K
Joined: Mar 28, 2002
Posts: 254
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K
And I believe you. There’s nothing wrong with a pedal steel in this music, and why shouldn’t Hawaiians take to it, after creating the father of it, the lapsteel.
Tiki, as I think, is a celebration of primitivism. To have the music in tune with the carvings and interior design concepts - the tendency is to choose the more “primitive” form of the instrument. It’s the sound most people associate with the islands. Today, in the fifties and even our greatgrandfathers heard hawaiian themed music played on lapsteel guitars. It’s a cliché sound, but a key color in the soundscape.
To clarify my following words, to me Tiki music is more or less Exotica. It's a friendly music with lots of music-friends and -relatives. And if I would be asked if music is Tiki, I try to analyze how far it enters the Exotica camp.
The fun aspect about Exotica music (as opposed to polynesian folk music, f.e.) is that it doesn’t give much on authenticy. But it’s strong points are the vivid soundscapes that come from freely choosing sounds and mixing them. And latin-american and asian instruments are integral parts of the best recordings, playing side by side. The same goes for melody and harmony. There was no tune like Quiet Village played in Hawaii before Martin Denny. Yet most Exotica is associated with pacific islands. And rightly so, because sailors and farmworkers from faraway populated the area by the mid of the 19th century.
This cultural openess and variety is reflected in Trader Vic’s menu and decoration, but also in Exotica recordings from the heyday. In fact from anytime. The Roger Roger album we toppiced here a while ago, is space-age Exotica (as in: the eagles has landed). And Basil Henriques Hawaiian Honeymoon is Now-Sound Exotica.
So, when you have a colorful concoction, with a decidely, if foggy, island theme, you have good a chance of being Tiki!
Just my 2 cents.
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