Released almost exactly one year after Martin Denny's death, this 2006 compilation offers up a fine sampling of the easy-listening icon's "exotica" style. While the 19-track set doesn't provide dates for individual songs, the selections are clearly from Denny's late-1950s/early-'60s heyday, a time when the Hawaiian "tiki" trend reached mainland America with the force of a tropical storm. Marked by a global arsenal of light percussion and animal calls, Denny's chiming tunes are almost immediately identifiable, with a spare melody always providing the springboard for a stunningly eclectic array of literal bells and whistles. Among the many charming and breezy songs on the collection are Denny's dreamy hit single "Quiet Village," the sparkling (and aptly titled) "Hypnotique," and "Miserlou," a slow, slinky counterpart to Dick Dale's revved-up surf rendition. In addition to the disc's 18 mesmerizing songs, EXOTICA also includes a brief interview with the composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist, making it an excellent showcase of Denny's swanky, thoroughly entertaining sound.