Album Description

1999 single for Virgin Records by Michael Cretu's ongoing new age/ dance project Enigma. Contains three mixes of 'Gravity Of Love' (Radio Edit, Judgement Day Club Mix &Dark VocalClub Mix). 'Gravity Of Love' is the first single from Enigma's 2000 album 'The Screen Behind The Mirror'. Slimline jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Screen Behind The Mirror
Great song by a great group! It only can be defined as an "enigmatic" song. With its fourth album, Enigma makes a turn of 180 degrees, but still goes for the same kind of mystic, philosophist, non-commercial music. If you would like to hear the music of the new millenium, it is definitely ENIGMA.

Sounds great, can't wait to get it!
I am definitely going to order this. I visited the 'official site' and listened to the entire radio edit version of the song which is on this CD. It was amazing, absolutely one of my favorites now! I have ALL of enigma's albums and many of their singles, and this song has to be one of the best of all time.

I will defeintly buy this cd and the album when it comes out. I recommend any true fan do the same. If you don't find my review helpful, nuts to you ;-)

My favourite song by Enigma
Why did I love this song sooo much?I don't know,I just did.Certain songs just get under my skin and Gravity Of Love is one of those songs.The lady who does the lead vocals for this wonderful song has a really beautiful voice.I liked the Judgement Day Club Mix of the song but I loved the radio version way better.

i personally ADORE this stuff
I really love this song!! Awesome! A real experience.. If carmina wasn't there, it'd simply be PERFECT... Now you will be wandering why i rate it with only 2 stars. Well.. there are many "but"s here...

So, we have ethereal sweet and sexy vocals, perfect romantic, charming and most importantly *human* lyrics and of course very good atmospheric rhythms. A really rare combination that can make you travel as far away as one can travel simply by hearing a song. It can make you cry, it can make you dream...

But, but, but, why carmina burana? why, why carmina burana???:( There were a **million** ways to complete this inspiration without getting "another man's work". And i believe that half of them wouldn't spoil it. It would still be perfect and original too... (ok i may be a little bit extreme here about the numbers.. but i think you get the meaning).

So much near absolute perfection, but unfortunatelly it is still another "based on carmina burana" song, call it version 249309420. And, in this cd, we can just find remixes of the 249309420th "carmina burana based" song... sadly:(

If you haven't heard the track in the "screen behind the mirror" album, then you simply HAVE to hear it. Although it is not 100% original, it is still a very very beautiful and charming song. Very charming indeed. However, the remixes are quite predictable. Nothing really special. A very good combination of incredients resulting in "simply very good" food. But the truth is, that with such stuff we could have a much better result.

I can't say it does not worth to buy it.It would be wrong. But i would hardly rate it with more than 3 stars. We simply have some -predictable- remixes in a very good but -not original- song.

So... i love it? yes! i'd buy it? yes! but only because i am an enigma fun and i'd buy all of their stuff no matter what...

Pump Up Your Stereo and Listen Carefully!!!
This excellent song gave a warning of what would be E4; and I can say that this song did not defraud.

The "Radio Edit", is very similar to the version of the disc. The "Judgement Day Club Mix", (my favourite), has an excellent beat and incredible force and the "Vocal Dark Club Mix", is also excellent.

If you not yet have E4 and you wishes to know about it, I recommend this disc and if you already own E4, this import single is a great aggregate to so beautiful collection.

Greetings. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Don't be tempted
I love Haza's voice, so it surprised me when this CD disappointed me.I think of it as "cotton candy" music--it's nice and sweet, but there's no substance.
The problem here is that the material isn't good enough to support Haza's ability.Some of her songs, such as "Take Me to Paradise", off Shaday, reach inside me and grab on.Nothing on Temptations even comes close to that.Maybe Haza had contractual obligations....
If you must have this CD, try to get a used one for a reduced price.

Excellent, Upbeat, Energetic Pop/Rock Female Vocal CD
After several listenings I realized that Temptations is a
very very good female vocal pop/rock CD.If you like
good mainstream pop/rock songs, catchy melodies and superior female vocals you will like Temptations. In other words it is easy for the mainstream listener to like. With so many other CD's having just one or two good tunes, there is not a single bad song on Temptations.They are all good, and you will like them even more with repeated listenings. The melodies are very pleasing, the songs are well constructed by Bezalel Aloni and the quality of the singing is far better than Stevie Nicks, and better even than Madonna. Ofra Haza's powerful, clean, clear, beautifully soaring voice graces every selection.This is mostly an upbeat, energetic album, and some of the songs are especially good: "Hello Happiness," "Summer," "Gavriel," "Magic Queen," and the mood setting slower paced"Cry Over the Flower."Be aware though that unlike most of Haza's other albums several tunes on Temptations including the Title track "rock" with substantial electric guitar work, but it is all tastefully arranged by master songwriter Bezalel Aloni, and is not overdone. Overall great stuff.

I Shouldn't have Trusted the Other Reviews
I most of Ofra Haza's other albums, and like them quite a bit.My dislike of this album rises from the cheesy sounding, tinny music.I like older pop, like Abba, as some reviewers compared this album to, but this thing sounds primitive by comparison.I was seriously disappointed and no longer am surprised that this CD didn't make it to the U.S.

