PRESS
UMAN Interview
- Alex Williams, EPHEMERAL - iHeart MEDIA, décembre 2022
Purple Passage Review
- Carol Wright, ALL MUSIC, mai 2022
This third album by French group Uman (a Native American word meaning "earth forces"), brother and sister Danielle Jean (vocals) and Didier Jean (keyboards). Purple Passage isn't Native American-inspired, but you'll recognize shades of Enigma's "mea culpa" vocal, Deep Forest and its pygmy calls, French film music of the '60s, Latin club music, Manhatten Transfer, Middle Eastern dancing ("Arabian Nights"), scat singing, the song from Black Orpheus, Lyle Mays, and even Vangelis. Most songs groove to an ambient club trance-dance pulse: strong beats, but heavy on the sultry side. Danielle's voice, used mostly as vocalese or scat, is quintessential in all ranges. Her breathy softness is intimate and enticing, yet she soars with operatic brilliance. Her voice, often working in conjunction as an additional instrumental voice rather than soloist, is often overdubbed or altered to give more sonic textures. She is, in one word, alluring. "An Obscure Clearness" diverts from the club scene a bit. The solo keyboard work of Didier Jean is a pensive inner musing. "On the Confidence Track" also delves to some depths; an almost dangerous and careening rhythm track (with fancy jazz improvisations on keyboards) underlies Danielle's "ooo" vocals. At the end, a ghostly cry breaks through to new horizons, an Oriental music box world where her carefree "oooo" takes on charming overtones. "Dream Stealer" begins with a magical space music swirl of tones, then separates into several hypnotic layers of rhythms, textures, and sounds. French words are spoken by a man and woman, echoed as if in a dream; the creaking sounds made me feel that my world was shattering. Alas...the only remedy for that is to start the album all over again. Though you'll surely hear musical influences of others, this album is thoroughly appealing, sophisticated, and sensual, all at once. The album has grown on me the more I listen to it. Adding to the album's value is the artwork by ZAD, a woman painter who often works with Uman. Each song has a painting, in the style of Picasso or Gaughin. Excellent album.
Chronique de la radio nationale espagnol RNE3
- RNE 3 Atmosfera, 30 janvier 2022
Comenzamos nuestra Atmósfera con “Calor Humano”, así se titula el álbum debut de UMAN, el dúo francés de los hermanos Danielle y Didier Jean, que resurge por primera vez desde su lanzamiento original en 1992. Mientras que la historia, tanto pública como privada, está salpicada de relaciones creativas entre hermanos que simplemente “ no funcionó”, la historia de UMAN es singularmente diferente y está definida por este vínculo y un viaje compartido que deja huellas a lo largo de un terreno musical aventurero.
Antes de “Chaleur Humaine”, Danielle y Didier grabaron dos álbumes de canciones pop que los inspiró a escapar de las expectativas de la industria musical francesa y construir su propio estudio en Orsay, un suburbio al sur de París.
“Chaleur Humaine” fue un modus operandi para su nueva perspectiva y espacio: libertad para desarrollar ideas de forma independiente; polinizar géneros cruzados y abandonarlos por completo; improvisar y experimentar en nuevas configuraciones musicales.
"Uman, peut-on espérer une réunion ?"
- Sascha Bertoncin, Sonic Seducer, octobre 2021
4th worldmusic trifft avantgarde pop der geschwister Danielle und Didier jean. Im zentrum liegt die warme stimme von Danielle im wechselspiel mit dem technisch noch hörbar mimitierten sampling der frühen 90er. Darf man auf man eine Reunion hoffen ?
Sonic Seducer
"Chaleur Humaine (Freedom To Spend)"
- 7 Cars10.Becker, FAZE mag, novembre 2021
Diesen Longplayer des Geschwisterpaars Danielle & Didier Jean aus Vallee de Chevreuse durchzieht das Gefühl menschlicher Wärme
mit all seinen Facetten auf immerhin 19 Titeln. Entspannte Low-Beats mit viel Stimmeninteraktion, wie wattierte Wolken dahingetupft (Uman Spirit“),
dann wieder instrumental ganz sanft mit gezupfter Gitarre und leichten Effekten neben Panflötenhypnose (Aubade“). Das Eintauchen
in Subwelten geschieht mit vielen Sinnen und öffnet Augen, Ohren und den Geist für neue Sichtweise und Gedankenansätze.
