“There is no record quite like this one, and any fan of so-called lounge music or exotica should own this. For those fans of hep sounds and po-mo kitsch, you should have it too, but for those interested in the finest sounds the ’70s had to offer, this is a necessity”. (Allmusic)
The above statement is something I wholeheartedly agree with after spending the afternoon listening to this mighty fine record!! Jungle Obsession does exactly what it says on the tin!! It brings the exotic sounds, textures and mysterious realms of the jungle to life in what is a non-stop thrill of sounds.
Released in 1971, this album was written, produced and conducted by two innovative and somewhat underappreciated French composers, Roger Roger and Nino Nardini. The pair were childhood friends and often worked together, collaborating on many musical pieces. In the circumstance of Jungle Obsession, the concept for this collection of songs came about as a commission for a society of sound professionals who wanted something “unified” and “exotic”. This they certainly got!!
Whilst exotica was definitely not pioneered or created by this pair (you have the likes of the great Les Baxter, Martin Denny and Dick Hyman to thank for that!), what they did so wonderfully master was an evolution of this sound! The arrangements of of Denny and Baxter all derived from simple themes (easily recognized by Western audiences as a way in), whereas Nardini and Roger created far more technical and complex compositions. They took rock, classical, bossa. jazz and easy listening and wove them together with polyrhythmic invention and an imagination-full of sound effects.
What came out of this has been described as “one of the true masterpieces of pop exotica: musically sophisticated, sensually lush, and technically innovative…” Hmmm….I can’t argue with that!!……and those rhythms!!! GLORIOUS!
Malaysia is taken from this record and if you like the sound of this, you should definitely stick around to hear the whole album…which I’ve pasted below! Enjoy!!
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