Ten Tastefuly Tempting Tunes Are Tops
This Rock/Pop album is one of the very
best from the 1980's, even though it was
never released in the United States, and
was not available until recently as an
import. "Temptations" has more good songs
than any of four Abba albums I have heard,
and it is at least on a par with the best
albums from Stevie Nicks."Temptations"
combines superior rock/pop compositions
with Ofra's powerful, crystal clear voice,
and the result is very satisfying and
entertaining. This is mainstream rock/pop,
easy for the western listener to enjoy
even upon a first listening. With the
possible exception of "Summer", the songs are
much more influenced by western rock/pop than by
middle eastern music. Most of the songs sound as
good as the best songs of Abba but without being
an imitation. All ten songs on this album are solid
and satisfying. The songs are so good, it is not
important that the lyrics are not in English. The
album was a smash hit overseas in the 1980's. It
deserves to be discovered by the American rock/pop
audience. If you like Abba or Stevie Nicks, or
Fleetwood Mac you will love Ofra Haza's "Temptations".
"Temptations" is a GEM. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Enigma's Mystique Fading? I Report--You Decide
Having heard all of Enigma's albums prior to this, it seems to me that Michael Cretu has reached a crossroads--but not one that I'd particularly hoped for, myself. Gone, it seems, are the musings upon life and the vast, sweeping, and graceful sound I've previously associated with Enigma. What has replaced it is something that rides dangerously close to a very average, bland sort of techno. Voyageur is not a total loss; don't get me wrong. Mr. Cretu does get points for moving forward in terms of experimention with different moods than those previously heard; while other albums have had a much more optimistic feel by the end, and have also been somewhat cyclical in nature, this one has a rather darker character; the final outro was certainly a surprise to me. There's something grittier in the mixing, a heavy distortion that sometimes works--sometimes seems like ovrekill. I do give Mr. Cretu credit for the distortions on his own vocals, which have quite an interesting effect.

Gone are the samples of world music and Gregorian chant. Although there are no *directly* sampled loops, there is one intriguing "tribute" buried on the title track, to the keyboard playing of Pink Floyd's Richard Wright on the studio version of "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun". This is the one place where the distortion of the sound makes complete sense; if you listen to the distortions in Mr. Wright's initial playing, it's very clear that Mr. Cretu has emulated it down to the last detail.

Speaking of Pink Floyd, in bands like that, the shift towards a heavier, more brooding atmosphere often signals a move towards a more serious approach to music--but with Enigma, I'm not entirely convinced that's happening. In fact, I'm quite shocked that something with such infantile lyrics as "Boum-Boum" was released with the Enigma name--if I want something with so little substance (and I do not), I'll turn on a "Top 40" station. "My heart goes boom-boom-boom...every time I think of you!" repeated ad infinitum...come on, Britney Spears can do better! "Weightless" comes fairly close to a similar degree of emptiness, although *nothing* beats "Boum-Boum" in the vapid department.

That is not to say this album and new direction are wholly without merit: "Incognito"/"Page of Cups" is certainly an interesting foray into darker territory for Enigma. "Total Eclipse", "In the Shadow and the Light", and most particularly the ethereal and beautiful track, "The Piano", will probably be the most satisfying for fans of the classic Enigma. I admit, also, that when I hear a piece like "The Look of Today", I wonder if perhaps Mr. Cretu *has* decided to move towards serious social commentary, even satire. While "The Look of Today" wears the mask of empty techno, there's something quite biting in his delivery.

The trouble is, he needs to be careful of just how much of this vacuousness he allows into his work or he may lose his identity in the process. What is also annoying to me as a listener is the *inconsistency* of quality--something I've never heard before from Enigma, not even on the debut album as is the case with most artists. I notice that while the album begins as all Enigma albums do with that typical "signature riff", it's abandoned at the end...a clear signal of a shift towards something else. The problem is, what will that transition be to, when it's complete? Overall, Voyageur is an album that, in many ways, is hovering upon the brink--between light and dark, between satire and sellout. Does the cold feeling I get at the end indicate Enigma's success, or its failure?

I can only hope that in his next venture, Mr. Cretu will properly assess the merits and deficiencies of Voyageur, and respond accordingly...I hope he's thought out where he's headed.

Different and excellent, but may not be for all.
This newest Enigma release does not include the chanting, worldly rhythms, or opera samples of its predecessors. If this is what you listen to Enigma for, then this album may not be for you. If you admire Michael Cretu's dedication to making Enigma an 'experiment' in music while retaining an underlying continuity through all five (or is it six now, if you count the Greatest Hits) albums, then this album is a must. Yes, the songs do have a techno/club sound, but nothing much different from the earlier 'Turn Around' and the various club remixes on the singles, and none of them has that soulless "I Love You, I Hate You" ideology that permeates so much pop music today (with the possible exception of Boum-Boum, but even that has its good moments). While the album clocks in at the usual 45-50 minute mark of the other albums, it certainly doesn't disappoint; the 20 or so minutes Cretu could've put on the album instead went into making sure the songs on this album were memorable.

Why, you make ask, do I give such a glowing review, but only give it four stars? Well, it is a very big departure from the previous albums in technique and style if nothing else. This may turn off fans that loved the first four 'official' albums. However, this album ranks up there with all of them; I even think it may be the best of them all. Voyageur (the song) is already insured as a hit; Incognito, (In the Shadow, In the Light), The Piano, and Following the Sun are sure to follow. And these are just MY favorites. The others are excellent in their own right, as well. The quiet songs on here are extremely powerful, with lyrics that require a lot of attention to understand. The wavering, processed vocals add to the mystery of the album itself and lend themselves to open interpretation. I personally believe those particular effects are well-done, and much more creative than the bland, "let's just digitize my voice" set up of recent pop vocals, including but not limited to Cher's "Believe." The female vocals are stunning, and again, quite possibly the Enigma series' best. Very evocative, very emotional, especially on Following the Sun.