Eine Mischung aus Björk und Enya. Nicht nur für an der Beach abhängende Buddha Bar Fans zu genießen.
FAZE mag
"Ethereal ambient washes"
- Lazlo Rugoff, the vinyl factory, 11 août 2021
French sibling duo UMAN’s 1992 album Chaleur Humaine is being reissued on vinyl, via RVNG’s Freedom To Spend imprint this September.
Prior to Chaleur Humaine, UMAN — aka Danielle and Didier Jean — worked on two pop albums, which were largely met with ambivalence by the French music industry.
Subsequently retreating into their own studio in Paris to record Chaleur Humaine, the duo instead produced a collection of ethereal soundscapes — ranging from ambient to mystic percussives and celestial vocals.
Chaleur Humaine follows RVNG’s release of Japanese artist Satomimagae’s Hanazono album — one of our favourite records of 2021 so far.
"RNNG Intl.’s Freedom To Spend imprint is set to reissue the debut album from French sibling duo UMAN, aka Danielle and Didier Jean."
- Marianna Veer, Ravers Heaven, 7 août 2021
Helmed by Pete Swanson and Jed Bindeman, Freedom To Spend will re-release the 1992 album ‘Chaleur Humaine’ on vinyl, CD and digital platforms on 17th September.
Originally released via Buda Musique during the French label’s rise to prominence in the early 1990s, the album was the result of the duo building and recording in their own studio in Orsay, a suburb south of Paris.
“We wanted to go beyond the oceans, the mountains, to explore humanity and to snuggle up to the heart of human beings,” said UMAN about the reissue. “That’s why we’re thrilled for new ears and a new generation to hear the music of ‘Chaleur Humaine.'”
A portion of the proceeds from the release will benefit Greenpeace France. Listen to ‘UMAN Spirit’ and check out the tracklist and artwork for ‘Chaleur Humaine’ below.
"The enigmatic French sibling duo receive the reissue treatment"
- Jemima Skala, Mixmag, 10 juillet 2021
Freedom To Spend, an imprint of RVNG Intl., is reissuing ‘Chaleur Humaine’, the 1992 debut album from French sibling duo UMAN. It will be released on September 17, and a percentage of the proceeds from this reissue will be donated to Greenpeace France.
‘Chaleur Humaine’ was created in isolation as the duo relocated to Orsay, a Parisian suburb, in the early 1990s. Keen to eschew the mainstream music industry, this allowed them to experiment more freely with ideas and motifs. The result is ‘Chaleur Humaine’, a surreal, otherworldly release that is highly textured and rich in its patterning.
Speaking on the reissue, UMAN have said, “we wanted to go beyond the oceans, the mountains, to explore humanity and to snuggle up to the heart of human beings. That’s why we’re thrilled for new ears and a new generation to hear the music of ‘Chaleur Humaine’.”
‘Chaleur Humaine’ was originally released on Buda Musique, and several tracks on the album reached a large international audience through being cherry picked for inclusion on New Age and chillout compilations.
"RVNG Intl. imprint Freedom To Spend to reissue UMAN’s ‘Chaleur Humaine’"
- Brian Coney, DJ mag, 8 juillet 2021
The French sibling duo's debut is being reissued on vinyl, CD and digital in September
RNNG Intl.'s Freedom To Spend imprint is set to reissue the debut album from French sibling duo UMAN, AKA Danielle and Didier Jean.
Helmed by Pete Swanson and Jed Bindeman, Freedom To Spend will re-release the 1992 album 'Chaleur Humaine' on vinyl, CD and digital platforms on 17th September.
Originally released via Buda Musique during the French label's rise to prominence in the early 1990s, the album was the result of the duo building and recording in their own studio in Orsay, a suburb south of Paris.
"We wanted to go beyond the oceans, the mountains, to explore humanity and to snuggle up to the heart of human beings," said UMAN about the reissue. "That's why we're thrilled for new ears and a new generation to hear the music of 'Chaleur Humaine.'"
