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Product Details

Artist : Enigma
Format : Extra tracks
Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0077778642329
Label : Virgin
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 1991-11-04
UPC : 077778642329

ASIN : B000005RST

Track Listings for

Disc-1
1. Voice Of Enigma
2. Principles Of Lust
3. Sadeness
4. Find Love
5. Sadeness
6. Callas Went Away
7. Mea Culpa
8. Voice And The Snake
9. Knocking On Forbidden Doors
10. Back To The Rivers Of Belief
11. Way To Eternity
12. Hallelujah
13. Rivers Of Belief

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

So much unnecessary fuss was made over Enigma's juxtaposition of the sexual and sacred. After all, Prince had been doing it for years, and his take on it was far more interesting--and a lot more daring. But Enigma's MCMXC A.D. did manage to work a lot of people into a lather, both on the dance floor and behind the pulpit. Their inclusion of chanting monks in "Sadeness", over wooshy ambient noises and a slower hip-hop-appropriated beat was a sensation. "Callas Went Away" promised more than it could deliver, although "Mea Culpa" stands as one of the few shining moments on the CD. The idea of mixing new age aural wallpaper with beats that you can do a slow grind to is actually rather intriguing. Spicing it up with controversial religious chants isn't a bad idea either. But there's got to be something personal to it. After the initial novelty wears off, there's nothing to MCMXC A.D. other than bland, cold, impersonal repetition. Now, that might be what most people are used to, but what's so sexy about it? --Steve Gdula

From Amazon.com

So much unnecessary fuss was made over Enigma's juxtaposition of the sexual and sacred. After all, Prince had been doing it for years, and his take on it was far more interesting--and a lot more daring. But Enigma's MCMXC A.D. did manage to work a lot of people into a lather, both on the dance floor and behind the pulpit. Their inclusion of chanting monks in "Sadeness," over wooshy ambient noises and a slower hip-hop-appropriated beat was a sensation. "Callas Went Away" promised more than it could deliver, although "Mea Culpa" stands as one of the few shining moments on the CD. The idea of mixing new age aural wallpaper with beats that you can do a slow grind to is actually rather intriguing. Spicing it up with controversial religious chants isn't a bad idea either. But there's got to be something personal to it. After the initial novelty wears off, there's nothing to MCMXC A.D. other than bland, cold, impersonal repetition. Now, that might be what most people are used to, but what's so sexy about it? --Steve Gdula

Description

"Good evening. This is the voice of Enigma. In the next hour we will take you with us into another world, into the world of music, spirit and meditation. Turn off the lights, takea deep breath and relax". So begins the experience of MCMXCA.D. The soft female voice with a beckoning European accentamidst an ethereal backdrop of harmonic soundscapes is followed by Gregorian chanting, and, finally, the beat. "Start to move slowly. Very slowly. Let the rhythm be your guiding light".
Perhaps this is what a techno artist would create to incite monks to dance: innocent grooves, sacred texts. Until, there enters another breathy, sensual woman with sultryFrench talk. By now there's a compelling dance groove, which builds for a few minutes, then finally plateaus into a space filled with dripping sounds where the beat is kept afloatby the rhythmic panting of our seductress. Gradually this grows as more instruments are added, and she continues, this time in English, with "The Principles Of Lust". Finally the panting becomes erratic, the Monks sing backwards, and Enigma has another fan.

Customer Reviews

Best (2008-08-19)

This is definately the best album out of them all. After having this for many years, it never gets old.

wow (2008-05-10)

wow- thats all i have to say.this album is classic and if every one had this album, people would feel good all day

wow (2008-04-14)

I have to say that this album is by far amazing (slightly confused by the amazong.co.uk and amazon.com reviews because i personally dont think the author of said reviews listened to the same album as the rest of us.) This piece has the magical ability to pick you up and take you away into a beautiful land in your imagination and let you roam free. It is like a book that you cant put down and are sorry to finish, but glad because you can pick it right back up again to re-read.The styles that M.C uses and the variety of "unorthodox" ways that he uses them and mixes them truly creates a whole new era of music that modern day music just has no hope of even beginning to touch on. the classy touches of sexiness that on initial listening prove to be pure humour draw you into a deeper world that touches on the raw human soul in ways that words cannot describe and eludes to something so much deeper and more meaningful (no pun)enigma is what it says, an enigma, and a very beautiful one at that!

Aural Pleasure (2007-12-28)

This debut album was an unexpected success when it was first released. At the time it was unique to have gregorians monks chanting over a pulsating if somewhat downtempo beat. The slight furore over the lyrics in Sadeness did it no harm either. Overall the album can be classed as one of the 'original' chill out albums alongside other classics such as The KLF's 'Chill Out' and The Orb's 'Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld'. The singles Sadeness and Mea Culpa are the stand out tracks with only 'The Voice and the Snake' blemishing a otherwise perfect record. An album to relax to and, unlike some ambient albums, is much more than aural wallpaper with enough melody and variety in the songs for you to be kept absorbed right up to the end. An excellent if ever so slightly flawed album which I can only highly recommend.

Mystical (2007-03-08)

The calmer meditating vocals, and the Gregorian chants in Sadeness convey such powerful emotion, that it's difficult not to find yourself hypnotically absorbed in the music. The Limited Edition (so limited that I've seen it more often than the original!) is well worth getting - it's 15 mins longer, and the extra tracks continue the mood perfectly. As the Voice of Enigma sayeth: "Take a deep breath, turn off the lights, and relax... let the rhythm be your guiding light."

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