Action Plus+ "Wanderlust" (Nocturnal Love Feast 02) Those SF hipsters return with a second collection of pop-noir for the now generation. This Bammie/Wammie/Snoozie nominated super group features Joe Gore, Ursula Blind, Cynthia Smith, Pat Campbell and SF's nortorious talking mime Sally Dana. One is hard pressed to pigeonhole this quintet. Postmod-alterna-Bacharach- pop-noir-instro-moodsongs might be a start, but requires too many hyphens and too much writing for most of the music press. Better to simply call them "moodsmiths" - creating not so much songs as mini moods. Wanderlust reveals a much darker and rockin' side than last year's eponymous debut. Nonetheless, "lounge," "exotica" and "EZ" fans will still find this immediately accessible and thoroughly enjoyable. This is not "play dress up and swill martini" cocktail music. This is the cocktail music wafting out of the door of a seedy lounge where the barmaids have beehives and the patrons are world weary and cheap booze drunk. Find out for yourself. Listen to selections from Wanderlust on Radio Vik. Don Tiki "The Forbidden Sounds of..." (Taboo 8888) On the opposite side of the world from Action Plus+ (at least musically) is the exotic splendor of Don Tiki. Picking up the traditions of Denny, Baxter and Lyman, these Hawaiians are breathing new life into the almost forgotten body of exotica. In early 1997, Vik was honored to receive a demo copy for six songs on this release. Months later, the finished product is out, and Vik raises his mai tai in a hearty salute. Even better than the promise of that early demo, The Forbidden Sounds of Don Tiki will literally transport you back to those halcyon years of exotica's heyday. As if the sheer talent of these musicians were not enough, Don Tiki throws in a major bonus for exotica devotees with a special guest appearance by the High Priest himself, Martin Denny. Mr. Denny performs on the updated "Exotica '97" and puts in a solo piano turn with "Forever and Ever." Don't, however, let Mr. Denny's appearance be your sole reason for getting this CD. Don Tiki presents modern exotica in the old school tradition...and that should be reason enough. Listen to selections from The Forbidden Sounds of Don Tiki on Radio Vik or visit the original Radio Vik's Exotic Tiki Beach Blanket Extravaganza featuring Don Tiki. For info on getting a copy for your very own, write loidlink@pixi.com and tell'em Vik sent ya!