My only real complaint comes from the CD cover itself. The album does not include a backing sheet with side panels giving the album's name. This is only a minor inconvenience, and a facetious one at that, but it makes finding the CD on a crammed shelf inconvenient.

Cretu deserves applause. Love this album or hate it, he has managed to create something new while retaining his original sensibilites, not an easy task for someone who has been at the music game for a long time...especially with the same 13-year-old project. It's a solid, rich, and thought-provoking musical experience, which is getting to be an unfortunate rarity these days. Bravo, and keep up the good work.

A new Enigma! A great new sound!!
I am now the happy owner of a copy of Enigma's Voyageur. What I have to say is WOW! Not only is it a good album, but it's so different! Right off I have to say that it takes more than one listen before you understand the album. I listened to it four times in a row the day I received the album! Also, unlike the previous Enigma records, this one needs the right conditions to fully enjoy it. It needs to be listened to, not heard. And the resulting experience is much much deeper. Michael Cretu uses a distortion effect on all the vocals which makes them almost undiscernable, hence another reason it needs to be listened to closely. The music sounds very modern and there's very few sounds that were used on the earlier albums. Here's a track-by-track.

FROM EAST TO WEST - Opens up with a piano. Very peaceful sounding. The piano part then ends beautifully with the familiar Enigma intro. But that intro very quickly fades into a haunting trance song that sounds very reminiscent of Michael Cretu's side-project, Trance Atlantic Air Waves. Here it becomes clear that you will not hear the Enigma we've grown used to. A great beginning to this voyage.

VOYAGEUR - An aquatic guitar gently begins this track before a funky bassline takes over. You hear Cretu sing, although it's unclear whether he's actually saying something or not. Then Sandra's whispers take over "Viens chez moi, Voyageur". There's a short break, then begins again. A good song, but too repetetive.

INCOGNITO - Very unusual track. The intro sounds like something from Jean-Michel Jarre, then hard beats take over with Cretu's vocals deep in the background. While it's a decent track, the vocals really need to be louder. This is more reminiscent of Cretu's early solo work. Again, very modern sound.

PAGE OF CUPS - I find this one my least favorite on the album. It's very repetetive, but there's some nice french lyrics in the middle of the song, spoken by Sandra. While it's an okay song, 7 minutes is too long for this. Perhaps this will grow on me.

BOUM-BOUM - I love this song. Probably my favorite on here. It starts out with a nice beat, followed by Ruth-Ann's sultry vocals. After she sings, Andru Donalds takes over and the fierce beat begins! I adore the lyrics! The song ends too soon though.

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON - A short sweet track. Vocals by Michael Cretu and nothing but synthesized strings accompanying his voice. Two short verses and it's over.

LOOK OF TODAY - This is a perfect club track. Enigma has never done a song like this before. It's wonderfully put together. The vocals kick in, and again I wish they weren't so distorted. It's a little startling when a loud, scratchy voice repeats "It's the look, it's the look". All in all though it's a decent song.

IN THE SHADOW, IN THE LIGHT - A very sweet song. It would be better without that darn distortion in the vocals!!! The tender lyrics really need to be heard! The music is nice though and the beat sounds like the one on "Enigmatic Encounter" by ATB and Enigma.

WEIGHTLESS - Ok, this song took me a couple of listens, but I finally find it fascinating. It's very short and very abstract. But the seemingly random notes in the background balance this track perfectly with Cretu's vocals. If I had to compare it to another track, it'd be "The Voice and The Snake" from MCMXC a.D., only a bit more musical.

THE PIANO - This track is so beautiful it gives me chills just thinking about it. It's an instrumental chillout track with a piano as it's main instrument. This song lifts you up and down. It's amazing.

FOLLOWING THE SUN - This is a PERFECT ending to this record. Ruth-Ann's vocals are mesmerizing, then Cretu jumps in with a chant for the climactic chorus. The song finishes and is taken over with a creepy, mysterious ending that quietly fades away into nothingness. Awesome!

All in all, an Enigma fan will love this record. Causal fans might be disappointed because it's clear now that Enigma is a new band. Gone forever are the familiar chants and pan-flutes. In fact, the only sample (besides the intro) from previous Enigma music is a meek "Sade, dit moi. Sade, donne moi" thrown in there for good measure. Like I said, it takes more than one listen, but it's worth it. A great album! Enjoy!!!

more of the same
Enigma continues a progression into harder, more electronic music with less emphasis on dance and melody. There is almost none of the unique religious/"ethnic" sampling found in the other albums. Still, the rhythms are inspiring and the quieter tracks quite beautiful. If you are a fan of electronic music or Enigma then you'll really like this CD. If you are new to Enigma, try the greatest hits album.

Michael...what are you doing????
I've heard the whole new album and I was a little disappointed...the whole album seems the product of an amateur!
The music style is completely different from the previous albums, the lyrics are few and maybe too simple, THERE ARE NO GREGORIAN CHANTS(!!!!). Voyageur has good potentialities, but it seems that the whole album had been built up carelessly. It was quite a shock to listen to it because the entire epic-charming-sensual world of Enigma seems drowned in the sea of commercial...I hope to change my mind about the album...
Instead of Voyageur I suggest Sarah Brightman's "HAREM": a really gorgeous enigma-like album!! ... Read more

Album Details

Includes Rare Bonus Tracks. ... Read more

Reviews (119)