A portion of the proceeds from the release will benefit Greenpeace France. Listen to 'UMAN Spirit' and check out the tracklist and artwork for 'Chaleur Humaine' below.
"Chef d'œuvre de spon-tanéité... Un ravissement pour les oreilles et une nourriture abondante pour le cerveau."
- Elora Kittet et Maxime Gueugneau, Kiblind, octobre 2021
Quoiqu'on en dise, les années effacent les souvenirs, aussi précieux soient-ils. Pour que le chef-d'œuvre de spontanéité qu'est l'album Chaleur humaine de UMAN ne finisse pas dans l'oubli comme tant d'autres, le label Freedom to Spend le réédite aujourd'hui. Initialement composé en 1992 par les frère et sœur Danielle et Didier alias UMAN, Chaleur humaine est un ravissement pour les oreilles et une nourriture abondante pour le cerveau. Des éléments intattendus qu'on pensait incompatibles y fusionnent pour dessiner un tableau final à la force artistique unique. Agrémenté d'improvisations au piano, des vocalises lyriques de Danielle, de récits contés en langue étrangère, et de tout un joyeux ensemble de sonorités cosmiques, Chaleur humaine traverse et traversera le temps sans jamais vaciller.
"No parts of this album should be skipped, and I’m not picking highlights here so much as listing examples."
- Duncan Edwards, Brainwashed, 3 octobre 2021
In 1992, 8-bit samplers were cutting-edge gear. This reissue of Chaleur Humaine by French siblings Danielle and Didier Jean, shows Didier's use of a sampler to reshape and project his sister’s voice into a memorable, magical-sounding dream world with barely discernible hints of doom under the glossy enveloping surface. At times it is reminiscent of the tracks "Alsee,” “Criminie,” “Bruma,” and “ Wask,” on Nuno Canavarro’s Plux Quba (1988). Very different albums in some senses, but in a wildly imperfect analogy, the recognizable voice parts on Plux are like Elizabeth Fraser hiccuping through tubes in an Yves Tanguy surrealist painting whereas Chaleur resembles Virginia Astley and Sheila Chandra harmonizing with helium-high hedgehogs in a symbolist landscape by Marc Chagall. {...}
"Our 10 favourite new vinyl releases this week (17th September)"
- James Hammond, Vinyl Factory, 17 septembre 2021
Locking themselves in their Parisian studio in 1992 and striking out against industry expectations, Chaleur Humaine is the result of Danielle and Didier Jean single-minded pursuit of a shared vision of vocal and electronic harmony. All the better for its lack of restraint, and its adherence to a logic that feels distinctly of their own making, these breathy incantations welcome in eight languages, and harmonize and pitch shift at will between Danielle Jean’s vocals and her brother’s keys. Freedom To Spend first time on vinyl for an ethereal oddity that leans towards new age in its open-hearted aspirations, but veers away from genre specifics in its idiosyncrasies. – JH
"Ein traumhaft schöner Soundtrack zwischen Ambient und Neo-Folk..."
- Wolfgang Kabsch, Music an sich, septembre 2021
{...} Und damit haben sie tatsächlich ein Kleinod aus dem Feld der elektronischen Musik / Ambient / Neofolk und Art-Pop gehoben. Uman lagen mit diesem Album irgendwo auf der Grenze zwischen zarten, eingängigem Elektroambient und folkigen Elementen, die sich schon dem Neo-Folk und auch der Alternativen-Elektronik-Szene der frühen 90er mit Bands wie In the Nursery, Chandeen und der Heavenly-Voices-Szene annähern. {...}
"Alle zwischen Burial, A.G. Cook und David Lynch dürften sich von »Chaleur Humaine« nicht nur einen Pausenschmäh abge-schaut haben."
