Sad news: I heard that Juan Garcia Esquivel died last week. Strange, as I had been thinking about his records a lot recently. I remember first hearing his stuff on the RCA ‘Space Age Pop’ compilations in 1996. Then I remember the thrill of finding my first vinyl copies of those beautiful LPs, with their superb period covers (I was hoping to link to ‘Joseph Holmes’s Space Age Bachelor Pad Music page’ here, but it seems to have disappeared, and come to think of it, I hadn’t visited it for about five years). Anyway, moving to America was good for my Esquivel addiction, since the LPs were easier to get hold of. Also great were the CD reissues on Bar None, although alas the project was aborted before they had all been released.
Anyway, Juan: thanks for the incredible music, and rest in peace. And say hi to Julie London from me.