Michael Cretu - Ausgewahlte Goldstucke
By Elf (Hogne Bø Pettersen), March 19, 1995
This is a record I found in a record shop in Germany. It is a realease in
a series called Ausgewahlte Goldstucke, and it contains music Cretu
recorded in 1979. (At least the copyright of the songs are from 79.) My
guess is that the real title of this album is Moonlight Flower. I will
rewiev the album track by track.
1. '57 (The Year I Was Born) 4:29
The track starts with a real cool sounding synth sound wich builds up a
rythm. Then a very Kitaro like synth sound fills the right speaker and a
bass rythm and drums come in. (The bass and drums are noth synth.) A
typical 70-sounding synth starts playing the theme of the chorous, and
then Cretu starts singing. At first I didn't think it was him, because
his voice is very high-pitched (like Thiers) and his english accent is
outrages. The chorus in the song is very catchy and you will be humming
the song long after the album is finished. Hear and there Cretu throws in
sound effects, but they sound more like the ones Kitaro used in the 80's
than the ones he uses in Enigma. In the second verse a synth piano also
is added to the song. In the chorus you can hear a back up voice singing
"lalala" and almost sounding like a saxophone. After the second chorus a
drum break comes in and "disco sound effects" are in the back ground.
Tabla drums are added and then a synth solo sounding very much like Jon &
Vangelis comes in. The chorus then starts again, and the song fades. It
is a very cathcy pop tune this, and held good promises for the years to
come from the then 22 year old Cretu.
2. Fire And Rain 4:15
This song starts with a beautifull synth sound and once again it sounds
like the beginning of a Jon & Vangelis song. Cretu then starts singing
backed up with warm synth sounds. Drums are added with more synths and
the song is now starting to sound like a cheap dance band tune. The
chorus saves the song, and if some electric guitars had been added here
it could have been the chorus of a hard rock ballad. A new verse and then
the chorus is repeated. Then the intro is repeated, but this time with
drums and bass in the back ground. A bridge is added to the song and more
sound effects comes in the back ground. A bit pompous intro for the
chorus comes in and it's repeated until the song fades.
3. Wild River 4:35
The sound of a birds and waves introduces this song togehter with a
piano. Cretu starts to sing upon top of this. Then drums come in and he
starts to sing the chorus. A classical guitar is added together with a
female chorus on the second verse. After the second chorus the drums are
removed and the song slows down a bit. You can only hear the piano on top
of the waves and birds, and a flute sounding synth solo comes in. Then
the chorus comes back, but this time with a trumpet phanphare in the left
speaker. The song ends a bit dramatic, almost like a sypmhony orchestra
finishing a performance. A very good song and it features emotional elements
that Cretu would resurface on tracks like Invisible Man and Waterfall.
4. Shadows Over My Head 3:54
The song is introduced with a typical disco sounding bass line. But the
drums wich are added puts a very powerfull drive in to this song. Wind is
heard in the bakcground, and Jarre sounding effects are in the also added. A
trumpet sounding synth is heard, and then a synth plays
a short introduction theme for the chorus wich is repeated twice. Cretus
voice has a very cool echo effect in the chorus. The intro theme is heard
and then Cretu sings the songs only verse. It almost like an interlude
because the bass and drums are replaced with synths and other percussion
sounds. The trumpet sound is heard, and then the intro and the chorus
comes back. Then the back ground sounds and instruments from the verse
comes in and a synth solo is played. The chorus comes back but this time
at a higher pitch. It repeats and fades. This song is the best track of
the album and it is later re-recorded for Sandras Close to Seven album.
But it was then called just Shadows and the lyrics were very changed a
lot. But this version is much better.
5. Love Me 2:59
This song is pure crap. It has synth sounds in it that makes it sound
like a cheap dance band tune. And the lyrics are incredibly bad. They
almost make you puke. The drums and synths could have been programmed
with two synths, and a 12 year old love sick girl could have written the
lyrics. If this song had been performed by Julio Iglesias I wouldn't have
excpected better but with Cretu I do. It wouldn't even have won the
Eurovision Song Contest.
6. Moonlight Flower 3:41
The song is introduced with a flute sounding synth wich goes in a loop.
Warm synths are added in the background and then a mellotrone comes on
top of this. All sounds are removed and replaced with a piano. Then Cretu
starts singing. The piano is played in a very classical way. A bass comes
in and when the chorus comes in a harpsicord is added. In the second
verse very gentle drums builds up a rythm together with the bass. After
the second chorus the intro of the song comes in and the chorus returns
after that. The piano and harpsicords finishes the song. The whole track
has a folk music feel to it and it sends chills down my spine.
7. Sparks of Imagnination 5:05
The track starts wind wind and the flute sounding synth comes back in a
another loop form together with other sound effects. A Wakeman like synth
starts the song together with drums and bass. All instruments are then
removed excpet for a synth wich are played under Cretus singing. A guitar
comes in with a bass also and then strings are added. The chorus sounds a
bit like Wild River, and it is sung with drums and bass. A synth
interlude comes in and then the second verse is sung, but this time with
drums and bass. The chorus is repeated until the song fades. This song shows
that Cretu must have been very heavily inspired by typicall european ballads
wich there were too many of during the 70's. At times the song once again
brings back thoughts of Julio Iglesias, but it is much better than Love
Me.
8. Streets of Time 3:56
This song is very ABBA like. The song is introduced very orchestral
like with drums, synths and sound effects. The slow beat rythm under the
singing makes it clear that with female vocals this could have been an
ABBA song. In the bakcground of the rythm a cello like synth is played,
and it adds a harder groove over the song. When the chorus is introduced,
the rythm speeds up and a trumpet sounding synth is added. The intro of
the song is repeated, and then the second verse comes in. Afther the
second chorus the intro of the song is repeated before the chorus comes
back. The song is ok, but a bit obvius. The intro of the song ends it and a
synth sound jumps from the left to the right speaker while fading. The sound
of rain and thunder is heard and we are in the next track.
9. Song for Unknown Heroes 6:30
A warm synth sound is slowly rising. A bell is heard and then a
synth-loop comes in. A Vangelis sounding synth is played and then drums
end the intro. Only a piano is left and Cretu starts singing. More synths
are heard and when the chorus comes in, strings are added. Halfway in to
the second verse, drums are added and an Abba like piano can be heard.
After the second chorus, the drums fade and the synth loop comes back.
Vocals singing "aaahhhh hahahaaaahhhh" is heard. The bell strikes and
drums and piano comes in. This goes on for a while and then a hard rock
guitar is added with drums and strings. The trumpet synth is also heard
and then the chorus comes back. More and more instruments are added and
it alls ends in an orchestral finale. The rain and the bell ends the song.
A really beautifull piece wich really shows the Cretu that was to come.
All in all this is an ok album. Considering the fact that Cretu was 22
years old when these songs were written, makes you realise that some of
these songs are quite an achievement. One of the things I find a bit
charming with this album is the sound of the old anlouge synths from the
seventies. Cretu is a very good keyboard player and he is true to the
musicians he takes inspiration from. All songs except Shadows over my
head are co-written by a guy called D.Cross. The album is produced
by Michael T. Omilian and Cretu and all arrangements are by Cretu.
Rating: 4 out of 6
Updated March 22, 1995 by Joar Grimstvedt joarg@hsr.no