Search - Arthur Lyman :: Hawaiian Sunset

As quiet & soothing as background music can get

MilesAndTrane | Chicago, Il USA | 06/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're new to the long-gone world of Exotica music, this is NOT a beginners album. A great exotica album to start with would be Robert Drasnin's "Voodoo" or Vol. 1 from Capitol Records "Ultra Lounge" series. Having said that, this is a nice, calm entry in the Arthur Lyman library. Lyman's style of exotica was much softer than that of Martin Denny and Les Baxter, highlighting his soothing vibraphone over birdcalls and mild percussion. Sometimes you hear someone talk about something that "really speaks" to them. This is an album that will not speak to you, it will whisper. Lyman is one of the masters of exotica, and this is supreme Hawaiian lounge music, performed as quietly as possible.



At first, when you put this album on and lay down to relax, you will suspect something is wrong with your stereo speakers. The sounds here are so soft, you'll barely hear it, and you'll get up to raise the volume. You'll notice the music moving along at a moderate pace. Lyman's vibraphone sounds attractive but the melody of each tune never takes hold because all you want to do is fall for the mood of the music rather than the song itself. Babies and grandparents alike could relax to this record or anybody else who needs help while trying to take a nap. "Hawaiian Sunset" isn't as cartoonish as so many other exotica records, this is intended to put you to sleep while planting dreams for you of a vacation on the isle of Maui. The music on this album is barely noticeable, and I think Arthur Lyman intended it that way."

Island Lounge

MilesAndTrane | 05/16/1998

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Arthur Lyman composed and performed some of the smoothest Pacific Island lounge music of the 60's and 70's. He combined jazz with Exotica's appropriation of traditional instruments to create a soft music that is just barely unfamiliar. Music for drinking after a long day at the beach."

Not easily confused with van halen's 'fair warning'

charley hardman | occupied US | 05/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"it's hard to believe that a group of musicians somewhere out there, at some time, was so consumed with playing WAY throttled back music. well, they did it right, and i couldn't agree more with the previous reviewer: this is music for drinking and relaxing. if the drinking and relaxing can't be in hawaii, a screened-in porch on a drizzly maryland afternoon will do nicely with this powerful cd wafting through the room, just above a whisper.you're getting sleepy. you're getting vewy ve... LOOK OUT! -- it's the imitation fog horn on track 13! aww get another beer. only about 3 minor spots on this cd will wake you up.great combination of feel, instruments, and recording style. the booklet (updated for this 96 release) is nice too. get me on a plane to kauai. i'll pack when i return."