Exploring New Sounds In Stereo/Strings Aflame

Juan García Esquivel - Mexican bandleader, pianist and composer – was the king of what has come to be known as “Space Age Bachelor Pad Music”. On this, his fourth American released LP (here bundled alongside his fifth release), he does exactly what it says on the tin. Crafting sophisticated instrumental lounge music with jazz and Latin influences was his forte, but on this record he stretches his already varied and intelligent arrangements to include theramin, harpsichord and buzzimba (amongst others) to play alongside his usual brass section, Latin percussion, lush strings, mixed choir and virtuoso piano skills. Furthermore, it is interesting to note (for those of you unfamiliar with Esquivel) the use of voice on this album; whilst mainly instrumental, many songs do feature vocalists and choirs, but for the most part they are being used as percussion and non-lyric melodies, illustrated masterfully on a cha-cha-chá infused version of Boulevard Of Broken Dreams, replete with his signature zu-zus and ba-da-bas.

The whole album is incredibly varied, stretching from the theramin-led Spellbound (from the film of the same name), to a swinging harpsichord version of the theme from The Third Man, to fairly faithful interpretations of Greek folk tune Misirlou and Brahms’ Hungarian Dance #5. Throughout, the album is marked by fantastically creative arrangements and a constantly changing atmosphere, whilst retaining a cohesive, 60s lounge feeling.

It’s a bit redundant to say it these days, but it’s well worth listening to this in stereo. The album’s title wasn’t for nothing.

Twenty-two tracks of space age pop for your next cocktail party HERE (57mb)