Quiet Village

Despite its ubiquitous appearance in thrift stores (it is the Whipped Cream and Other Delights of exotica), this record packs quite a few surprises. First, the final track is a re-release of the number four hit and Denny signature tune, "Quiet Village" (originally on the first Exotica LP). "Coronation," "Firecracker," and "Sake Rock" -- covered by 1990s group the Cocktails -- are representative of the standard Denny oeuvre: birdcall "Polynesian" exotica, Chinese, and Japanese. Most intriguing, however, is the self-parody treatment of "Little Grass Shack" set to a cha-cha-cha beat and punctuated with an absurd duck call instead of the usual birds.