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Enigma: Le Roi est mort, VIVE le Roi!

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s

Artist: Enigma
Title: Le Roi est mort, VIVE le Roi!
Released: 1996
Label: Virgin Records
Time: 45:40
Producer(s): Michael Cretu
Appears with: Michael Cretu
Category: Pop/Rock
Rating: *****..... (5/10)
Media type: CD
Purchase date:  1997
Price in €: 21,99
Web address: www.enigma.de

 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Roi Est Mort, Vive le Roi! (M.Cretu) - 1:57
[2] Morphing Thru Time (M.Cretu) - 5:47
[3] Third of Its Kind (M.Cretu) - 0:19
[4] Beyond the Invisible (Cretu/Fairstein) - 5:00
[5] Why!... (M.Cretu) - 4:59
[6] Shadows in Silence (M.Cretu) - 4:21
[7] Child in Us (M.Cretu) - 5:05
[8] T.N.T. for the Brain (M.Cretu) - 4:26
[9] Amost Full Moon (M.Cretu) - 3:25
[10] Roundabout (Cretu/Fairstein) - 3:38
[11] Prism of Life (Cretu/Fairstein) - 4:54
[12] Odyssey of the Mind (M.Cretu) - 1:41

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Michael Crétu - Multi Instruments, Engineer

Peter Cornelius - Guitar
Louisa Stanley - Voices
Sandra Cretu - Voices

Johann Zambryski - Art Direction, Design
Volker Sträter - Illustrations 

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s

On its third album, Enigma reshapes the most interesting aspects of its previous two into a distinctly different atmosphere. ENIGMA3 has tangible Indonesian influences, as did 1994's THE CROSS OF CHANGES; it also smoothly and dramatically incorporates Gregorian chant, which was prominent on Enigma's debut, MCMXC A.D. Unlike those albums, it features significant vocals by Enigma mastermind Michael Cretu. His voice brings tension and emotion to tracks such as "Why!.".. and "The Roundabout". There is an altogether moody, sensuously brooding ambience to the entire album, sustained by muted drum beats and soft, ethereal layers of sounds drawn from chant, opera, tribal chant, choir, and various instruments and effects. Like the band's previous albums, ENIGMA3 possesses both the otherworldliness of new-age music and the groove of hip-hop. It is a voyage to somewhere exotic and seductively danceable.



With Enigma 3: Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi, the group continues to phase out the dance elements of their music, moving towards lush sonic landscapes, informed by both electronics and worldbeat. The result is a fascinating, intriguing listen, especially for listeners already attuned to Enigma's idiosyncratic take on new age.

Rodney Batdorf - All-Music Guide



Enigma burst on the scene in the early 1990s with a pretty nifty schtick: dance beats and lush chord washes underpinning such exotica as muttered French sex talk and Gregorian chant, all unified by a bizarre theme somehow related to the Marquis de Sade. The concept was never as original as some people thought (Mark Stewart's Maffia had set plainchant to electrofunk as far back as 1984), but it worked nicely, and "Sadeness" (har har) was an international dance-club hit. Two albums later, Michael Cretu (the individual who records under the Enigma moniker) doesn't seem to have done much to expand upon his original ideas. The monks are still there, floating in a murky club mix, though this time they're joined by a cool Mongolian ensemble as well. Cretu is singing more, which is unfortunate since his voice is mediocre and his lyrics silly, but the occasional high point does emerge, such as the darkly lovely "The Child in Us." Most of the album, however, is twaddle. Song titles like "Morphing Thru Time," "Beyond the Invisible" and (I kid you not) "Odyssey of the Mind" will give you a good idea of what to expect -- lots of atmosphere, lots of reverb, lots of sternly intoned lyrics about, er...something or other. What's missing is musical interest. Overall, the cool packaging is the only thing noteworthy about this disappointing effort.

Rick Anderson - All Music Guide



Enigma entices the sensual palate. Enigma has captivated the world, inspired a new genre of music, and sparked a rising interest in Gregorian Chant. The first album, Enigma 1: MCMXC A.D. was released during December 1990 but did not arrive in U.S. record stores until 1991. Within the first week the album went platinum, and by 1993 the album was double platinum. Enigma 1 caused controversy as the Church disapproved of combining Gregorian Chant with modern music and sexual overtones. In 1994, Enigma 2: The Cross of Changes was released and the single "Return To Innocence" hit #1 in eight countries. The release of Enigma 3 Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi, completes a trilogy. Enigma 3 follows the same philosophy as their previous albums. However, one change is evident. There are more chants, opera, whispers, sustained drums and a variety of instruments accompanied by vocals. Together the sound is harmonious. Enigma 3 deservedly has received a 1998 Grammy nomination for Best New Age Album. The music on Enigma 3 enraptures you with its sensual, erotic, yet ethereal sounds. Each song is intertwined into the other naturally, making it hard to distinguish when one song ends and another begins. The idea is that each song is only a part of the whole. Enigma 3 successfully elicits images and moods. The music has the effect of tranquil ecstasy. So, relax, close your eyes and allow yourself to go on an endless journey to ancient and mythical places. The objective in composing and performing is obscure and mysterious, allowing individual listeners to enter a secluded world. A man of many titles, Michael Cretu: Producer, Composer and Songwriter should be applauded for his creation. He envisioned a type of music that would stray from the typical pop music heard in clubs. Incorporating chant with dance beats and rhythms was a groundbreaking idea that skyrocketed. It was his "discarding of the norm" philosophy that has made Enigma a hot commodity.

