Artist: Enigma Album: MCMXC a.D.

Year: 1990
Duration: 1:00:27

A Critical Review of the Album: MCMXC a.D. by Enigma

Enigma, a German music group, burst onto the music scene in the early '90s, with their debut album, MCMXC a.D., being their most successful release so far. The album features a mix of new age, electronic, and world music, merging Gregorian chants with dance beats and synths that spawned hits such as Sadeness (Part I) and Principles of Lust. In this blog post, we're going to take a closer look at the album, the music genre, the best songs, the most innovative parts, and provide a critic review of MCMXC a.D. by Enigma.

MCMXC a.D. is a unique blend of various styles and influences, which contributed to its success and durability. The album's genre is hard to describe, given the mixture of new-age sounds, electronic beats, ethereal vocals, and ancient chants. The fusion of different cultures softens the album's edges, making it accessible to a broad range of listeners worldwide. The album has a calming effect, transporting you to another place and time, where you can immerse yourself in the music and let yourself go.

The album's standout songs are Sadeness (Part I), Principles of Lust, and Mea Culpa, which are still popular today, almost three decades later. Sadeness features a sampled chant sung in Latin, backed by a seductive saxophone melody and a trip-hop beat, making it a unique sensation at that time. Principles of Lust showcases the group's ability to mix various genres, including opera, rock, and chant, into a contemporary and serene new-age sound. Mea Culpa has a more traditional melody with a hint of electronic, accompanied by calm chanting vocals that complement Gregorian chants sampled in the background.

The most innovative part of the album is how it mixed religious elements and themes with contemporary music genres without losing its essence or offending any group's sensitivities. The album's title, MCMXC a.D., refers to the year 1990 in Roman numerals, but also to the idea of an Anno Domini album, where Enigma put their spin on religious topics, imagery and blended them with modern music elements, creating an almost cult-like following among their fans. Still, this would not be tasteless or in poor taste, as Enigma treated the material respectfully and artistically.

In terms of criticism, the album's main flaw is repetition. Although the songs are well-crafted and entirely different, they follow the same formula and pattern, making them less memorable or easily distinguishable from each other. Moreover, some see the album as too New Age and lacking emotional depth or complexity, making the songs feel one-dimensional and easy to overlook - an issue that plagues entire genres, however.

In conclusion, Enigma's MCMXC a.D. is a remarkable and innovative album that has stood the test of time. The album's mix of various genres and cultures, coupled with its religious themes and motifs, makes it an unforgettable experience. Although it has some repetitive elements and is easily labeled new age, it remains essential for those who are fans of the genre or the band. Enigma's echo can be heard on many contemporary artists who were influenced by them. Therefore, if you're looking for an album that can immerse you in another world, transport you through time, or just want to experience how religious motifs can be fused into modern music genres, give MCMXC a.D. by Enigma a listen.