 Created by EnigmaMusic.com |
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Created by EnigmaMusic.com |
|
1993 |
In 1993
Mike Oldfield's ex-singer
Maggie Reilly
released a CD entitled "Follow the Midnight Sun"
(CD Mambo/ EMI 72438 27351 20) that included the song
"Midnight Sun" from
HUBERT KaH's
1989
"Sound of My Heart" and "Every Single Heartbeat" that was
a cover of Inker and Hamilton's "Dancing into Danger".
Both songs had new lyrics written by Maggie
Reilly ; and Armand Volker produced
the album. "Follow the Midnight Sun" was released on CD-single (CD EMI 7243 8 80880-22);
"Every Single Heartbeat" (CD EMI 7243 8 8 1063 20). Both singles include good mixes
however they are not long and are quite close to the album versions.
Angel X's "Welcome to the Soul Asylum" released in 1993
( the male voice on Enigma 2 track"Return to Innocence" and Sandra's
"Close to Seven". ) was a relative flop and was not seen by many.
Angel Hard himself wrote most of the songs with lyrics from
HUBERT KaH's
Kalus Hirschburger. It would not be fair to attribute the
failure of the album to the writer of the songs, however the songs were rather weak; and
Cretu's production, beautiful as ever, was not able to salvage
the overall lack of content. Some songs do stand out such as the title track
"Be My Soul Asylum", a swing affair with a 1920's gang-war atmosphere.
The song begins with the clicking sound of a gun and build up to a playfully theatric episode, if
only the album had more of them. Moreover, the long version of "In the Name of Love"
is one of the most colourful and well-produced extended versions produced by
Cretu. It is so varied and engaging that it seems much shorter
than its length of over eight minutes. I will list the available issues: ( CD Columbia 474 1102 ).
"In the Name of Love" ( gatefold digipak promotional silk-screened picture E.P.
CD Columbia SAMPCD 1843 ). "In the Name of Love" ( silk-screened
picture CD standard pressing Columbia 660295 2 including "In Memoriam
Woodstock Version" 8:38 ). "I would Never Fall in Love With You Again"
( CD Columbia 660295 2 including "Emotion Mix" and "Jazzy Organ
Mix". )
On December 6th, 1993 the second
Enigma album appeared. The last three years were most certainly filled
with the first album as sales remained strong sending "MCMXC a.D." to a multiple
platinum status and Cretu to becoming one of the most important and
successful international producers.
Most critical essays and reviews of "The Cross of Changes" approached it,
predictably from two main angles: First in terms of its "theme" or subject being a collage
of electronic beats and Near Eastern influences; and second through a comparative perspective as a
follow up to "MCMXC a.D." Both approaches are valid and expected, however they eclipsed some
facets that would have been better seen if the album was enjoyed as a self-contained and
unique work of music.
The second album yielded a number of singles, but only one single was issued in
1993 and this was the early October
release of "Carly's Song". This was a Enigma track that appeared on the
soundtrack of the Paramount motion-picture "Sliver", earlier in 1993,
with another song: "Carly's Loneliness". "Carly's Song" ( The Age of
Loneliness ) was released as a single in October 1993 ( Virgin Australia CD 8920622 )
; and the maxi-CD contained "Carly's Loneliness" in album
version ( 3:11 ) and "Instrumental Mix" ( 4:00 ). This single was only ever
released in Australia as full release and in the U.S.A. in a 2 track promo format
( Charisma DPRO 12796 ).|
Michael Cretu ~ "Enigma has been a kind of music
not connected to any trend from the very beginning. It originated like a UFO, landed like
a UFO and is still a UFO today.." |