Float Off Into Space With This Masterpiece
"MCMXC A.D." by the one-man studio group known as Enigma (aka Michael Cretu) is a timeless blend of ambient new age sounds & beats, chanting monks, sultry female vocals (supplied by Cretu's wife, Sandra Cretu), and washes & washes of beautifully lush, atmospheric keyboards. It's the *perfect* disc for playing late at night with the lights out. When "MCMXC A.D." first came out 12 years ago, I couldn't stop playing it. I was so taken by it's sheer beauty, and how listening to it could just transport me to another place & time. 12 years later, the album still holds up marvelously. Everybody knows the hit "Sadness Part 1," with it's chanting monks over an ambient dance beat, but there are many more delights to be found here, including "Callas Went Away, "Mea Culpa," "Knocking On Forbidden Doors," and "The Rivers Of Belief." From start to finish, this album is simply intoxicating.Just looking at the classic album cover (with a monk on a mountaintop staring into a bright ray of light) always makes me smile. I've been a diehard Enigma fan ever since "MCMXC A.D." came out, and I've thoroughly enjoyed the three albums so far that have followed it. But "MCMXC A.D." remains Enigma's signature piece, a truly unique album that no music collection is complete without. Turn off the light, take a deep breath, and let the rhythm be your guiding light. :-)

A brilliant, emotional, sensual piece of art
Enigma is probably best known as the band that introduced Gregorian chants to dance music (though, in actuality, many bands had been doing this for several years in Europe). I must admit, that is one of the key things I remembered about this release. But after listening again to MCMXC a.D., I remember much more. For those people who understand and appreciate the power of music to enhance mood, this release is an experience in sensuality. Layered with religious symbolism, lush female vocals, spoken word (often in French), sounds from nature, and sensual beats, Enigma takes the listener (or listeners, as this release is also enjoyable with a companion) on a journey of self actualization, inner peace, and outward passion.

The release begins with "Voice of Enigma", a soothing intro to the album. Not really a song, this short piece places the listener in a relaxed state of mind which helps one best enjoy the remaining 40+ minutes.

The next song, "Principles of Lust," allows one to slip into deep relaxation and sensual exploration. Clocking in at over 11:30, this is actually a combination of three songs that flow together. a. "Sadeness" is Enigma's classic and first big hit. It is very sensual and relaxing, however at the same time it is stimulating and encourages one to be tactile. b. "Find Love" starts off as a sensual, atmospheric piece that floats all around the listener. Then it moves to a funky beat that is very assertive and more active. Also known as "The Principles of Lust." c. "Sadeness (Reprise)" returns the listener to the feelings in "Sadeness." However, the additional piano is very deep and stimulates one to be reflective.

"Callas Went Away" makes me think of young lovers who have stolen away from the village into the woods at dusk for a lovers' tryst.

"Mea Culpa" grabs one's attention and provides a sense of urgent desperation. The beats, the chant, the marching footsteps, and the rain make one feel like one is trying to escape from someone or something. This is a very powerful song.

"The Voice & the Snake" is discordant and disturbing, shaking one violently from a relaxed state. Fortunately, it is only a little over a minute and a half, ending the discomfort quickly.

"Knocking on Forbidden Doors" gives one a sense of need for control and for asserting oneself, strongly yet with a gentle, loving touch.

"Back to the Rivers of Belief," which concludes the release, has three parts. a. "Way to Eternity" slows one back down, allowing one to become calm and reflective once again. b. "Hallelujah" reintroduces the rhythm, allowing one to slowly again explore one's inner (or outer) senusuality. The tinkling bells are like a soft rain falling to the ground, or perhaps on oneself. c. "The Rivers of Belief" is a sensual, relaxing conclusion to the album. Whether shared with oneself or with another, this song helps reaffirm the love and passion one feels for oneself or one's partner.

This is an excellent release, especially for those who understand and enjoy the power of music to enhance the mood, whether one is alone or with that special someone. A sensual delight, MCMXC a.D. deserves a strong 5 star recommendation.

Enigma is the best
I remember when i bought the first Enigma cd MCMXC AD i couldn't get enough. I have listened to this cd (no Lie) about a thousand times. It is sexy and pleasureable to the mind and ears. This is music you can really feel. I remember when i just couldn't wait for Enigma to release more of their music. Now I own every cd they have made. Every song on every cd I love, Enigma can do no wrong (or make a bad song). All cd's are my favorite I love Enigma I can't choose just one cd. I hope Michael Cretu continues to make music till he dies. Everyone I've introduced to Enigma has turned out to love it. Thanks Michael Cretu keep putting out the CD's and I'll keep buying.
Definately invest your money and your listening pleasure in Enigma. If God made music this is what it would probably sound like.

mentally sexy music
When I was driving down the highway in my big big truck,listening to this music,I was nearly fell asleep.I almost lost my life.Then an angel flew down on me and said something very very sweet to me.She said I am a voice of ENIGMA.The next moment I was in the sky flying over the clouds.I was deeply absorbed in the journey of my pure mind.I was so refreshed and finally found myself in a starnge room full of sexy angels waiting for me for a long long time.This music is a kind of drug that take you higher and higher to the next spiritual level.
So passionate and alluring !!

Was it REALLY that controversial?
Back in 1990, while I was still working in radio, a program director who shall remain nameless demanded that I pull the single "Sadeness" off the air because he thought it was "blasphemous." I was kind of dumbfounded, because I found it to be contemporary and original, and not in the least bit obscene. Just the kind of antidote to the blandness of the New Kids On The Block kiddy pop and dump truck loads of Whitney/Mariah clones being force fed to radio at the time. Of course, like any young buck worth his artistic salt, being told "NO" only made me want to find out more about this "Enigma" cat.

