Enigma - Seven Lives Many Faces
Okay, so if the titled doesn't give away the point... This IS Enigma's Seventh album. However, Michael Cretu has this idea of ending a style of Enigma when his fourth album released. Thus no more sampling and just having raw material. He's been doing this since 2003 with Voyageur.
Down to the nit and grit of this album. The opening song "Encounters" has everything to do with the number SEVEN. Seven in the bible, the stars, the world, the seas... EVERYTHING.... We get it already. One thing to note in this song... Usually in Enigma's albums the first song has this theme sound to them. I can't describe you exactly in words. But Enigma has a theme sound for the beginning song and odd and yet fresh enough to be allowed is the fact "Encounters" doesn't feature that sound enough. Maybe the song was too bent on SEVEN.
--After thought.... This song reminds me way to much of the Beatles' and their "Revolutionary Nine."
"Seven Lives" is an amazing break beat song. Strings, pad, Bass and vocals are very rock styled. But simple and ambient as possible. Honestly, I live for songs like this... Not exactly "stupid music," But radio friendly.
Now, "Touchness" is a song which points out a moment for Enigma and their Sexual moments. In the first album a lot of heavy breathing is used as samples. Touchness.... Pretty much the lyrics go as follows... "Touch me, Kiss me... Up and Down..."
A highlight in Enigma's album is: "The Same Parents." Simple child vocals mixed with really cool chorus for the main point. Though, it's biblical and yet kinda surprising to my ears to hear on an Enigma album.
Track 5, and 6 are instrumental for the most part and pretty cool.
"La Puerta Del Cielo" is a cool song. Foreign language and all that fun stuff. Very light, powerful and moving. Above all the other songs... Some how this one became the first single....... Oh well... Can't chose them all I guess.
Songs 8, 9 are typical Enigma Love songs.... heard them once, heard them all. And something which maybe Utada should learn... Keep the love songs somewhere in the middle or near end of the album. That way they aren't so jarring and people won't WANT to skip them.
"Deja Vu" is a reflection of sounds from previous Enigma albums. So if you want the gist of every album. Listen to this song. You'll hear it all.
Then the last two songs. Though cool and Ambient... Really, it's a nice wind down from all the songs. See back in the day... In all the other albums. Enigma began and ended the album with that sound... That signature sound. This album, it was kicked out the front door without even a goodbye.
Okay, so do I like the album. Yeah, it's a good album. Great? Well, it falters about track 3 and then picks itself up to track 9. Track 10 pops up to say hello, as if maybe Enigma was saying... "Like the new stuff? Well if not here's a track with the old stuff for you (Air Quotes) Hard Core (Air Quotes) fans. Finally the last two just... ehh.... the end of the album thanks for listening. Ya'know?
See, typically Enigma's albums were like Beginning - Middle - End. Like reading a book. Or maybe like reading a chapter to a rather long book. Each album has it's style, taste. So hearing the evolve of the music project. I'm wondering.... Is Enigma's next album going to be the same as this? If so... At least keep to the winning formula, dude. I mean honestly... If it worked back then up to the last album... Then you should keep to it. Duh!
Cheers,
Seanie
Okay, so if the titled doesn't give away the point... This IS Enigma's Seventh album. However, Michael Cretu has this idea of ending a style of Enigma when his fourth album released. Thus no more sampling and just having raw material. He's been doing this since 2003 with Voyageur.
Down to the nit and grit of this album. The opening song "Encounters" has everything to do with the number SEVEN. Seven in the bible, the stars, the world, the seas... EVERYTHING.... We get it already. One thing to note in this song... Usually in Enigma's albums the first song has this theme sound to them. I can't describe you exactly in words. But Enigma has a theme sound for the beginning song and odd and yet fresh enough to be allowed is the fact "Encounters" doesn't feature that sound enough. Maybe the song was too bent on SEVEN.
--After thought.... This song reminds me way to much of the Beatles' and their "Revolutionary Nine."
"Seven Lives" is an amazing break beat song. Strings, pad, Bass and vocals are very rock styled. But simple and ambient as possible. Honestly, I live for songs like this... Not exactly "stupid music," But radio friendly.
Now, "Touchness" is a song which points out a moment for Enigma and their Sexual moments. In the first album a lot of heavy breathing is used as samples. Touchness.... Pretty much the lyrics go as follows... "Touch me, Kiss me... Up and Down..."
A highlight in Enigma's album is: "The Same Parents." Simple child vocals mixed with really cool chorus for the main point. Though, it's biblical and yet kinda surprising to my ears to hear on an Enigma album.
Track 5, and 6 are instrumental for the most part and pretty cool.
"La Puerta Del Cielo" is a cool song. Foreign language and all that fun stuff. Very light, powerful and moving. Above all the other songs... Some how this one became the first single....... Oh well... Can't chose them all I guess.
Songs 8, 9 are typical Enigma Love songs.... heard them once, heard them all. And something which maybe Utada should learn... Keep the love songs somewhere in the middle or near end of the album. That way they aren't so jarring and people won't WANT to skip them.
"Deja Vu" is a reflection of sounds from previous Enigma albums. So if you want the gist of every album. Listen to this song. You'll hear it all.
Then the last two songs. Though cool and Ambient... Really, it's a nice wind down from all the songs. See back in the day... In all the other albums. Enigma began and ended the album with that sound... That signature sound. This album, it was kicked out the front door without even a goodbye.
Okay, so do I like the album. Yeah, it's a good album. Great? Well, it falters about track 3 and then picks itself up to track 9. Track 10 pops up to say hello, as if maybe Enigma was saying... "Like the new stuff? Well if not here's a track with the old stuff for you (Air Quotes) Hard Core (Air Quotes) fans. Finally the last two just... ehh.... the end of the album thanks for listening. Ya'know?
See, typically Enigma's albums were like Beginning - Middle - End. Like reading a book. Or maybe like reading a chapter to a rather long book. Each album has it's style, taste. So hearing the evolve of the music project. I'm wondering.... Is Enigma's next album going to be the same as this? If so... At least keep to the winning formula, dude. I mean honestly... If it worked back then up to the last album... Then you should keep to it. Duh!
Cheers,
Seanie