Forest for the Trees is the brainchild of Carl Stephenson, an electic producer known for his work with Beck. Difficult to classify, Forest for the Trees is probably best described as experimental psychedelic trip-hop. Stephenson began the project around the same time he was working with Beck, and by 1993 he had completed the majority of what would eventually be released as the self-titled [Forest for the Trees] album. That same year Stephenson began to obsessively tinker with the album's contents, but then suffered a nervous breakdown from which he spent several years recovering.^[1] The self-titled album was released by Dreamworks in 1997, and followed by an EP, The Sound of Wet Paint, in 1999. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Trip hop (also known as the Bristol sound) is a term coined by United Kingdom dance magazine Mixmag, to describe a musical trend in the mid-1990s; trip hop is downtempo electronic music that grew out of Englands hip hop and house scenes. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Art rock. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Electronic music. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the film studio. ... Carl Stephenson (also known as Karl Stephenson), is a well-known producer of hip-hop music (Ghetto Boyz, College Boyz, MC Skat KAt) as well as Alternative Rock bands (Beck, devices). ... Carl Stephenson (also known as Karl Stephenson), is a well-known producer of hip-hop music (Ghetto Boyz, College Boyz, MC Skat KAt) as well as Alternative Rock bands (Beck, devices). ... This article contains a trivia section. ...

Entertainment Weekly's David Browne described the self-titled album this way: "With its bong-watered, headphone-ready melange of distorted vocals, hip-hop beats, space-cadet lyrics, and sampled effects, the album is a spiritual cousin to Beck's debut [Mellow Gold, which Stephenson co-produced]."^[2] The album's lead single, "Dream," enjoyed modest success in MTV's heavy-rotation "Buzz Bin," and received mixed reviews. As credit to the obvious psychedelic nature of the music, Shroomery.org lists Forest for the Trees as "good music to trip to."^[3] Mellow Gold is Becks major label debut, and despite previous low-fi recordings, is considered his first official album. ...

Forest for the Trees included input from many musicians, including Beck, John "coz" Acosta, Papa Bear Martinez, Mark Petersen, and Jasper & Amadeus, among others. In addition to producing, Stephenson plays violin, guitar, sitar, drums, keyboards and didgeridoo. "Forest for the Trees is also beautifully infected with a collage of sounds from answering machines to dripping water to rollercoasters, which bring a real-life aspect to rather abstract music."^[4] This article contains a trivia section. ...

Chart Information

Single Chart Information

"Dream"

Album Chart Information

Forest for the Trees

Discography

• Forest for the Trees (1997)
• The Sound of Wet Paint (EP, 1999)

External links

• Forest for the Trees at All Music Guide