Insane! This is a totally weird album of messed-up funky grooves, played by the enigmatic Pool-Pah rock group, with arrangements by Rupert Holmes (of "Pina Colada" fame!) The music is a weird mix of spare moogy instrumentals and flanged-out vocal tracks designed to accompany a strange film called The Flasher – and although the general concept of the film and music seem incredibly stupid, the overall sound is pretty darn great! The album includes the monster slow-moving break track "Sour Soul", plus other nice funky and moogy tracks, like "Flight", "Two Way Road", and "Flasher Theme". Incredibly obscure, and the kind of rare break record you dig for for years! (Soundtracks, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

A really sweet electronic album from Dan Lacksman – one that's a lot more instrumental than his debut album, but which still sounds different than some of the moog records that came before! Dan's really opening up his analog skills here – and he uses the world of electronics in ways that are sometimes dreamy and easy, sometimes more straightforwardly tuneful – almost Hot Butter territory, but more complex and with all the sorts of cool, unusual touches that make his work in the studio such a standout – and such a nice step forward from the work of Perry & Kingsley, or Walter Carlos. Titles include "Electronic Fair", "Plic Ploc", "Top Tang", "It's Raining Today", "Top Jerk", and "Dedicated To Gerard". (Rock, Now Sound) CD

A classic Christmas album of makeout music from British bandleader Stanley Black! It's clear that the guy on the cover has his mind on a lot more than what's under the tree – and after pouring some bubbly, and treating his lady to some diamonds, he's ready to put on the moves – either that, or he's somehow got his teeth stuck in her hair! Regardless of the setting, though, Stanley Black serves up some nicely mellow music for the later hours of Christmas Eve – string-laden readings of Holiday tunes, done up in a nice mix of familiar and original tunes – with titles that include "Dreaming", "Christmas Island", "Santo Natale", "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", "Christmas Alphabet", and "By The Fireside". (Holiday Music, Now Sound) CD

Maybe not the first album of electronics to come out of the European scene – but a set that definitely marked that standout moment when moogy pop found a great way forward! Dan Lacksman had plenty of studio experience before cutting this gem of a record – and he brings that all to bear strongly here, working through both rock and easy modes – and using guitars and more conventional instrumentation alongside all the weird analog instrumental sounds, to give the tunes a catchy, playful sort of vibe – a bit like the territory that Perry & Kingsley explored, but more song-based overall. Titles include the slow funk classic "Sky Lab" – plus "Funky Kouly", "Spider", "In The Woods", "Hey Hey", and "Stay With Me" – plus the clunky cover of "Tchip Tchip" that starts off the record (you might skip that and begin on track 2!) (Rock, Now Sound) CD

A rare holiday album from string maestro Felix Slatkin – one of the more dynamic orchestra leaders to record for Liberty Records during the glory days of bachelor pad music! Felix is usually in a style that's got more zing in the strings – but here, he steps things down a bit for a set of Holiday goodies – turning his orchestra arrangements to Christmas tunes, with a slight flair from time to time that keeps the record from sounding as sleepy as it might if it were on a label like Columbia or Decca. Titles include "Deck The Halls", "White Christmas", "Adeste Fideles", "O Holy Night", "Joy To The World", and "Away In A Manger". (Holiday Music, Now Sound) CD

An incredibly groovy album – filled with instrumental tracks that shift between funky big band and groovy 60s soundtrack – all arranged by Mike Nesmith and Shorty Rogers! The feel here is like that of some of Rogers' other groovy late 60s instrumental one-off albums – like his hot rod, dune buggy, or surf-orchestra sides – and Nesmith brings in a slightly cynical tone that manifests itself in the choice of some of the instrumentation for the tracks, and the overall setting of the record. Think Monkees instrumentals gone groovier, and you've got part of the picture – but there's also plenty of snippets of Sunset Strip hip and Warner Brothers longing for the past too! Titles include "While I Cried", "Don't Cry Now", "Tapioca Tundra", "Nine Times Blue", "Carlisle Wheeling", and "You Told Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing stuff – one of those records you see for years, and always pass by – but which yields some real surprises once you dig in! Mason Williams is one of the cooler cats in the Warner Brothers stable of the late 60s – but he's also one of the more subtle, too – a folkie at heart, but an artist with a really great sense of wit, warmth, and variety – very much in the best genre-stepping style of the Burbank scene of the time. The set features, of course, Mason's huge hit "Classical Gas" – an instrumental you'll recognize instantly – but next to that is the sublime "Baroque A Nova", a very cool scatting harmony track that's like some lost late 60s Hugo Montenegro gem – and the camp psych gem "The Prince's Panties" – done with all the wit of late 60s Warner – as is the whole album! Other tracks include "Wanderlove", "Overture", "All The Time", and "She's Gone Away". (Rock, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

A great little package, and way more than just the familiar exotica moments on mainstream compilations – as your guides here are Lux Interior and Poison Ivy of The Cramps – two folks who know more than plenty about the music of the farther reaches of the postwar years! And although their other collections for this label have gone way out to pull in some totally obscure material, the blend here is more measured – so that you'll get great cuts by some of the bigger exotica names, mixed with other numbers that are more unusual – and some that we wouldn't have even thought to include in such a package – all awash in sounds from the islands, tropical percussion, and even a few birdcalls and chants along the way! The 2CD set features a great range of material – and titles include "The Twisters" by Mel Henke, "Hampi" by Yma Sumac, "Mystery Of Love" by Olatunji, "Jardin De La Noche" by Robert Drasnin, "Mood For You" by Phil Moore, "Alegres Conga" by Cal Tlader, Envy" by Bill Russo, "Kele Kele" by Johnny Richards, "African Bossa Nova" by Ahmed Abdul Malik, "Tabu" by Augie Colon, "Pua Carnaeon" by Arthur Lyman, "Adventures In Paradise" by Leo Addeo, "Dance Of The Nustas" by Elisabeth Waldo, "Pagan Love Song" by Alex Stordal, "Balikpapan" by Jimmy Namaro Trio, and "Train To Ranchipur" by Markko Polo Adventurers. CD