The first eclectic and colorful productions of French-based producer Sofian Rouge appeared on Deep Touch Records in 2004. He was immediately noticed by producers like Everything But the Girl's Ben Watt (who incorporated one of Rouge's tracks on the second volume of his acclaimed "Buzzin Fly" compilation series), and Dutch Cinq Etoiles label owner Monte La Rue, who remixed one of his songs. The UK press jumped on the bandwagon as well. Following such rave reviews, Rouge (a high school music teacher) decided to produce an album that would fulfill his goal of unifying the rich and varied Mediterranean cultures... at least for the length of one recording. From beginning to end, "Mediterranean Excursions" transports listeners with the North African sounds of "El Wahrania," the Turkish exoticism of "Ankara Days," the flamenco guitars of "Mer Des Souvenirs," and the Hebraic "Sound of the Bee." "Mediterranean Excursions" allows the listener's body and soul to become immersed by the feeling of the "big blue."