Traditional Enigma sound re-visited
Onur Tezgeldi | Istanbul, Turkey. | 11/02/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Opening My Eyes...
Fading in to the excitement of the forthcoming session by Jens Gad....Violin-like intro with deep layers, radio talks are welcoming us again...Luisa Fernandez is opening the album with Spanish whispers, just like a typical Enigma album intro...Mysterious, swirling, seducing....Words into....
In The Recent Past
...the amazing sound effects travelling from left to right channels in my speakers...Setting a stunning athmosphere for the killer track of the album...Here we go deep into the sound of Jens once again....This is officially my Sadeness part 2. Gregorian chants, incredibly well produced beats with organ sound of Sadeness mixes...Low key shakukachi flutes blending with Sadeness Reprise-like piano solo...All combined with magic...Luisa Fernandez continues whisperings throughout the song...You really need to listen to this track as loud as you listen to Sadeness! While gently fading out we are introduced...
The Delta of The Red River
..with yet another bells from E1 era..Flutes, breathing voices, a deep bass line...And SANDRA! Yes, you hear a short breath sample and the main beat kicks in...Totally mind blowing, totally in harmony with Er-Hu violins..Male talks in the background.Invention of this beat is well worth to credit in the music scene..This is something really new, not a repeat from the past actually..Bass line requires real good speakers to enjoy the wave in your interior organs...Flutes are blending into the...
Nothern Horizon
...hypnotizing washing-machine-like effect...Yes, there's no better way to describe the sound effect..Then the Exactly the same hi-hats from Sadeness fades in -slowly-, the beat is more like Mea culpa...This is a very catchy song for all E1 Fans....Then we hear a voice, it is not a Er-Hu violin but a voice, this is Helene (from Achillea) Suddenly I get the same feeling all over again - remember the substitution of flutes and the vocoder voice on Push The Limits, this is not the same but, Jen's plan fits well to this- you are confused with the similarity of Helene's voice with the violin...Do human voice resemble the nature or the instruments are actually us?? Xylophones are blended with a true jazzy base...Perfect fit for elite clubs/bars playing lounge music.A proof of amazing production...
The 5th Column
...An experimental track, supposedly produced for Enigma - Voyageur..Piano with electronic transitions...E1 materials can be heard again...You are into this feeling ''Hey, this is so familiar, but from where?'' This is the professional touches of Jens...He uses some old elements in a total new way...Very Successful..Bass Layers into...
Silent Heroes
...Choirs and Smell of Desire Part 2 begins...This time blending some elements from ''The Roundabout'' too.. And finally we hear
the typical Jens guitar solo....Another favourite track from the album..Relaxing yet powerful, familiar yet new...
It is clear that, this is an unreleased Enigma track from The Screen Behind The Mirror album...
Reachers of Civilization
...Classic violins...Yes this is what he really wanted to bring into the Enigma project...This track was added later to the context of the album..A Collaboration with the German producer Torsten Stenzel. This is not into the Enigma sound but interestingly very close to chill out tunes of ATB. Quite Electronic, still very calming....
Punta Del Este
...This is translated as ''End of The East'' supposedly produced for the album Voyageur...A more powerful version of ''The Piano'' This could easily be released as a future Enigma track....Electronic Piano notes are vividly lifting the song up..Not forgetting the trademark of Jens' guitars..
Farewell to the Moon
...Another Torsten Stenzel collaboration...This track is actually better than the other..Again reminiscent of ATB sound.Female vocal samples are looping from beginning to end...Also giving hints to my favorite forthcoming track on the album..I noticed these while writing this review.In the end, this is an average mid-track as the other...
Slowly Walking In
Okay Enigmatics...This is the track of the album...Massive beats blended with guitar solo..Oriental drums looping and distorted
human sounds....Breathing voices from left to right, right to left...Luisa whisperings and the slowed down Sadeness hi-hats, better than most Enigma songs...Better than anything on Enigma Voyageur...When I had the opportunity to listen to the complete album, that was the track I got obsessed to...This is truly an addiction to the wonderful music of Jens Gad.(I hope Cretu doesn't regret including this song on Enigma albums, because I really do feel that for him)...
Polar Lights
...Have you ever wondered what happened to our submarine on the album The Screen Behind The Mirror? This track is your answer.
Water droplets on L/R channels...Ticking clock and the underwater feel...This is Traces Part2. Our submarine goes deeper and deeper and meets dolphins underwater...And besides there's a hidden treasure near the ancient wreck...Pressure is increasing and can be felt with every sense...Dolhpins keep talking to us, probably leading us to the treasure?...
...Closing My Eyes
...and we are back to the beginning or is this just the end? Spanish intro is repeated again with a vanishing pattern,We are disappering here...
Extra Track listed as ''Life Sign'' :
It is obviously the same track as ''The Delta of The Red River'' with English vocals...This is probably the single version of the original track, appealing to the charts system or say
commercial music society..
Conclusion : This album is way better than Enigma Voyageur, even better than Le Roi Est Mort Vive Le Roi, in some aspects...Very close to the pure sound of Enigma Mcmxc a.D and The Cross of Changes...If you are still looking for a part 2 for Mcmxc a.D or The Cross... Go buy your copy now. You will not regret..."
Excellent CD with an "Enigma" feel
Michael Silvares | Tampa, FL | 04/11/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Enigmatic Obsession aka Jens Gad has created this new and very beautiful album. Borrowing heavily from the same types of sounds and melodies that made Enigma a genre all its own Gad has created what probably could have been the latest edition to Enigma. Perfect for lounge settings, relaxing at home or even for a romantic evening Secrets of Seduction will please those looking for something similar to Enigma but with a twist. I gave it 4 stars because though its a remarkable album it does have a few tracks that aren't on the same level of quality as the rest of the album. I still say that Michael Cretu (creator of Enigma) and Jens Gad (co producer of Enigma and aka Achillea and Enigmatic Obsession) should produce the music for a Cirque Du Soleil show."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1