Esquivel - More Of Other Worlds, Other Sounds

Clowns playing jazz; Liberache on acid; you choose

Originally released in 1962 as part of Esquivel’s ongoing catalogue of quirky instrumental/exotic albums, More Of… has become a true lounge classic, mainly thanks to the timely revival of all things musically kitsch throughout the 90s. He’s up there with Les Baxter and Martin Denny, the three of them dominating the space age bachelor pad section of any good record collection.

If you’re unaware of Esquivel and his magic, well, he sounds like Liberace on acid; or jazz played by clowns; or both of those things at the same time. Take some normal tunes, tweak them in funny places and you have that Esquivel sound – and five decades on he’s still sounding unique, cool and wonderfully daft. The production and ideas behind the originals and cover versions are often breathtaking, the humour is spot on, the musical energy relentless. It’s charismatic, insane and quite brilliant.

This is a straight reissue with original sleevenotes, and the lack of archive info or an up-to-date reappraisal is a shame. Nevertheless, it sounds fabulous and, if slightly twisted easy listening is your taste (or you have a cocktail party planned), you need this now.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Reprise | 9362-45

Reviewed by Jonny Trunk
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