[Cover]

Enigma: The Cross Of Changes (Special Edition)

By Joar Grimstvedt, November 23, 1994
The limited edition of the CROSS album, or The Cross Of Changes (Special Edition) as it is called, is now out in the stores. The details are as follows:

Enigma: The Cross Of Changes (Special Edition)

CD: 8 40045 2; 7243 8 40045 2 1 - CDVIRX 20 - PM 527
(P) 1993 Virgin Schallplatten GmbH
(P)*1994 Virgin Schallplatten GmbH
(C) 1993 Virgin Schallplatten GmbH

1.  Second Chapter                                   2:16
2.  The Eyes of Truth                                7:13
3.  Return to Innocence                              4:17
4.  I Love You ... I'll Kill You+                    8:51
5.  Silent Warrior                                   6:10
6.  The Dream of the Dolphin%                        2:47
7.  Age of Loneliness (Carly's Song)#                5:22
8.  Out From the Deep                                4:53
9.  The Cross of Changes                             2:23
10. Return to Innocence* (Long & Alive Version)      7:07
    Remixed by "Curly" M.C. & Jens Gad
11. Age of Loneliness* (Enigmatic Club Mix) 128 BPM  6:23
    Remixed by Jens Gad & Michael Cretu
12. The Eyes of Truth,* The Goetterdaemmerung Mix
    (The Twilight of the Gods) 140 BPM               7:17
    Remixed by Jens Gad & "Curly" M.C.

Total time: 65:05

All Tracks: Music & Lyrics by "Curly" M.C., except:
+ Music by "Curly" M.C.,
Lyrics by D. Fairstein & "Curly" M.C.
% Music by "Curly" M.C., Lyrics by D. Fairstein

Produced & Engineered by "Curly" Michael Cretu

All Tracks Published by Enigma Songs/Mambo Music, except:
# Published by Data Alpha-Mambo/Ensign Music Corp. (BMI)

The appearance of the album is a very delicate one. As mentioned previously, the cover is in gold which replaces the other colours. It is in Digipak format, so when it is all opened there are three pages, the left- and innermost contains an "envelope" or container for the CD booklet. This booklet is exactly the same as the one for the original album, although updated to show the credits for the new tracks. There is also no merchandise page. The pages of the Digipak shows the pictures from the booklet, this time in gold.

The cover sports a black white-lettered sticker saying: 

  Special Limited Edition CD
  Includes 24 Ct. Gold Plated Disc Plus Extra Remixes
  7243 8 40045 2 1
  CDVIRX20
On the back of the cover the same numbering of the tracks is employed, but with three more tracks. These are not showed inside a 10-line figure etc., rather they have the symbol of their original or album version.

Apart from the CD being gold plated, it is the same as the one for the original CROSS Of Changes.

As for the music, you all know what that is like... For some though the remixes may be a new encounter. Let me just say that they are just appended on the album, so there is no flow between the original tracks and the remixes, or between them. The version of I Love You ... I'll Kill You that is on the album is the revised one, meaning that there is the extra line in the mid-section of the song ("You'll be fine").


All in all it makes for a very eye-catching and exclusive release. It appears to be a true limited edition, unlike the one for MCMXC a.D. which still can be found relatively easy in Europe. I am not sure how the other countries will handle it, but here in Norway there will be no promotion of this album, which is strange given that it would be such an ideal gift (for others or for yourself!).

I imagine this special edition will have a release in most European countries (release date November 21). In Australia it will be out on December 2, but for the US a release seems doubtful.

Updated July 24, 1996 by Joar Grimstvedt joarg@hsr.no