Once I got the full CD, I could understand how the easily shaken were getting their dander's flaked by Enigma. "MCMXC A.D." was the first album that used the fresh idea of mixing new age keyboards with chanting Monks and giving them the kind of rhythm that would work as a slow grind on the dance floor -- or more important -- late night nasties in the bedroom. Then there was the "Sadeness" video, which pictured a rather religious looking fellow as he dreams/hallucinates about a sultry looking woman and beams of light. Yup - just the kind of thing to turn the album into a nocturnal classic, dance floor smash and a magnet for those prone to censor that which might ruffle their too fragile sensibilities.

Surprisingly (or not), the album holds up pretty well all these years later. Tidal waves of imitations flew up in "MCMXC AD's" wake, but none (save maybe Deep Forrest) ever made much of an impact. You can also probably blame/credit Enigma for making top sellers out of the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos (remember 1994's "Chant"?). With all that has been going on in music since, "MCMXC AD" seems almost quaint, but this album remains an artifact from the end of the new age decade. And it still gets played in my playroom. ... Read more

Album Description

Available for the first time, a crucial early work by ambient/drone master Robert Rich.SUNYATA was Robert Rich's first solo release, dating back to 1982. It has been out of print for 15 years, and has remained one of his most obscure recordings. SUNYATA came from the same period as Robert's first Sleep Concerts, and reflects a similar deep slow motion. Carefully remastered by Rich in 1999,this reissue complements next year's release of the seven-hour SOMNIUM, summarizing Robert's excursions into the slowest realms of psychoactive music. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellence....
Almost everything Robert Rich does is 5 steps above everyone else. In this case, this CD is 10 steps above everyone else..If you like Trances and Drones..you will love this...superb...5+ stars

into nothingness
Robert Rich-

Sunyata

(Hypnos)

Buddhist term implying emptiness

I think that for a musician like Robert Rich, it's maybe a good thing to look back at the past. Just to be able to say that this is where he came from, and that the path that he explored was indeed the right one. Not ever having heard Sunyata prior to its current reissue on Hypnos, I'm struck by the thought that for a piece of drift or sleep music which was written twenty years ago, this still holds up remarkably well. One piece of course turned up on the Extreme release Trances and Drones back in 1992, but with Sunyata come the other two tracks. You get to hear a very young nineteen year old Robert Rich performing on analog synthesizers no doubt buzzing with ideas re where he wanted to take his audience. The ideas are all here, long deep drones lulling the listener into an intense sleep (I'll vouch for that many times over), improvised pieces of great depth and darkness, dark minimalist musical structures which seem to keep evolving and reinventing themselves for what seems like an eternity. Having said that, some people have said that for them nothing is happening at any time, but the point I raise time and time again is how do we listen or better still how do we not listen, especially for someone who is not into exploring this type of music. That glurpy aqueous sound which he is now well known for is, as usual, evident on the longest track Oat Spirits, which gets downright dark at times. I've listened to this a lot since it arrived, and I have to say that this is not a 'pretty' Robert Rich release by any means, compared to some of the Hearts Of Space recordings. In fact for me it contains some of his darkest moments to date, yet at the same time it's an exceptional piece of work . There is something about it that keeps me wanting to hear it again and again, a dark organic substance of sorts which feeds the soul. Than again, that has always been what it is about Rich's work which appeals to this listener, the ability to not only go beyond certain states, but also to give back some sort of musical 'elixir'. At a time when so much of what we hear on the radio is so utterly vacuous ( and ironically downright successful) this comes as a welcome change for those like me who want much more out of what we are listening to. I often say life is too short to listen to uninteresting music. Robert Rich has certainly developed his own unique sounds into a more subtle and graceful palette with the passing of years and the availability of new technologies, but as I said earlier on, this stands up remarkably well. And as usual the production on this is first rate. I'm looking forward to the seven hour release I keep hearing about. Now THAT should test my audience. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Brilliant would be an understatement!
Ofra Haza's final album - 'Melodies of the Heart' is fantastic. It has 59 of her greatests hits including some previously unreleased tracks (e.g. Jerusalem of Gold, HaShana Inshallah, Golden Apple). The 3CD album also contains her biggest hits 'Frecha', 'Chai', 'Im Nin Alu', 'Shadai', 'Fatamorgana' & my personal favourites: 'Along the Ocean'[Live at Rabin Memorial Service] and 'Sixth Sense'.
If you're a huge Ofra Haza fan or even if you're not, you'll absolutely LOVE this album and is sure to please people of all tastes.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! ... Read more

Album Details

New Single. Tracks: Madazulu, Tres Marias, & La Luna Se Bat Avec Les Etoiles. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Let's All Chant
Hey everyone
I love this song. Although the mixes got pretty boring after awhile. The BBE mixes were cool though i would only listen to them when i wanted to relax. The Deep Tribal was very good I think because it made me want to DANCE along with the Cintura mix. They were pretty good club cuts. I especially LOVE the album version. This s the version that really turned me on to this song. I love the chants even though I don't know what they are saying they lift me up when I am down.
So if you wanna dance, relax or just hear some cool chants pick up this cd.

echoes of ancient (10 years old at least) cultures
Well, we're in the sunset years of Deep Forest, those audacious synth sensitivos who burst on the scene so long ago, with the killer insight that samples of endangered cultures might raise the endangering culture's consciousness (plus let it shake its collective booty a bit). And so the Deep Forest discography gradually accumulated: albums, singles, guest tracks like those on World Christmas and Strange Days. But the weather in the places they visited got more temperate, the cultures got less endangered, and hedonism slowly replaced activism. Still, it's nice that they took one of the harsher tracks from Comparsa to stretch out in.