Tara Tzoucalis, © 1999 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Ab in die virtuelle Krypta: Wieder inszeniert Abt Cretu mit Mönchen und schwermütigen Feen einen sakralen Totentanz; doch die Suche nach guten Songideen im Soundnebel bleibt erfolglos.

© Audio



Groß war die Spannung. Was würde Michael Cretu diesmal für uns bereithalten? Hans-Albers-Shanties in wolkigen Pink-Floyd-Arrangements? Ein tibetanisches Gamelan-Orchester, gemixt mit hippen Drum & Bass-Sounds? Nichts von alledem: Enigma, die dritte, ist ein Aufguß seiner mittlerweile hinreichend bekannten Klangphantasien - und ein ziemlich müder dazu. Ein paar hübsche Stimmungen springen bei dem Mix aus Weltmusik, Gregorianik und dem Gemurmel von Ehefrau Sandra zwar immer noch heraus, aber mit "Le roi est mort ..." kann Cretu als König der Klänge erst mal abdanken.

© Stereoplay
    

 L y r i c s


LE ROI EST MORT, VIVE LE ROI!

X-Ray Delta 1,
This is mission control.
Roger, you are one niner-three zero.

Things are changing
But nothing changes
And still there are changes
Le roi est mort, vive le roi!


MORPHING THRU TIME

Earth. A biosphere.
A complex,
Subtly balanced life support system.

Et turtur nidum,
Ubi reponat pullos suos
Altaria tua Domine virtutum,
Rex meus, et Deus meus.

We are floating over the line
Let us follow our mind
All of our life we'll wait for the answer
And the question is why.

If we're following our mind
We can glide into light
No one knows if there'll be an answer
While we're morphing thru time.

We are floating over the line
Let us follow our mind
All of our life we'll wait for the answer
And the question is why.

We're just travellers
In endless space
If we're following our mind
We can glide into light.

No one knows if there'll be an answer
While we're morphing thru time.


THIRD OF IT'S KIND

The first is the father,
The second is the mother,
And the third is the child.


BEYOND THE INVISIBLE

I look into the mirror
See myself, I'm over me
I need space for my desires
Have to dive into my fantasies.

I know as soon as I'll arrive
Everything is possible
Cause no one has to hide
Beyond the invisible.

Sajaja bramani totari ta
raitata raitata, radu ridu raitata, rota.

Close your eyes
Just feel and realize
It is real and not a dream
I'm in you and you're in me.

It is time
To break the chains of life
If you follow you will see
What's beyond reality.

Ne irascaris Domine,
Ue ultra memineris
Iniquitatis:
Ecce civitas Sancti
Facta est deserta:
Sion deserta facta est:
Ierusalem desolata est:
Domus sanctificationis tuae
Et gloriae tuae.


WHY!

I was childish and unfair
To you, my only friend
I regret, but now it's too late.

I can't show you any more
The things I've learned from you
Cause life just took you away.

I'm asking why
I'm asking why
Nobody gives an answer
I'm just asking why.

But someday we'll meet again
And I'll ask you.

I'll ask you why
Why it has to be like this
I'm asking you why
Please give me an answer.

Many years and stupid fights
Till we accept to see
How it was and it'll always be.

Why it has to be like this
Why we don't realize
Why we're too blind to see the one
Who's always on our side.

I'm asking why
I'm asking why
Nobody gives an answer
I'm just asking why.

Just tell me why
Why it has to be like this
That the good ones disappear
I'm asking you why.

I'm asking why
I'm asking why
Nobody gives an answer
I'm just asking why.

I'm asking why.


THE CHILD IN US

Prasanna vadanaaM
SaubhaagyadaaM
BhaagyadaaM
HastaabhyaaM
AbhayapradaaM
MaNigaNair-
Naanaavidhair-
BhuushhitaaM

Puer natus est nobis,
Et filius datus est nobis:
Cujus emperium super
Humerum...

Some day you came
And I knew you were the one
You were the rain, you were the sun
But I needed both, cause I needed you.

You were the one
I was dreaming of all my life
When it is dark you are my light
But don't forget
Who's always our guide.

It is the child in us.


T.N.T. FOR THE BRAIN

Smell your skin
Feel your breath
You on my side
I couldn't resist.

I hope I'll understand some day
What's the meaning of this crazy game
It is real and pure.

T.N.T. for the brain.

If there's no pain
Rules are still the same
I'm with you, just lead me
I'm ready to play.

T.N.T. for the brain.

Don't be scared and have no fear
I will show you what it means.

If there's no pain
Rules are still the same
I'm with you, just lead me
I'm ready to play.

T.N.T. for the brain.

What you feel is insane
It is love and not a game
T.N.T. for the brain


THE ROUNDABOUT

Life is a wheel of changes
But changes are life
And someday we will have to say good bye
But our spirit will survive.

Love is phasing
Love is moving
To the rhythm of your sight
In the darkness I get closer
To the crossing point of light.

Reason is lasting, passion is living
And dying is teaching us how to live.


PRISM OF LIFE

I am hunted by the future
Will the future be my past?
Or is time a fade out picture
Of my everlasting cast?
.
Love is phasing
Love is moving
To the rhythm of your sight
I get closer
To the crossing point of light

Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus
Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli
Et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus...

Let us try to live our lost illusions
They're the sun at night
If we don't we'll never taste
The spice of life.

And when it seems that we're in a dead end street
There's no reason to cry
Cause we have a helping hand who's always aside.

Forever light.


ODYSSEY OF THE MIND

[In reverse mode]

Things are changing
But nothing changes
And still there are changes
Le roi est mort, vive le roi!

There is no teacher
Who can teach anything new
He can just help us to remember
The things we always knew.

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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