Space Escapade

Alongside Martin Denny, Les Baxter was the leading figure in the history of exotica. Where Les held the advantage, however, was his ability to predict or even influence future developments in the genre. He was the first artist to explore space in exotica, later repeating the feat with jungle and percussion. And then he returned to the space theme, at much the same time everyone was talking about the real space race between the Americans and the Soviets. Space Escapade is very much a musical exploration. Les composed and arranged all twelve tracks on display and, as a later writer would note, offered a package tour in sound, selling tickets to sedentary tourists who want to stroll around some taboo emotions before lunch, view a pagan ceremony, go wild in the sun or conjure up a demon, all without leaving home hi-fi comforts in the suburbs.