The BBE Harmonic Club Mix doesn't do much besides stretch out, that is, take the basic source material and spin it longer. This is not an entirely bad thing, however, given the original's "radio-friendly" (i.e. trance-hostile) length. More divergent are Pablo Flores' Deep Tribal Mix, laced with vocoder bass, and Phil Cat's frenetic Cintura Mix, using vocal samples as a sort of hyper-soloing guitar. This is the technique of "Hunting" from the first album and "Forest Power" from the third, but increasingly jettisoned in favor of new-agey tone pastels (new age is well known as the arch-enemy of cultural diversity - what could they have been thinking?)

In short - put the single on in the background, squint with your ears, and you can pretend you're hearing some lost tracks from their earlier, finer stuff.

Deep Forest
Wonderfully crafted single is a great buy for anyone new to Deep Forest. Highly suggested. ... Read more

Album Description

label: MUSHROOM release date: 04 February 1991 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Early Burning
From the formative era of this great band. You get raw,jamming versions of MAINSTREAM, YOLNGU BOY and the title track.

Lots of good traditional Aborigonal stuff. A very good deal. ... Read more

Album Description

Recorded live in 1985.A slow, deep ambient excursion into the silent realms of night. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent atmospheric ambient
It's hard to go wrong with Robert Rich, especially when you're dealing with this stage of his musical development (experimental sleep ambient). I regularly play this before & during sleeping (that's how it was intended to be used) and thoroughly enjoy the effects. The strange atmosphere makes for some interesting half-awake, half-sleeping mental imagery. I highly recommend this, and the Robert Rich/Lustmord collaboration "Stalker" even moreso.

Other great albums for sleep (or just plain ambient bliss) are Vidna Obmana - "Landscape In Obscurity", Steve Roach - "The Magnificent Void", Vir Unis - "The Drift Inside", Vir Unis - "Aeonian Glow", Matthias Grassow/Klause Wiese - "Mercurius", and any Oophoi release.

Excellent...
Truly brilliant work from such a highly prolific artist, INNER LANDSCAPES reaches into a deep chasm for much of its sound design, which is full of great, cresting electronic drones, and synth programming tonally colored pitch-black. This is not dark music, per se, but its vast evocations recall the awesome emptiness of space. As Rich's electronic wind systems gather strength and blow across a patina of chattering radio waves and galactic dust, he manages to draw you in, inviting you to explore, relate, contemplate, and ultimately succumb to the vastness.

Excellent-
One of my favorite all time CDs is Robert's Trances and Drones...If you like this CD, Inner Landscapes actually takes you deeper...A fantastic CD...that very quickly puts the listener into a deep altered state..I almost would be careful driving in the car with this Cd as one most decidedly goes into a trance.. On a long drive this may get you where your going much faster and your head may be in a new and novel place...enjoy

Need More Info
Do you think that Amazon might post some RealAudio clips? I might be interested in this CD, but I can't identify this recording with only a jacked-up Hearts of Space playlist. ... Read more

Album Details

Australian Re-release featuring a Bonus CD of Remixes. Bonus CD Tracks: "Forest Hymn", "White Whisper","Bohemian Ballet" (Orange Mix), "Boheme" (Dreadzone Mix), "Marta's Song" (Rainforest Crunch Mix), "Deep Forest" (Kevin Godley Mix) and More. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Deep Forest's best album without a doubt!
I was absolutely amazed with Deep Forests debut album. It was and still is one of the most groundbreaking world music albums of all time and it's a huge crime that it isn't carried by retailers. It is still an amazing CD to this very day. It blended Pygmy voices with modern dance and the result was a masterpiece. This follow-up to that album entitled "Boheme" raises the bar even higher by having Deep Forest travel from the remoteness of Sub-Saharan Africa, to the forests of Bulgaria and Eastern Europe and the result is beyond what I could give out and "Boheme" is in my opinion, Deep Forest's best album to date although "Music Detected" may offer competition. The album has a much darker and more dramatic undertone than their debut album does but I love it.

