E Unit

I don't peruse the music area too often - and I'm not sure how many fans are out there - but Enigma has a new CD due this coming September. I've always like Cretu's stuff, although the last album was more suited for going to sleep to. But I'm looking forward to it.

http://www.enigmamusic.com/news/news.html

bunkaroo

Wow - pretty cool. I wasn't expecting anything from Cretu this soon, given the typical 3-4 year gap between Enigma releases.

I liked the last release but it was definitely more low-key and atmospheric. I'm hoping for more vocal pieces on this record. Enigma 4 is still my favorite.

Michael Corvin

I love Screen behind the Mirror (4) but I think I enjoy Voyageur more. I never picked up the last one.

Rogue588

I stopped being impressed after the Cross Of Changes. But i'll give this a spin.

cartman

Dangit, I usually find out about new Enigma albums by seeing it in Best Buy's Sunday ad. What I like about that is it's always a nice surprise. Now that I know about it a couple months in advance, the surprise is replaced by anticipation .

bunkaroo

Was the last one even in Best Buy's ad? I would think Enigma isn't really a "big name" anymore.

E Unit

For us few awaiting the next Enigma album, the official site has a couple of samples to the first two singles coming out in a couple of weeks.

http://www.enigmaspace.com/

The first single Seven Lives is the "official ARD theme song" of the Summer Olympic games - for what that's worth.

Michael Corvin

Ard?

E Unit

I have no idea either. Maybe someone can enlighten us about what that means.

Michael Corvin

American Relay Diving

Spaceknight

EnigmaNews says "Olympics 2008 Theme Song in Germany", which means ARD is likely Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, the German broadcasting conglomerate.
In other words, the German TV's official song to use during the Olympics. Leading to the continual debate on the over-use of "official" in regards to sponsorship.

bunkaroo

Had to create an account - kind of lame.

Anyway, I liked what I heard, especially the second track. Nice to hear more vocal-oriented pieces after the last record's largely instrumental approach.

Michael Corvin

That's a mouthful. Thanks.

mickey65

Their first 2 albums were enough for me. After those, they just sounded the same, album after album.

Michael Corvin

Really? I couldn't disagree more. 3 & 4 are pretty similar but they all sound quite different from their first two albums. Especially Voyageur.

Anyone here listen to Moodswings? I almost prefer MS to Enigma but the guy has only put out 3 albums in 14 years. I think the last one was around 2001. Anything else out there in the same vein? I really like BT: This Binary Universe as well(highly recommend that one). It was recorded and mastered specifically for 5.1. Very cool.

bunkaroo

You know when it comes to a project like Enigma, I'm not always looking for them to reinvent the wheel every album.

I love their style and the way Cretu creates soundscapes.

Also, I don't think the project really matured until 3. 3 and 4 are easily my favorites, and have the "deepest" sound of all the releases.

I think their records are the type that reward repeated listening, because at a glance they may appear to be very similar when they are all unique in some way.

E Unit

I've actually been listening to Moodswings ever since I heard their remake of Vangelis' State of Independence on their first album which I thought was great. But I felt their other two were just too similar in sound and feel. Haven't had any interest in hearing more from them.

I actually got to finally hear the single release from Enigma, La Pueta Del Cielo and Seven Lives, and it sounds pretty great. Gives me high hopes as to the rest of the album. Sounds like a mixture of the sounds from their second and fourth albums.

Michael Corvin

Again I have to disagree. I can't stand Psychodelicatessen but love Horizontal. Horizontal is way more mellow from the first two, mostly due to the lack of drums.

I discovered them on a listening station at Circuit City way back in '93-'94 when Moodfood came out.

bunkaroo

I see Amazon has the first two Moodswings as MP3 downloads - may check them out.

E Unit

Here's the first video, Seven Lives. Cool song, weird video.

http://www.enigmaspace.com/preweb/e7dvd.html

Michael Corvin

Amazon has this listed as a double CD. Disc one has 12 tracks, and 5 on disc two.

E Unit

The full album is availible to listen to on MySpace for the next couple of days before the official release on September 30th.

http://www.myspace.com/enigmaplanet

bunkaroo

I've heard this record once so far, and unfortunately I am mostly disappointed.

It seems unfocused and rushed. Maybe that's a byproduct of the less than usual 3-4 years between records.

My biggest beef with A Posteriori was the lack of vocal songs, but it still had great lush soundscapes and nice instrumental hooks.

This one seems more sparse sonically. Maybe it will grow on me, but I was hoping for more on this one.

fuzzbox

Hijacking the thread I know, but I have to say that I like Moodswings' "Live at Leeds" better than any of their studio albums. And generally I think live albums have very little replay value.

(in fact, I just queued it up on my ipod...)

-jason

E Unit

I need to check out Live at Leeds, it sounds interesting. I didn't know Moodswings had a live album.

In regards to Seven Lives, I've been able to listen to both discs from the special edition. I like this way more than A Posteriori - Cretu brought back a lot more ethnic beats and kept the sparse soundscape to a minimum. A lot more vocals on this one as well, and overall I think they all sound great. The second disc on the special edition has 5 songs and only one is a remix radio edit. I have to differ in opinion Bunkaroo, I felt this album was focused way more then the last and is just overall a better effort on the whole. The songs connect really well, which I think he does a great job at with just as on the first two albums.