This Week's R E V I E W ...

Enigma
Le Roi Est Mort Vive Le Roi

© Virgin

May 6 - 12, 2018

Year of Release: 1996
Rating:
  • Le Roi Est Mort Vive Le Roi
  • Morphing Thru Time
  • Third Of Its Kind
  • Beyond The Invisible
  • Why!...
  • Shadows In Silence
  • The Child In Us
  • T.N.T. For The Brain
  • Almost Full Moon
  • The Roundabout
  • Prism Of Life
  • Odyssey Of The Mind

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    Enigma's third album of the career, Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! (meaning "The King Is Dead, Long Live The King!") marks the German musical project debut here on WSVNRadio. Enigma's music is soothing, calm, productive. New Age Jazz. Their debut album was a huge hit (MCMXC a.D.) Founded in 1990 by Romanian-German musician Michael Cretu, Enigma's debut album was a success, you would want to listen to more. Enigma current has eight studio albums (1990-2016). In fact, two of their albums reached #1 on the Billboard New Age Jazz Albums chart. Those two were their most recent two albums released: Seven Lives Many Faces (2008), and The Fall Of A Rebel Angel (2016).



    The title track is more of an intro, being less than two minutes. "Morphing Thru Time" and the short "Third Of Its Kind" are all great lead-in songs, as they all blend well together as one. "Beyond The Invisible" was one of the singles from this album, as it features vocalist and wife of Michael Cretu, Sandra. This song is magical, it could even be sung by Adele. It blends at the end with the next track, "Why!..." as it is more upbeat. Sandra Cretu provides the vocals here as well. There is a mystery-style on "Shadows In Silence," as the keyboards stands out. Again, magical.



    "The Child In Us" is another upbeat track; it's a mood setter. Ambient. Magical. "T.N.T. For The Brain" was another single from the album. Another mood setter, and Peter Gabriel'ish, as it blends with the next track, "Another Full Moon." "The Roundabout," for some reason, was scrapped at the last minute, but a remix had already been created by German-Turkish DJ/Music Producer Orhan Terzi, better known as the stage name DJ Quicksilver. This track definitely sounds like an upbeat remix.



    More of the smooth Ambient sounds returns on "Prism Of Life," another magical track, and blends in with the ending track, "Oddysey Of The Mind."



    Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! was nominated for a Grammy as Best New Age Album, 1998. The album art design earned the creator, Johann Zambryski, a nomination for Best Recording Package. The packaging was in two forms: One with standard paper artwork, the other with a translucent tray and booklet artwork printed on heavier plastic. This album continued on from Engima's previous two albums, combining the elements of the two albums, and on the third, giving it a slightly more modern, futuristic sound. The album's reception was not as receptive as the previous albums. One summary stated the album as "another synthesizer-heavy mix of Gregorian chants, moody atmospherics, lyrics rifle with existenital platitudes, and well-trodden '90s dance rhythms." On the other hand, listening to this album over 20 years later, I'm sure it would reflect differently. This album is magical. It sounds heavenly. Ambient Music/New Age couldn't be any finer. Enigma's music is magical. And every album of theirs has its own chemistry. Compared to today's music and popularity, Enigma is a breath of fresh air. Speaking of Gregorian, there is a band from Germany (just as Enigma), that covers well-known Pop songs, in Gregorian style. This is another source of music that is just refreshing -- Gregorian Music. (Have to admit, there is a lot of great talent and music from Germany.)



    For those relaxing moments, Enigma is the right source. For calming and soothing atmospheres, this album would be perfect, just as any of their albums. Other artists that come to mind with Enigma, are Enya, the New Age of Rick Wakeman. New Age Music in general. Relax with the soothing sounds of Enigma, and you can't go wrong. This is magical. This is entertaining. This is Enigma.







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