"Anasthasia" starts the album on a dark, eerie, and slightly ominous note with a very tribal sound with haunting flutes and a haunting ambience that gives the song a feel of like drifting through the forests of the Alps with nearby storms. Eventually the song gets more and more intense until it suddenly ends at just less than two minutes length. The echoes of "Anashthasia" perfect blend into the drama of my favorite track on this album "Bohemian Ballet". This is one of their best 'studio' album tracks that they've ever created. At first, the clanging dance sound effects would imply a Latin folk track but it becomes a very intense, dramatic, and dark song. Things get even better when it becomes a vibrant and energetic dance song with haunting and bizarrely amplified Eastern European voices backed by the intense melody. This song is my favorite song on this entire album. "Marta's Song" is sheer beauty. After the dramatic darkness of "Bohemian Ballet", we emerge into the sunniness of "Marta's Song" which is another one of the highlights of this album. The song has a really excellent and exotic rhythm and the same is said about the haunting Bulgarian chants as well. Add that to a really warm and energetic melody and you have a really uplifting classic for the coming ages. "Gathering" is a much darker and more ominous track with a very futuristic production yet it also blends in ancient chorus and a really dark but never forboding atmosphere to create another intriguing and amazing classic. "Lament" is a really heartbreaking yet joyous song with a very strange electronic voice effect and bizarrely amplified voice effects. The melody is really awesome as well and the result is another highlight on this album. "Bulgarian Melody" is the strangest track on this CD. Although it starts with a dark and very eerie note and growing more and more dramatic, it calms down and becomes a very odd piano ballad with Bulgarian vocals amidst sweet and beautiful background piano in the background which almost gives the song a slight 1940s tone to it. While I totally disagree with a reviewer saying that this song is god-awful, it does feel sort of out of place against the other songs on this album but nonetheless it is a really great song. As it reverts back to the eerie sound that was present at the beginning, it morphs into a sweeter melody which becomes the track "Deep Folk Song" which is just a one minute interlude track but has a really vibrant French accordion style to it. In a way it's more of like an interlude intro into the vibrant classic "Freedom Cry". This is a really fun and actually a very bright, sunny and really happy song without being cheesy and is actually a very sophisticated song with an edgy and funky beat and a French accordion sound to it that gives the idea of a dance in an open paved plaza in Paris right after a storm moves out. A really amazing song it is. The song gracefully transitions into the next song "Twosome" which is another highlight on this album. This song has a rather slightly ominous melody but also a very joyous and exotic dance club sound. The Eastern Indian chanting gives the song a really colorful sound. It's hard to really explain this track but it's a really awesome song that needs a listen. "Café Europa" is a really strange track with a stormy vibe and Asian exotic instruments. The song becomes a very club-oriented dance song that surely would make for excellent dance club music. While it's a very good song, it doesn't stack up as high as the other songs on this album. Still, it's a great song. The live version is incredible! "Kathrina" is a very spooky track. It begins with a very misty sharp-sounding flute or other wind instrument and becomes a very dark and haunting track with African beats and strange ominous melody. This is the darkest track on this album and it's a good one at that! The album closes with what I can safely say is the best track on this album which is the title track to this CD. While much of the album is dark and somewhat stormy in nature, the closing title track has a very happy and absolutely uplifting vibe and has a funky and exotic rhythm and colorful vocal effects. To me, this is like the sun shining bright after a major storm moving away into the east. This song brings an already phenomenal album to a glorious finish.

Their debut album may have been what brought them into the spotlight but the way I look at it, "Boheme" was where they reached their peak although "Music Detected" may offer competition but these two albums have enormously different styles that it's impossible to compare them but they both showed that Deep Forest were unafraid to go into uncharted territory with their music. "Boheme" to me, built on the greatness of their debut and the result is what I consider to possibly be their best album that they've ever put out to date. I strongly suggest that you get a hold of a copy of this album. I don't know how much I can recommend it but I cannot do this album justice with this review. That's all I can say.

Excellent, eclectic variety of rhythm and song
Boheme, is Deep Forest's best collection of Eclectic rhythms and song. Following in past tradition of New Age, World and Dance Music this CD offers a variety of sound for everyone. I particularly enjoy the track "While the Earth Sleeps ", which is a performed by Deep Forest and artist Peter Gabriel. This song was off the Soundtrack of the Futuristic movie Strange Days. Overall, Boheme is an appropriate name for this CD and the Bonus Tracks make it especially worth the buy. ... Read more

Album Description

Japanese edition of the French dance act's long-anticipated fourth album with 2 bonus tracks 'Endangered Species'(Galleon Remix Radio Edit) & 'Tokyo Street' (feat. TaroHakase) (Japan only). 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Absolutely phenomenal! I'm almost speechless!
I had wondered what had gone on with Deep Forest following their 1998 third album "Comparsa" which I thought was uneven and their "Made In Japan" album as I had heard no news of them until when out of the blue came their 2002 comeback album entitled "Music Detected" which by the cover alone, I knew would be a major change in their sound but even then, I would never have guessed the culture shock that this newest album of theirs would bring but let me tell you, this album is awesome! In fact it ties with "Boheme" as their best album to date and marks a whole new chapter in Deep Forest's history. If you are familiar with the traditional New Age sound that defined a lot of their first three albums of theirs, then you will find it a great idea to adjust to a radically different sound because "Music Detected" is radically different from any of their older material and has almost none of the New Age genre sounds of old. The New Age sound is replaced with a heavily explosive techno dance sound along with rock, pop and even some occasional alternative rock elements in some places and this could almost have made a dent on the rock or techno charts. To me I think this album is the most radical change of sound that I've heard a New Age artist make since Enigma did with "Cross of Changes" over a decade ago.

This album shifts away from the Western Hemisphere from the Carribean sounds of "Comparsa" and Eastern Europe on "Behome" and Africa on their debut and heads to the Far East to Indonesia, Japan, China and India as this album has a far more Asian color to it and lots of exotic vocals from this region of the continent meshed perfectly with the crazy techno sounds that dominate this album. In all honesty, while this CD is a radical departure from their 1990s era albums, "Music Detected" offers styles for almost everyone to enjoy. What's also interesting too is that this album also have more live sounding drums as opposed to drum machines or the like. For the weird parts of this album, "India" is probably one of the most bizarre tracks on this album starting with Sitar strings and finally blasting into full-fledged rock N Roll before a strange Eastern Indian amplified vocal comes in giving the song a really strange but highly appealing Asian sound. "In The Evening" is another Eastern Indian Sitar influenced instrumental that is unfortunately really short and could've been longer to create a spectacular track but for what it is "In The Evening" is a good and eerie reprise interlude track.

Most of this CD though is strongle techno electronic rock music. "Computer Machine" is an awesome groove that starts with an eerie intro and robotic voice effects before it becomes a danceable mix of techno, pop, dance, and even some jazz elements that would almost make this song feel like café dance music for the distant future. "Soul Elevator" is another bizarre track that incorporates Alternative rock and electronic to create a really amazing track like nothing DF have ever done before. "Endangered Species" to me is the most explosive track on this album. It starts with ominous electronic melodic effects and echoing voice effects, a pulsating techno beat comes in and the song finally becomes a highly energetic intense, and dramatic techno dance track for the dance clubs! The live drum beats are fast and energetic. The Galleon remix has a harsher more techno-beat as opposed to live drums and has a different rhythm but both versions are incredibly awesome. "Beauty In Your Eyes" is almost purely techno rock but has really amazing vocal effects and a fast techno-beat for the dance floors.