- Christoph Benkeser, HHVmag, 22 septembre 2021
Die New-Age’isierung der Gesellschaft schreitet voran. Die Fußmatte der Nachbarin sagt »Keep Smiling«, beim Zahnarzt rauscht Tarzan durch den Regenwald. Und sogar in Nazikellern baumeln bald Traumfänger von der Bunkerdecke. Alle wollen chillen, niemand gibt’s zu. Dass man in den Neunzigern schon weiter war und aus Synthesizern ein Zimmerbrunnen-Geplärre quetschte, bei dem sich selbst Enya die Ohren abgesäbelt hätte, fällt manchen erst jetzt auf. Uman, das Geschwisterpaar um Danielle und Didier Jean, husteten in den Suburbs von Paris erst über Pop-Platten, als man 1992 den guten Stoff entdeckte und mit »Chaleur Humaine« eine Scheibe für psychoaktive Pflanzentrips veröffentlichte. {...}
"Danielle’s input steers matters nearer to Freedom to Spend’s comparison of Cocteau Twins and Enya."
- Josef Neff, Vinyl district, 23 septembre 2021
{...} That isn’t a surprise really, as stylistically, this is about a thousand yards away from my listening diet at the time (e.g., noise rock, free jazz, low-fi, Jandek). The sound of this recording, which, alongside a remastered CD, is making its debut on vinyl with this reissue (plus a bonus 7-inch in the bundle offer), has some affinities with New Age (there is a 1995 UMAN 12-inch on Windham Hill), as there are a few horn lines that insinuate camping out on the outskirts of a tropical rain forest, or even suggest (gasp) smooth jazz, but thankfully Danielle’s input steers matters nearer to Freedom to Spend’s comparison of Cocteau Twins and Enya. Overall, the thrust is a lot more art-poppy; at a few points, I thought of goings-on in Japan from roughly a decade prior to Chaleur Humaine’s release. Also, Downtown NYC, and even once or twice, Ralph Records.
"The stunning New Age vision of French siblings Danielle and Didier Jean, unearthed by Freedom
To Spend."
- Matt Mc Dermott, Résident Advisor, 27 septembre 2021
{...} The lush pads, harpsichords and inventive vocal chopping on tracks like "UMAN Spirit" put me in mind of Art Of Noise. Lumbering downtempo beats make occasional appearances, while tracks like "Atmosphère" resemble the globally minded New Age fusion of Mark Isham's early Windham Hill catalogue. {...} The outro of "Human," perhaps my favourite song on the record, is baroque, luxuriant pop music redolent of the elegant '80s. Meanwhile, the proto-Autotune and harpsichord action on the penultimate track, "Ménestre," resembles some PC Music affiliate trying their hand at '90s R&B. Which is to say: it sounds like nothing else at all. In order to make a placeless music, artists must free themselves of any preconceived notions of commercial success or critical reception. They must dispose of cool, calculating remove in favor of full immersion in their art. It makes sense, then, that the Jean siblings released pop music that failed to connect prior to inventing their own musical language. {...} But Danielle and Didier never fit neatly into a scene and they still don't. To conform, the Jeans would need to adopt some signs and signifiers of an existing tradition—whether the crystal vibrations of the New Age scene or druggy euphoria of downtempo and ambient house. Instead, they took the less-traveled route, forging their own extraordinary path.
"Chaleur Humaine diventa un lavoro di elettronica ragionata e downtempo,
e si rivela capace di superare agilmente la prova del tempo."
- Piergiuseppe Lippolis, MusicMap, septembre 2021
{...} Da queste premesse, nel 1992, vide la luce “Chaleur Humaine”. Nel disco, Danielle canta, utilizzando la sua voce quasi come uno strumento, anche in virtù degli studi in canto gregoriano e in musica gospel. Il resto è dato da una cascata di sintetizzatori di miele, sample vari, compresi alcuni estratti da film, tracce di flauto di Pan, in un lavoro che non appare mai ridondante nonostante una durata importante (diciannove brani in poco meno di un’ora di musica).
Alla fine, “Chaleur Humaine” diventa un lavoro di elettronica ragionata e downtempo, e si rivela capace di superare agilmente la prova del tempo, ma anche di inserirsi senza fatica nel presente storico, pur senza mostrare somiglianze con altri prodotti più conosciuti di questa epoca.
"RVNG Intl. nous fait revivre les incroyables débuts du duo UMAN."
