Although I listened to Enigma, I wouldn't consider myself as a superfan at that time. But last October I got in contact with Gavin, and we started discussing Enigma (something we've done continuously since then!). Shortly after, in December, Enigma's new album The CROSS Of Changes was released. Funnily enough, this album was not released in Australia at the same time, so Gavin naturally demanded a full rundown of the album.
The first time I listened to this new album, I thought it was a good album. The second time, I felt maybe a little disappointment. But from the third listen and out, I just loved it, every single inch of it!
A month later the first single was released, Return To Innocence, which I have both in the four track and the two track versions. Again, the remixes are brilliant.
There are a couple of songs that I remember from when I was younger. Maria Magdalena and In The Heat Of The Night were two big hits of 1985, sung by a woman called Sandra. At the same time, a song called Samurai was also very popular, and I thought it was awesome (and I still do!). The artist who sang this song was one Michael Cretu. Little did I know then that I would hear more from this Michael Cretu and this Sandra!
Of Cretu's other work I have The Invisible Man album plus the 7" and 12" releases of Samurai. I also know the song Gambit, which to my knowledge is only released on maxisingle. With Gambit, Cretu scores again. And lately, I've been tuning in to Sandra's music, with Into A Secret Land as the favourite album, including the fabulous We'll Be Together.
And talking of favourites, my favourite Enigma tracks are Mea Culpa, Knocking On Forbidden Doors and The Rivers Of Belief from the first album, and The Eyes Of Truth, Return To Innocence and I Love You ... I'll Kill You from the second album. But it's hard to pick out single tracks like this, when you love all of the music...
Lastly, I own the video to MCMXC a.D. It is a sheer joy to watch, the music of Enigma visualised with beautiful images from around the globe and the world of history and myth. I recommend everyone to see it if they can.