Rendezvous In Okonkuluku
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Rendezvous in Okonkuluku (2007)
The world’s only performers and drinkers of exotic tiki-tainment from Polynesia and beyond have released their second album featuring 14 tracks of Polynesian Pop and tiki-drink accompaniment! Produced by the inimitable Brother Cleve of Combustable Edison and DelFuegos fame, WAITIKI’s new album—which is their first to also be released on 24-bit, 12” vinyl—is subtitled “A Fresh Retrospective of Classic Exotica.”
WAITIKI has been whisking their listeners to their self-created imaginary world of Okonkuluku since 2003. The band is one of only two bands in the world performing the original style of lounge and Polynesian pop known as exotica (or tiki music). Charred Mammal Flesh: Exotic Music for BBQ, their 2005 debut release, won a Hawai’i Music Award for “Best Album: Exotica”—a brand-new awards category made for the band. WAITIKI has performed exotica at the 2005 Hawai’i International Jazz Festival; at the 2006 Festival de Mexico with their 21-pc “Orchestrotica” (who plays the world’s only transcriptions of Juan Garcia Esquivel); and twice at world-famous Hukilau tiki festival in Florida.
Rendezvous in Okonkuluku (R.I.O.) brings to mind the classic sounds of Martin Denny, Les Baxter, and Arthur Lyman (they cover Denny’s “Tiki” and “Voodoo Love” on this album). “We have brought you the finest available recorded sound, so that you can reduce it to compressed mpeg files and listen to it with little earbuds while you’re sipping a Rum Barrel on some faraway beach…or even Minneapolis, ” adds producer Br. Cleve. More information, including videos about their tiki school, Okonkuluku University, is available at waitiki.com. Enroll in a cocktailology or watermelon-sacrificing class today!
Awards & Reviews
- 11th Annual/2007 Hawaii Music Award, Best Album, Exotica Category
- November 2007: Humu Kon Tiki’s Blog reviews RIO
- August 2007: Reax Music Mag (Tampa, FL)
- July 2007: DJ Jason Croft for Java’s Bachelor Pad radio show
Videos from Recording Session
- Guiro Demonstration by Mr. Ho
Credits
Music performed by WAITIKI: Tim Mayer (woodwinds), Brian O’Neill (vibraphone & percussion), Randy Wong (double bass), Mike Connors (drums). With special guests Helen Liu (violin) and Steve Marvin (vocals).
Produced by Brother Cleve. Recorded and engineered by Ducky Carlisle at Ice Station Zebra (Medford, MA). Mastering by Matthew Azevedo at M-Works (Cambridge, MA).
“Cave of the Tarpon” composed by Michael Tim Mayer
“A Stirring Cocktail Journey Through Okonkuluku” “Choko Chuni-Chu,” and “Haole Beach Sunset” composed by Brian O’Neill (BMI)
“China Clipper” composed by Paul Conrad (ASCAP)
“Voodoo Love” composed by Martin Denny (ASCAP)
“Tiki” composed by Les Baxter (ASCAP)
“WADADA: A Tribute to the Chiefs of Exotica,” “Plamingo Merengue,” “Sumotori Sumopop,” “Rendezvous in Okonkuluku,” “L’Ours Chinois,” “Sweet Pikake Serenade,” and “Pineapple Lilt” composed by Randy Wong (BMI)
All songs copyrighted by their respective owners. WAITIKI is a Registered Trademark of Randall Wong. Original WAITIKI concept by Randy Wong & Abe Lagrimas.
Photography: Jason Goodman. Cover model: Sherry Shaoling.
Album artwork and graphic design by Sam Gambino and The Lounge King.
Aloha shirts by Mamo Howell.
Purchasing with a personal check
Send a check (+ $5.00 shipping/handling), payable to WAITIKI
Randy Wong
PO Box 230322
Boston, MA
02123-0322
Please include your shipping address, name, and contact e-mail and telephone number. Unfortunately we can only accept checks for domestic orders.