- Emile, Goutemesdisques, 14 septembre 2021
Dans le business ultime des rééditions, en voilà une qui a plus d'intérêt qu'un simple remaster et un track acoustique bonus pour un disque sorti il y a à peine dix ou quinze ans. Mais est-ce qu'on est vraiment surpris ? RVNG Intl. ne fait pas dans l'évidence, et nous l'a déjà prouvé cette année avec la sortie des disques de Pauline Anna Strom.
Cette fois, c'est un duo bien moins connu qui va passer par la moulinette du label new-yorkais : UMAN, duo français qui a démarré sa carrière par un disque oscillant entre post-punk, new age et musique électronique et intitulé Chaleur Humaine. {...}
"La dextérité des Jean à se mouvoir dans un créneau qui ne doit rien à quiconque si ce n’est eux-mêmes et leur fertilité dans la création.."
- Will Dum, Muzzart, 15 septembre 2021
{...} le disque recueille dix-neuf titres aventureux, souvent aériens, marqués par une identité qu’on ne retrouve pas ailleurs. Dédié à de nouvelles formes, enregistré dans le studio personnel du frère et de la soeur, il s’envole dès Человечность, courte pièce introductive chantée en…Russe, si je ne m’abuse, narrative, perchée dans la stratosphère. On est de suite happé, enveloppé dans un halo de tranquillité. UMAN spirit suit, selon un chant qui n’est pas sans rappeler Liz Frazer, de Cocteau Twins, dans ses temps les plus posés. L’ornement est réduit, le rythme quasi-inexistant et pourtant, ça prend. Des petits sons presque bridés, décisifs, décorent une collection aussi addictive que le Colossal Youth des Young Marble Giants. Aubade, cold et belle, se fait alors entendre. On prend note, là aussi, de la valeur d’un minimalisme de génie. S’il surprend au départ, s’il décontenance presque, Chaleur Humaine, bien nommé, captive par la suite. Il faut l’aller-chercher, passé l’effort on est dans le confort. {...}
"Album envoûtant où la voix pure de Danielle et les nappes de synthé-tiseurs de Didier nous convient à un voyage hors du temps et des modes."
- Bernard Jean, Electrik bamboo, septembre 2021
Belle surprise que la réédition de cet album surprenant sorti à l’origine en 1992 sur le label Buda Musique. Il est l’œuvre d’un couple de musiciens français, les frère et soeur Danielle et Didier Jean.
Nés au sud de Paris, dans la vallée de Chevreuse, ils ont grandi dans une atmosphère familiale où la musique était omniprésente. Danielle a travaillé sa voix au sein de groupes vocaux et des choeurs, Didier de son côté a débuté comme bassiste.
Ils ont toujours gardé un lien très proche et ont eu l’habitude de travailler la musique ensemble. Ils ont peu à peu composé des musiques dans un esprit de grande liberté en refusant toute concession et en laissant une place importante à l’improvisation chère aux influences du jazz et du rock progressif. {...}
"Danielle’s soaring, highly processed vocals—which could sit comfortably alongside those of Enya or Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser—further enhance the music’s magical feel."
- Shawn Reynaldo, First Floor #98, 22 septembre 2021
Fans of Pure Moods-style ambient and new age are going to love Chaleur Humaine, the newly reissued 1992 album from French outfit UMAN (a.k.a. the brother-and-sister duo of Danielle and Didier Jean). A dreamy, high-gloss affair, the LP’s sparkling chimes and fuzzy atmospheres conjure images of fairy tales and fantasy novels, and Danielle’s soaring, highly processed vocals—which could sit comfortably alongside those of Enya or Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser—further enhance the music’s magical feel. On “Entrelacs,” she coos an invented language amidst an alluring swirl of pastel melodies, while the tear-jerking drama of “Cordes Sensibles” is even more intense, with UMAN “playing” a series of manipulated (albeit operatic) vocal clips atop the song’s sadly tinkling piano and laid-back trip-hop beat. Is it all a bit tacky? Perhaps, but it’s also wondrous and transportive. If someone built a luxury spa that was equally inspired by ’90s chillout rooms and the work of J. R. R. Tolkien, Chaleur Humaine would definitely be the house soundtrack.
"Chaleur Humaine is a serious treasure trove of ideas and raw expression that bottles the chaotic analog-to-digital era with no small amount of panache."
