Kava
Kon
Dionysus
Records (2009)
It is always interesting to see how
trends come in cycles. In the 1950’s
Tiki Music and the sounds of the like of Les Baxter and Martin Denny were
considered the height of taste, bringing together exotic soundscapes with jazz,
primitivism and native beats. With a resurgence of interest in such music has
come a wide range of lounge, cocktail and retro mood music.
In my mind however there has always
been something fascinating about the Tiki sound with its sound effects, mood
music, primitivism and evocative riffs. I am always on the lookout for modern
explorations but they are few and far between.
In 2004, Nels Truesdell and Bob Kress
formed Kava Kon as a magical escape from the urban decay surrounding them in
their former home city of Detroit. The duo created a new form of music
combining the modern with the primitive; electronica and exotica! Kava Kon music
is a unique blend of exotica, mood music, spaghetti western, electronica,
cocktail lounge, bossa nova, and 1950s/60s b-movie soundtracks. Perfect music
for tiki bars, cocktail parties, and/or people looking for an exotic getaway.
Tiki for the Atomic Age is their new
album and truly gets under your skin; every time you listen to it you hear
something new. It creates a powerful evocative mood which is both playful and
hypnotic. There are tracks which sound like world music and others which are
more like lounge, some evoke an atmosphere of B movies and space exploration,
others seem oh so hip and make you want to get a cocktail. This is an album you
will want to play over and over again.
The cover art by Canadian pop
surrealist painter Heather Watts adds a nice touch to an already superb album !
This review will appear in Volume 2 No.3
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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