Customer Reviews

World Mix Album

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Eric Mouquet, the producer of this recording, has apparently taken various world music styles and added techno-pop features to produce what he calls a "World Mix" album. On this recording, he visits Brittany, the celtic nation located in the Northwest coast of France. The recording features some well-known traditional Breton pieces: Tri Martolod, La Jument de Mishao, and Ti Eliz Iza. It also features the participation of some of Brittany's best-known musicians: Tri Yann, Denez Prigent, and Manu Lann Huel. The traditional Breton pieces are recorded, sampled, overdubbed and who-knows-what-else. The result is an enjoyable take on traditional music, most definitely not for the purist. The language is French and Breton, the latter being a now-revived, once nearly-extinct language spoken in Brittany and related to Welsh. If you like this recording, try listening to any of Tri Yann's recent recordings, including their two live recordings. For a really fine survey of all that is contemporary Breton music, try the recent live release entitled "Bretagnes," on SonyMusic/France.

For those that enjoy Celtic/dance/worldbeat music, this is a very fun CD. The artist comes from the Brittany region of France, and sings in French and Breton (a gaelic language). Produced by one of the guys behind Deep Forest. The tune "Kokerikero" is absolutely one of my favorites. If you are a fan of Clannad, Enya, Deep Forest, Adiemus, Era, Colour Of Memory, Sacred Spirits, Scripture, Vangelis, Pure Moods, etc., then you will enjoy this CD!

I became interested in this album because I am a Deep Forest fan and in general like unusual singing and mind-bending international folk songs. As compared with other "Deep Forest"-type albums (e.g. Deep ForestI, Deep Forest II and "Comparsa", also "Pangea") this album is less funky and danceable, more akin to Enya or other Celtic/New Age types. It's great to listen to in the car or just walking around the house doing housework. It has tracks in french, but also some other language that I'm not familiar with--possibly an eastern european language like hungarian or something. But the point is, it's all wholesome and my 10 and 5 year old children love it and sing along. Very hip, though, and I like it too.

Dao Dezi is definitely among the top ten albums in my 500+ CD collection, perhaps not because of its sheer musical quality, but because the album is simply so much fun listening to.

Fans of Deep Forest should know what to expect - precise electronic drums and basslines, mesmerizing stereophonic loops, sampled chanting and softly droning synthetic pads form the background for the various male singers. The singing on most of the tracks is energetic and very fast and even if you understand the French and Breton lyrics you may find it hard to sing along (and with melodies as catchy as these you will probably want to!).

The singing is complemented with brilliant instrumental passages played on bagpipes, bombardes, violons and various whistles and pipes. All very competently and professionally played and contributing to the "world music" sound of the album.

The first three tracks are by far the best ones and if the entire album had been of the same quality, it would easily have reached the five star mark. But unfortunately the album loses momentum by the end, and the Yello-sounding track "11.11.93" never fails to have me reaching for the "skip" button on my remote control.

I am not too happy about are the final three tracks either, which are just rather monotone remixes of the same song. It's a pity that there aren't remixes of three different songs instead of the same song - as it is, you may find it a bit boring having to listen to the same song three times in a row - even if the arrangements are otherwise completely different.

I would describe this album as Eastern meets the bagpipes. If you've heard it then you know what I mean. With all the attention Enigma got in the early 90's, Dao Dezi found themselves with a recording contract and their work cut out for them with only a few synthesizers on hand. I'd recommend this album if you like top40 electronic beats from 1992-93 mixed with an array of ethnic samples.

I dont mind the album, but was particularly wanting the advertised Ti eliz iza (Magic Carpet mix & Youth mix)both of which are not on the advertised CD. Can anyone help here with info?