Boomkat - 17 septembre 2021
{...} UMAN teeter between identifiable pop forms ('UMAN Spirit', 'Entrelacs') and more challenging expressions that draw on experimental and new age concepts, like the lilting 'Mémoire Vive' and Badalamenti-esque 'Aubade'. It's an album that's jam-packed with gorgeous sounds, but seems to refresh itself with each track, skating close to plasticky exotica but never drifting into parody. Looking at it now, it feels as if it translates and pre-empts the shift from DIY rawk and folk sounds into hypnagogic pop and synth modes in the mid-'00s.
The recent obsession with neo-new age forms has resulted in some avoidable lost idols, but 'Chaleur Humaine' is a serious treasure trove of ideas and raw expression that bottles the chaotic analog-to-digital era with no small amount of panache. Anyone who's enjoyed Belgian node STROOM's extraordinary stretch of quirky electro-plated lounge-pop treasures won't wanna miss this.
"E li che l’elettronica analogica degli Uman prende formadi danze amniotiche costruite su groove lunari e arrangiate con i suoni della new age della Windham Hill."
- Roberto Mandolini, Rockerilla - septembre 2021
A 30 anni dal loro esordio e a piu di venti dall’ultimo disco pubblicato, tornano i francesi Uman con un nuovo capitol della loro storia, chaleur humaine. I gemelli Danielle e didier Jean vivono ad Orsay, un luogo incantato alle porte di Parigi circondato da boschi. E li che l’elettronica analogica degli Uman prende formadi danze amniotiche costruite su groove lunari e arrangiate con i suoni della new age della Windham Hill. Il basso asciutto alla Mick Karn di Didier e i vocalizzi che ricardano ora Elizabeth Frazer ora Enya di Danielle, creano atmosfere oniriche e allo stesso temp confortanti : « it’s this force almost animal, warm like a kiss, fresh like the morning dew, that we call human warmth.
"Drawing further inspiration from the improvisational character of jazz and progres-sive rock, and gleaning ideas from the visual arts, Didier and Danielle explored sounds existing beyond commonly set scenes in music."
- African paper - 6 septembre 2021
{...} Persuading early sampler and rompler instruments from their memory board’s cold hold, on Chaleur Humaine Didier reimagined Danielle’s vocal improvisations in a way that expressed gradients of human warmth. “UMAN Spirit” (formerly “The White Spirit,” now updated for the modern moment), “Human,” and “Atmosphère” were songs from Chaleur Humaine that Didier and Danielle solicited alongside album demos to a few in the French music industry, and which found their way to Gilles Fruchaux, who would release the album on his Buda Musique label. Poetically, it was a record label known for its rich world music catalog that signed a group which reimagined music from around—and beyond—our world into a peerless postmodern collection. Although you might find bits of Chaleur Humaine reminiscent of the works of Giovanni Venosta, Nuno Canavarro, Wally Badarou, and others, UMAN played no role in a zeitgeist. In their own mercurial space and through their own inventions, UMAN performed and collaborated with fringe choreographers, painters, and artists, promoting universality over artistic myopia in music. {...}
"Chaleur Humaine is a highly textural and esoteric album, abundant with dream state vocals that have been sampled, shifted and processed to create some truly surreal atmospheres."
- Tom Durston, Inverted audio - 8 juillet 2021
First released in 1992 via Buda Musique, UMAN‘s debut new age album ‘Chaleur Humaine’ is being reissued for the first time courtesy of Pete Swanson’s and Jed Bindeman’s NYC-based imprint Freedom To Spend.
Following two pop albums released in the early 1990s, siblings Danielle and Didier Jean were eager to reject the conformity of the mainstream music leading them to relocate to Orsay, a suburb south of Paris, where they built a humble studio in isolation. ‘Chaleur Humaine’ was a modus operandi for their new, liberated perspective and this new space gave them the freedom to develop and experiment with ideas independently.
Consisting of 19-tracks, ‘Chaleur Humaine’ is a highly textural and esoteric album, abundant with dream state vocals that have been sampled, shifted and processed to create some truly surreal atmospheres. The reissue will be available in vinyl, CD and digital format. A portion of the proceeds from the release will be donated to Greenpeace France.