What makes The Sacred Idol by Les Baxter notable?

This album is significant for its role in popularizing exotica music during the late 1950s and early 1960s, a genre characterized by its lush instrumentation and thematic escapism. 'The Sacred Idol' received positive critical reception, contributing to Baxter's legacy as a key influencer in lounge music and shaping the sound of the era. By 1960, Les Baxter was already an established figure in the exotica genre, having released several influential albums. 'The Sacred Idol' followed his breakthrough work 'Ritual of the Savage' from 1951, further solidifying his reputation as a pioneer in creating atmospheric soundscapes that transport listeners to distant lands.