With their 1991 hit "Sadeness," Enigma brought the new age fascination with Gregorian chants and old-world culture to the clubs; the resulting single was both unique and irresistible. The rest of the album followed that pattern successfully, although without quite matching the stunning success of the hit single. On their second album, 1994's Cross of Changes, some of the old-world elements remained, but the new age angle came to the forefront in a set of slick, radio-friendly dance-pop. Enigma 3: Le Roi Est Mort, Vive le Roi followed in 1996. A side project, Trance Atlantic Airwaves, issued The Energy of Sound in 1998. The fourth Enigma record, The Screen Behind the Mirror, followed in early 2000, and in 2003 Voyageur came out. Three years later, A Posteriori was released, followed by Seven Lives Many Faces in 2008.
A POSTERIORI BY ENIGMA
After six albums, Michael Cretu has yet to run out of ideas for how to twist and morph his pulsating dreamscapes into new concoctions. Compared with his previous albums, A POSTERIORI is easily his most ambient album to date, losing the dance pop and verse-chorus-verse vocals of VOYAGEUR's fare and distancing itself from the gothic trance of THE SCREEN BEHIND THE MIRROR. A Galileo-era astronomy theme runs through the album and is reflected in the music, with songs that are spacious, mysterious and a bit meditative. Being an Enigma album, vocals and chant are used freely thoughout the album, although more in the form of snippets and samples than full vocals. "Goodbye Milky Way", the album's first single release, feels like a cosmic redux of Cretu's classic "Return to Innocence"; while "The Alchemist," "Dreaming of Andromeda" and "Hello and Welcome" display Cretu's gift with lush, immersive sonics.
Released in December 1990, ENIGMA 1 immediately captivated fans and critics worldwide with its innovative sound collage. The breakthrough single "Sadness Pt. 1" topped the charts in 23 countries, while MCMXC a.D. hit #1 in 41 countries and garnered 57 platinum awards - including triple platinum certification in America, where it has reigned on the Billboard Top 200 album chart for over five years.
CD PRICE $16.00
ENIGMA II
ENIGMA 2 continued the worldwide success of its predecessor. Since its release in December 1993, The Cross Of Changes has notched 21 platinum and 24 gold awards worldwide, with double-platinum sales in the U.S. The single "Return To Innocence" hit #1 in eight countries, went top 10 on five different continents, and became a top 5 smash in America.
CD PRICE $16.00
ENIGMA III
ENIGMA 3 now joins the ranks of its distinguished predecessors. Spurred by the debut single "Beyond The Invisible" (accompanied by director Julien Temple's evocative video clip), Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! was pre-ordered to the tune of four million units.
CD PRICE $16.00
ENIGMA IV
As you listen to Enigma's fourth album THE SCREEN BEHIND THE MIRROR, you'll notice that Carl Orff's infamous "O' Fortuna" from "Carmina Burana" is sampled quite frequently and inserted into Michael Cretu's surreal backdrops. It's actually almost surprising that the darkly erotic choral piece hasn't been shown up before, as it fits so perfectly with the trademark "Enigma" sound. Fans of the group will be pleased that the album features many elements that have made previous outings so popular - their characteristic style of beat, the use of chant (and in this case, opera samples as well), the dark, moody tone, tidbits of ethnic instrumentation… it all makes an appearance. This album features less vocal tracks than their previous release and incorporates more guitar/rock influences as well, resulting in a rather surreal fusion of different musical genres.
1. The Gate
2:03
2. Push The Limits 6:27
3. Gravity Of Love 4:01
4. Smell Of Desire 4:55
5. Modern Crusaders 3:51
6. Traces (Light And Weight) 4:13
7. The Screen Behind The Mirror 3:59
8. Endless Quest 3:07
9. Camera Obscura 1:39
10. Between Mind & Heart 3:59
11. Silence Must Be Heard 5:20
CD PRICE $16.00
LOVE SENSUALITY DEVOTION
1. The Landing
2. Turn Around
3. Gravity Of Love
4. T.N.T. For The Brain
5. Modern Crusaders
6. Shadows In Silence
7. Return To Innocence
8. I Love You, I'll Kill You
9. Principles Of Lust
10. Sadeness Pt 1
11. Silence Must Be Heard
12. Smell Of Desire
13. Mea Culpa
14. Push The Limits
15. Beyond The Invisible
16. Age Of Loneliness
17. Morphing Thru Time
18. The Cross Of Changes
CD PRICE $16.00
SEVEN LIVES MANY FACES BY ENIGMA
Few artists have quite the creative spirit Michael Cretu displays with Enigma. He broke ground by merging Gregorian chant with silky pop grooves on his classic "Sadeness Pt. 1," and has created a unique, original mystique with every album he has released since. Cretu's angle with SEVEN LIVES MANY FACES is a merging of 'in-your-face,' gritty beats with brooding orchestral samples. The sound resulting is lush and darkly beautiful, with enough Enigma trademarks to make the listener feel connected with past albums. Like "Touchness," which literally flows right out of the title track and features wisps of the Carl Orff chant themes that were ever present on THE SCREEN AND THE MIRROR. The melodramatic classical symphonics fit hand in glove with the Enigma universe, providing an intriguing sense of lightness that acts as a counterpoint to the rough, muddy beats.
