Best Of the Best 2025

Best Of the Best 2025

Author: Cocktail Nation with Lounge Leader Koop Kooper November 7, 2025 Duration: 1:01:22
    It’s been a stellar year for lounge and exotica — a wave of fresh releases keeping the hi-fi world spinning in style. Tonight, we spotlight the cream of the crop: Tikiyaki and The Hawaiiana Brass, Vibeexotica, Tiki Delights, Ixtahuele, and more. We’ll hear from Andrew Munger of Vibeexotica, Skip Heller on the latest Voodoo 5 record, Matt Spacer on Bond style, Dana Countryman on the return of Cool and Strange Music Magazine, and Richard S. Green on Marketing Mayhem! Pour yourself something smooth — it’s the Best of the Best 2025, right here on The Cocktail Nation.   www.cocktailnation.net   Tikiyaki and The Hawaiiana Brass – Weekend in Waikiki Vibeexotica – An Ocean Away Tiki Delights – Port of Call Tahiti Tiki Delights-Midday Mai Tais Kane Manakoora- Rainbows Over Kaneohe Mr Moai and The Tikiheads-The Dawn of Tiki  Mark Riddle- Lahaina Hula (Luau Version) Voodoo5 – Desolation Center Ixtahuele – House of the Gods JG Thirlwell – Copycat Project K-67 – Atomic Pool Party Ultra Beaver Lounge – La Playa Freddy Canoe – Nosedive  Messerchups – Humanica        

Step into the sophisticated, retro-futuristic world of Cocktail Nation, hosted from a Sydney Penthouse by the one and only Lounge Leader, Koop Kooper. This isn't just a music show; it's a weekly audio escape into the cool, crisp sound of martini shakers and the smooth grooves of a bygone era. Each episode of this podcast is a carefully curated session where classic lounge meets its modern descendant, neo-lounge, creating a seamless soundtrack for the stylishly inclined. Kooper doesn't just spin records; he brings the scene to life with conversations from the most interesting characters found in the swankier corners of culture-musicians, artists, and connoisseurs of the good life. Tune in and you'll hear stories woven between tracks, a blend of charismatic interview and impeccable musical selection that feels like an invitation to an exclusive, yet wonderfully welcoming, party. The vibe is consistently laid-back, intelligent, and dedicated to the artistry of cool. For anyone who appreciates the finer notes in both music and conversation, Cocktail Nation delivers a distinct and transporting experience, one perfectly mixed episode at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 291

Cocktail Nation
Podcast Episodes
Evenings At The Penthouse-Naive Youth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:34
I was once young and naive ..now I am old and naive which ironically Evian spelt backwards. www.cocktailnation.net Cannonball Adderly- Love For Sale Dexter Gordon- I Was Doing All Right Dianne Reeves- We'll Be Together A…
Evenings At The Penthouse-What is Behind the Green Door [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:59
I always thought that the Shakin Stevens song Green Door was the perfect analogy for subculture. www.cocktailnation.net Linda Carone-Don't Be on the Outside Frank Bennett- You're Just To Hip Baby Joey Altruda- Christy Th…
Evenings At The Penthouse-Clothes Maketh The Man [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:29
Let's face it, what would we be without them! Nudists I guess www.cocktailnation.net John Neal and His Orchestra-Blue Martini Jackie Gleason-Blue Velvet Chet Baker - Blue Thoughts Marty Paich Trio- Dusk Light Phineas_New…
Spyvibe-Naked City [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:09
Tonight, we’ve got a journey through the world of intrigue with our Spyvibe segment talking The Naked City, a little something to make you think with our Deep Thought, and a curious tale in our Stuff segment that you won…
Evenings At The Penthouse-Sex and Seduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:43
A raunchy adults only special tonight...well musically at least! www.cocktailnation.net Lind Rene – Sexe Bill Irwin – Seduction Combustible Edison – Seduction Dolf Vaner Linden and his Orchestra – Mood Magenta Eartha Kit…
Evenings At The Penthouse-New Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:24
When things are new, that is the most amazing moment. www.cocktailnation.net Gordon Langford – Pretty Girl By Moonlight Ann-Margaret – A Bachelor In Paradise Astrud Gilberto – So Nice Beverly Kenney – For All We Know Bil…
Evenings At The Penthouse- Touch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:54
Touch, it's the connection we can't explain. www.cocktailnation.net Barry Morgan- The Touch of You Dean Martin- Hands Across the Table Ferrante And Teicher- Touch Me In The Morning Jackie Gleason- Caress Jackie Gleason-…
Evenings At The Penthouse-Cloud 9 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:12
What is your cloud 9? www.cocktailnation.net George Shearing Trio – Midnight on Cloud 69 Morricone – Una Voce Allo Specchio Billy Lester – What Is This Thing Called Love Suzanne Pittson – The Secret Life of Plants Atlant…
Words with Wellsy-From Here To The Great Unknown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:33
Tonight we’ll take a trip into the wonderful world of lounge music and along the way we’ll step into the great unknown with our feature segment, Words with Wellsy. We’ve got some fascinating mid-century tidbits in Lounge…
Evenings At The Penthouse-Strange Dreams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:02
I'm going to break the cardinal rule of socialising and tell you about a weird dream I had last night. www.cocktailnation.net Piano Dreamers – Take Five Jazz Lounge Zone – Relaxing Piano Music Edward Newton – Misty Misty…