In a lush, cinematic voyage through sound, composer and pianist Arnold Mars unveils his debut exotica album, Lost Island—a 14-track odyssey that conjures the mystery, ritual, and romance of a forgotten tropical realm. Released in 2025 on Discriminate Audio Publishing (BMI), the album is available in two tactile formats: a matte finish CD Digipack (limited to 100 copies) and a cassette tape in a classic shell case (limited to 50 copies).
A Sonic Expedition
Clocking in at 32 minutes and 46 seconds, Lost Island is more than an album—it’s a narrative arc. Each track unfolds like a chapter in a pulp adventure novel:
- “Warm Trade Winds” opens the journey with breezy optimism.
- “Marooned” and “First Contact with the Natives” plunge the listener into unfamiliar terrain.
- By “Joining in Forced Prayer to the Idols” and “Carved Totem Reveals Blood Memories,” the story deepens into mysticism and ancestral echoes.
- The finale, “The Island Vanishes into the Horizon,” leaves us adrift in reverie, unsure if the island was ever real.
The Ensemble Cast
Mars’s compositions are brought to life by a dream team of exotica artisans:
| Performer | Instrumentation |
|---|---|
| Arnold Mars | Piano, Composition |
| Jocko Greene | Bass |
| Bobby Cuda | Vibraphone |
| Rex Rudolph | Percussion |
| Glenn Jupp | Harp |
| Don Paine | Bird Calls |
| Warren Redwine | Calliope |
| Dick Santo | Musical Saw |
| Icelyn Warner | Ethereal Vocals |
The album was recorded by Moe Dutch, with a cover photograph captured by Mars himself—adding a personal touch to the visual mythology.
A New Chapter in Modern Exotica
Lost Island is a love letter to mid-century exotica, filtered through a contemporary lens. Mars’s arrangements evoke the spirit of Les Baxter and Martin Denny, but with a cinematic flair and narrative cohesion that feels fresh and immersive. From the shimmering harp glissandos to the haunting saw melodies and ritualistic percussion, every sonic detail contributes to the album’s spellbinding atmosphere.
Whether you’re a crate-digging aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, Lost Island invites you to close your eyes, light the copal, and drift into a world where the jungle whispers secrets and the moonlight dances on the lagoon.
Buy Now — before the tide takes it away.
