Stone Edge

Deep Forest became a surprise global smash in 1993 with their blend of ambient, new age music and pygmy chant samples. Two years later, Columbia Records seemingly tried to replicate that word-of-mouth hit with Stone Edge and their self-titled release. Like Deep Forest, Stone Edge is a French act that creates ambient tracks that blend new age and dance music with world rhythms. Most of the international music seems to lean toward Celtic flavorings such as the opening "Stonage" and "Zo Larat (It Is Said)," which also adds seagull and ocean sounds to the mix. The vocal soloist on "Yesterday's Child" has a breathy delivery that recalls Kate Bush. Ultimately, if you need a fix of chants and dance beats, Stone Edge might be necessary; otherwise, it's nothing more than pleasant wallpaper that probably won't make the listener sit up and take notice.