Deep Forest
Deep Forest made their name with their hit '92 album of the same title, which blended Baka chants with soothing tribal rhymes, creating an unmistakable ambient style of dance/chillout music. They are Eric Mouquet and Michel Sanchez, a voiceless musical duo from the North of France, who have bridged the chasms between the natural sounds of the forest, the ethnic sounds of Africa and the synthesizers of the music studio.
Album: Deep Forest
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First released in France in early 1992, and later the US in 1993, the debut album from Deep Forest has gone double platinum in Australia and gold in France, Norway, the UK and the US, clearly stating the popularity and wide appeal of the album. It features the hit singles Deep Forest and Sweet Lullaby and a whole host of blissful short ambient tracks crammed full of sounds and samples from the rain forests, and featuring samples of Baka chants from Cameroon, Burundi and Senegal.
Album: World Mix
[476589 2]
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This French edition of the first album features some exclusive remixes that don't feature on the UK album "Deep Forest". Why these exclusive mixes never featured on the UK album or the singles I'll never know. Basically, the first ten tracks are the same as the regular Deep Forest album, and then everything after that are extra tracks. The Around the World mix of Sweet Lullaby gets a laid back house treatment from Pete Arden, but its the Apollo mix of the same track that made me stop what I was doing and turn up the stereo - trancey layers build up over the familiar chords and chants of the original mix, and whilst it never really kicks in full throttle, this is an excellent piece of remix work.
I always wondered what happened to the first part of the Sunrise at Alcatraz mix of Deep Forest, the second part of which features on the CD single of the ambient mixes. Additional remix on both parts are from Marc Spoon (one half of the German duo Jam and Spoon) and Daniel Irribaren. However, there's no need to get excited because its much the same as the second part.
But the best is saved until last, with the almighty Apollo 440 remix of Forest Hymn. This has been an old favourite of mine that I've had on tape for many years, although I never knew who remixed it and what the track was actually called apart from that it featured on this French version of the album. Many thanks to Benoit Carretier for sending me it! :) Its a stomping dance remix of what was originally a lovely ambient track (and even the original of this track failed to appear on some versions of the first album), although it still retains the euphoric and uplifting vibes of the original. This track on its own has got to be worth getting the album for.
Single: Sweet Lullaby
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The first single to feature from the Deep Forest album and probably the one track that has sold the most albums.
CD Single: Sweet Lullaby
[COL6599242]
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Released '93 on Columbia Records. Written by Moquee/Sanchez. Published by Sony Music Publishing.
12": Sweet Lullaby
[659924 6.2.4]
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The original version of Sweet Lullaby never got a formal UK release and only surfaced as two promo 12"s (later, however, the above single got a UK release). So, in '94, this 12" was released on Sony Music featuring the better of the mixes from the two promo 12"s.
Single: Deep Forest
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The second single to feature from the album of the same name, and is available on two separate discs (twelve mixes!), ranging from ambient dance full of tribal percussion to very ambient.
Single : Savana Dance
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The third single to feature from the Deep Forest album and to be honest is a bit of a let down.
Album: Boheme
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Released in 1995, Boheme is Deep Forest's second album (not including the World Mix album). Featuring music inspired by Eastern Europe, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, this album has a completely different sound to the first album and will probably appeal less to such fans. It spawned only one single, Marta's Song, which failed to inspire me and, like the album itself, was a bit of a flop and a disappointment. Have Deep Forest lost their depth?
Album: Comparsa
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The third and latest album (1998) from Deep Forest is Comparsa (which happens to mean 'Partner' in Cuban - pointless bit of information for the day!). The limited edition 2 cd version is also available with the extra tracks Sweet Lullaby - Remix, Deep Forest - RLP Trance Mix, Marta's Song - Armand's Muslim Moose Mix and Madazulu - BBE Harmonic Club Mix.
CD Single: Deep Forest III - Madazulu
[46K 78767]
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Released '97 on 550 Music.
Single: Madazulu Remix
[SAN 664945 5],[SAN 664945 6],[SAN 664945 8]
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The first single to feature from the third album Comparsa and a welcome return by Deep Forest after what seems like years since their last release (although I'd rather forget the second album). I picked this up as an import from France, although i'm sure its got its formal release in the UK by now (2/98). Available over three 12"s, and according to the Deep Forest Web Site, also as a cd single and minidisc. So what's it like? Well, all the usual Deep Forest sounds and samples are present and in order, but the orientation here is towards the dance floor, so don't expect to be chilling out to these remixes. Phil Cat delivers an amicable couple of trancey remixes, although the Tribal Omega mix has serious folky influences with its accordion bit in the middle.
Electrified chants bring in the Pablo Flores Deep Tribal mix, which evolves into quite housey little number, and combined with the steel drums makes for quite a catchy tune. The Deep Dub mix has a lot more percussion added and if you like tribal drums then this mix will be for you, although it still retains the housey influence, steel drums and electrified vocals throughout the track.
BBE, whom you either love or hate, add their trance magic to this track and win the best remix award in my books. Funnily enough both of their remixes feature the typical BBE beat that features in all their tracks, which will probably result in these remixes suiting the dance floor in the main stream clubs more than the other remixes.
Other Info:
Deep Forest also contribute to a selection of remixes on the The Deseo Remixes compilation.
For further information on Deep Forest see the Deep Forest Web Site or any of these fan sites:
or contact :