Prepare for another surreal journey into the mind of Michael Cretu. Enigma cements their status as one of the more esoteric and artsy groups to fall under the heading of new age music with VOYAGEUR. Tone-wise, the album most closely resembles the group's earlier album THE CROSS OF CHANGES in that the music is more dreamy and trippy rather than dark and gothic, as Cretu's last two outings were. The compositions are a wicked kaleidoscope of heavy basslines, dreamy piano, trippy techno effects and dramatic vocals. Ruth-Ann (from electronica group Olive) provides vocals on two of the album's more interesting, pop-friendly tracks, "Boum Boum" and "Following the Sun." Another highlight is "The Piano," a stunningly ethereal instrumental track that's drenched with atmosphere.
After six albums, Michael Cretu has yet to run out of ideas for how to twist and morph his pulsating dreamscapes into new concoctions. Compared with his previous albums, A POSTERIORI is easily his most ambient album to date, losing the dance pop and verse-chorus-verse vocals of VOYAGEUR's fare and distancing itself from the gothic trance of THE SCREEN BEHIND THE MIRROR. A Galileo-era astronomy theme runs through the album and is reflected in the music, with songs that are spacious, mysterious and a bit meditative. Being an Enigma album, vocals and chant are used freely thoughout the album, although more in the form of snippets and samples than full vocals. "Goodbye Milky Way", the album's first single release, feels like a cosmic redux of Cretu's classic "Return to Innocence"; while "The Alchemist," "Dreaming of Andromeda" and "Hello and Welcome" display Cretu's gift with lush, immersive sonics.
MP3 clip
ENIGMA 2 continued the worldwide success of its predecessor. Since its release in December 1993, The Cross Of Changes has notched 21 platinum and 24 gold awards worldwide, with double-platinum sales in the U.S. The single "Return To Innocence" hit #1 in eight countries, went top 10 on five different continents, and became a top 5 smash in America.
As you listen to Enigma's fourth album THE SCREEN BEHIND THE MIRROR, you'll notice that Carl Orff's infamous "O' Fortuna" from "Carmina Burana" is sampled quite frequently and inserted into Michael Cretu's surreal backdrops. It's actually almost surprising that the darkly erotic choral piece hasn't been shown up before, as it fits so perfectly with the trademark "Enigma" sound. Fans of the group will be pleased that the album features many elements that have made previous outings so popular - their characteristic style of beat, the use of chant (and in this case, opera samples as well), the dark, moody tone, tidbits of ethnic instrumentation… it all makes an appearance. This album features less vocal tracks than their previous release and incorporates more guitar/rock influences as well, resulting in a rather surreal fusion of different musical genres.
1. The Landing 
Few artists have quite the creative spirit Michael Cretu displays with Enigma. He broke ground by merging Gregorian chant with silky pop grooves on his classic "Sadeness Pt. 1," and has created a unique, original mystique with every album he has released since. Cretu's angle with SEVEN LIVES MANY FACES is a merging of 'in-your-face,' gritty beats with brooding orchestral samples. The sound resulting is lush and darkly beautiful, with enough Enigma trademarks to make the listener feel connected with past albums. Like "Touchness," which literally flows right out of the title track and features wisps of the Carl Orff chant themes that were ever present on THE SCREEN AND THE MIRROR. The melodramatic classical symphonics fit hand in glove with the Enigma universe, providing an intriguing sense of lightness that acts as a counterpoint to the rough, muddy beats.
Prepare for another surreal journey into the mind of Michael Cretu. Enigma cements their status as one of the more esoteric and artsy groups to fall under the heading of new age music with VOYAGEUR. Tone-wise, the album most closely resembles the group's earlier album THE CROSS OF CHANGES in that the music is more dreamy and trippy rather than dark and gothic, as Cretu's last two outings were. The compositions are a wicked kaleidoscope of heavy basslines, dreamy piano, trippy techno effects and dramatic vocals. Ruth-Ann (from electronica group Olive) provides vocals on two of the album's more interesting, pop-friendly tracks, "Boum Boum" and "Following the Sun." Another highlight is "The Piano," a stunningly ethereal instrumental track that's drenched with atmosphere.
