there's (still) a clear distinction between the two genres?
— Matt Crunk
Decatur, Alabama
Founder: North Alabama Surf Alliance (NASA)
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WhorehayRFB
Joined: Jun 12, 2008
Posts: 3331
Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted on Nov 04 2009 06:08 PM
Well, in a match following the Marquis of Queensbury rules, Exotica would have an advantage, but I would take Surf in a street fight any day.
— Radio Free Bakersfield--60 Minutes of TWANG, CRUNCH, OOMPH.
http://radiofreebakersfield.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-Free-Bakersfield/172410279636
http://www.sandiegojoe.com/rfb.htm
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shivers13
Joined: Jul 29, 2009
Posts: 2605
Boss Angeles, CA
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Posted on Nov 04 2009 06:55 PM
There's an obvious distinction between the two but they're more connected than you might think at first. Both draw heavily thematically and musically from the indigenous music of Hawaii and other far-off lands. The primary difference of course is that Surf music is guitar based and has a strong backbeat because it's instrumental Rock & Roll.
As far as Exotica having an influence on Surf music, take into consideration that post WWII interest in all things exotic was huge and influenced everything from literature, to modern art, to mid-century architecture. It without a doubt had an influence on Surf music of that era, although I think that influence has been mostly lost today with the exception of the bands you mentioned and a few more like The Tiki Tones and The Cads. My verdict... both are great!
— BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com
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drumuitar
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 813
Boise, ID
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Posted on Nov 04 2009 08:28 PM
I'm a major Exotica fan, especially Les Baxter. I'd definitely say that surf has ties to exotica...although maybe not directly or even known by the players. A lot of the rhythms of both are often derived from the same roots.
Here's a trippy one for you: Korla Pandit, the guy who is kind of the originator of exotica:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR3oai78Tqw
and his version of Miserlou:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ytSC8rz84
— Shawn Martin
http://www.drummerman.net
http://www.youtube.com/GKacedrummerman
http://www.facebook.com/drumuitar
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25309
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Nov 04 2009 09:57 PM
I'm not very good at examining it, and putting it into words,
but I feel the answer is yes.
not all surf, there is some that is very Roots orientated.
ala Rn'B or Link Wray style.
but the more other culture styled stuff to me sometimes has an Exotic Feel to it.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4129
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Nov 04 2009 10:13 PM
drumuitar
I'm a major Exotica fan, especially Les Baxter. I'd definitely say that surf has ties to exotica...although maybe not directly or even known by the players. A lot of the rhythms of both are often derived from the same roots.
This is pretty interesting. I know very little about Exotica but I think that it filled a similar niche. Both are a departure from the mainstream and give the listener the sense of having discovered something unusual.
As bigtikidude mentioned in his post, it's not all exotic but that certainly seems to be a component of the Surf music world.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10321
southern Michigan
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Posted on Nov 04 2009 10:56 PM
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shivers13
Joined: Jul 29, 2009
Posts: 2605
Boss Angeles, CA
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Posted on Nov 04 2009 11:06 PM
Miserlou, Malaguena, The Breeze and I... all done "exotica" style before the surf versions.
— BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com
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drumuitar
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 813
Boise, ID
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Posted on Nov 04 2009 11:07 PM
IvanP
Latinia - the Sentinals
Adventures in Paradise - the Atlantics
Two songs by first wave surf bands that most definitely owe a lot to exotica....
The Jokers as well. Taboo (Tabou) was taken directly from Martin Denny, including the bird calls.
— Shawn Martin
http://www.drummerman.net
http://www.youtube.com/GKacedrummerman
http://www.facebook.com/drumuitar
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 02:16 AM
WhorehayRFB
Well, in a match following the Marquis of Queensbury rules, Exotica would have an advantage, but I would take Surf in a street fight any day.
Haha!
— SSIV
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2270
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 04:10 AM
I'm a big fan of the genre and agree that there are similarities even though exotica mainly attracted adults while surf music obviously was more for teenagers. I remember being somewhat surprised that the Astronauts did "Quiet Village" (the biggest exotica hit ever) since it was very much their parents music.
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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deepeddy
Joined: May 19, 2009
Posts: 1263
Austin, Tejas
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 10:28 AM
Total influence on 3 Balls of Fire. Also, check out The Big Island by Mister Neutron from their <u>Nor'easter</u> CD.
— Ted James
Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net
The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com
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Kawentzmann
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 11:23 AM
I like both. I also like cocktails and beer.
— The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann
You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.
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Double-Crown-Records
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1221
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 12:09 PM
Great thread - it's got me thinking that I should do an iTunes playlist with exotica songs done by surf bands!
— Sean
Double Crown Records
www.doublecrownrecords.com
Surf CD's / Vinyl / Fanzines / DVD's
The Desolate Coast - Without A Planet CD
Hipbone Slim aka Sir Bald - Wiggin' Out With CD
Continental Magazine - Issue #36 w/21 Song CD
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drumuitar
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 813
Boise, ID
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 12:21 PM
deepeddy
Total influence on 3 Balls of Fire. Also, check out The Big Island by Mister Neutron from their <u>Nor'easter</u> CD.
Friends of Dean Martinez as well
— Shawn Martin
http://www.drummerman.net
http://www.youtube.com/GKacedrummerman
http://www.facebook.com/drumuitar
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WhorehayRFB
Joined: Jun 12, 2008
Posts: 3331
Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 12:34 PM
Double-Crown-Records
Great thread - it's got me thinking that I should do an iTunes playlist with exotica songs done by surf bands!
Or a compilation.
— Radio Free Bakersfield--60 Minutes of TWANG, CRUNCH, OOMPH.
http://radiofreebakersfield.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-Free-Bakersfield/172410279636
http://www.sandiegojoe.com/rfb.htm
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norcalhodad
Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 537
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 12:49 PM
drumuitar
Here's a trippy one for you: Korla Pandit, the guy who is kind of the originator of exotica:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR3oai78Tqw
Thanks for bringing this one to light for me. Korla Pandit had a cameo in Tim Burton's, "Ed Wood", but I didn't know who he was until now. That percussive, exotic organ playing style is cool!
—  > 
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tormentos
Joined: Jun 20, 2006
Posts: 188
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 01:29 PM
was a revelation for me too!!!
even the ed wood thing!
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 03:19 PM
I think this one is sort of central Exotic:
Similau - Surfaris
Ditto Babalu Aie (not sure of spelling), though the versions I know are more recent.
Here the name gives it away:
Exotic - various bands
And if Malaguena and The Breeze and I go here, then so does
Siboney - various bands
Siboney is sometimes renamed. Johnny Fortune does it as Siboney and as the Lone Surfer.
I'm going to guess that things like Tor-Chula (Sentinals), Monkey Bird (Revels), and so on fit here, too.
Probably also Latin Soul (Surfaris and Sentinals). Sometimes attributed to Lalo Schifrin, but if so I'm not sure what.
Flight of the Bumblebee and its derivatives must go in here somewhere.
Stranger in Paradise?
Some of the stuff cited in this thread is also standardly cited as "Spanish" or "Middle Eastern" influence, and I suppose that "Exotica" makes a better cover term. Plus it explains all the "Mexico" songs.
As far as thinking of it as playing "their parents music," this still happens.
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25309
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Nov 05 2009 06:56 PM
also for the perfect mix of Exotica and Surfy guitars,
look at Tikiyaki Orchestra
http://www.tikiyakiorchestra.com/
http://www.myspace.com/tikiyaki
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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