The best songs however in my opinion are the two mid-tempo ballads "Yuki Song" and "Deep Blue Sea". "Yuki Song" starts with a haunting New Age ambient intro and becomes a dramatic power ballad like song with incredible vocals by Beverly Jo Scott and has amazing Asian flutes to give the song a slightly melancholy sound to it. This song is amazing and is one of the highlights. The best song however is the twosome track duo "Far East" and "Deep Blue Sea". "Far East" is a hauntingly beautiful interlude with a haunting New Age sound and exotic instruments. The track is only a minute long but brilliantly merges into the best song on this entire album "Deep Blue Sea". Featuring the seductive vocals of Indonesian singer Anggun, this song is an incredible song that mixes pop, rock, world and some New Age and to add Anggun as a guest vocalist makes this already incredible song even more so and this song has a lot of the great sounds of her 1998 masterpiece "Snow On The Sahara" which I strongly recommend alongside "Music Detected". Any other songs that I haven't pointed out on this album are must listens as well but the ones I did mention are among the best songs that they've ever done.

As much as I may be nostalgic for sounds like "Nightbird" or another "Sweet Lullaby", I am glad that they didn't make a "Deep Forest part II" nor something in the vein of that. Making "Music Detected" was a smart move and showcased one of the greatest artistic risks I've heard since U2's "Achtung Baby" from the early 1990s. "Music Detected" finds Deep Forest finding a fresh new sound and stepping into a whole new arena with incredible results and I strongly recommend that you purchase. Unlike a lot of people who needed time for this CD to grow on them, I loved this album the first time I bought it and I think it's their best album alongside "Boheme". Some may find themselves overwhelmed by the loudness of this CD but if you listen closely, even they will find that Deep Forest have lost none of their spirit and I look forward to they may bring next on their next outing whenever that comes out. God only knows how awesome this album would sound if a live CD of these songs were released someday. Highly Recommended CD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Afro-batik
If you buy this...be prepared to move baby! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Very different, but great!
I had no idea what to expect, but was very pleasantly surprised. Excellent CD.

Top notch
Yothu Yindicannot be put into the watered-down, new-age inspired "world music" category despite the aboriginal background of most band members. There are no synthesizers backing up a few notes on some "indigenous" instruments here; "Tribal Voice" is not easy listening. Instead, it's hard-hitting, full-throttle rock, with a powerful merger of aboriginal (esp. the didgeridoo) and more conventional instruments. The result is some really fresh and unique music that can't quite be compared to anything else - not even fellow Aussie rockers Midnight Oil, even though their political stance is quite similar. Yothu Yindi has done a great job of skillfully melding traditional sounds with rock and a relevant message.

Tribal Voice - Yothu Yindi
I heard them play at the Closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.. they are a great group and could be used to promote tribal music all over the world.. This is a great CD .. would recommend to all!!!

Rock beyond belief!
No long winded recommendation here. Yothu Yindi rock and deliver their messages with undeniable spirit, joy, elan. Traditional tribal music and then wow! Reggie a little bit, some memories of the guitar from the Ventures, some headbanging tunes, some dance tunes and even a dance mix of Treaty Now. Thank you guys, you are amazing. Here's hoping some day you make it to the US for a tour. Ned Hamson, Cincinnati, Ohio

TRIBAL VOICES BREAKING THROUGH
Spooky, buzzing sounds herald the opener Gapu while the atmospheric Dharpa boasts a catchy, electronic beat and joyous chant, jolted now & then by an energetic chorus. The exultant ballad Matjala has a lilting rocksteady beat and equally rousing chorus. Not all the tracks work well, though: Tribal Voice is lyrically uninspiring, sounding like Midnight Oil at its climax before petering out drearily, while the lackluster Djapana never quite gets off the ground. Treaty with its potent house rhythm appears twice, one of which is the "filthy lucre radio mix." Keyboards, base and guitar serve the sound well, to produce an exciting and accessible fusion of Australian roots with rock and house without losing the roots credibility. ... Read more

Album Description

Single from Enigma's 1994 album 'The Cross Of Changes'.Contains four mixes of 'The Eyes Of Truth': Radio Edit,Album Version, The Gotterdammerung Mix (The Twilight Of TheGods) and Dub Version. Slimline jewel case. 1994 Virginrelease. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Wicked Cool
I love this song by Enigma. It's truly one of the greatest tracks ever. It became famous for being featured in the trailer for the first Matrix film but I was familiar with it long before that because it was also used in the trailer for The Long Kiss Goodnight. When I saw that trailer I was like 'wow, what is that music?'. I took me a few years but it was worth it.

There are 4 mixes of The Eyes of Truth on this CD. I short radio edit. The full length version, a techno remix (which has some very cool parts but doesn't do the melody much justice) and a Dub version which is like a short version of the remix.

I'm not really a huge fan of Enigma as I haven't heard much of their stuff (TNT For The Brain and I Love You, I'll Kill You are the only other ones I know). But if everything is like this then they must we worth checking out.

A total neo-classic, no doubt.

One of my favourite songs by Enigma
The Eyes Of Truth was on Enigma's The Cross Of Changes CD,which came out in 1993.If I remember correctly,it was just a modest hit.But 6 years after it's release,it became a hit after part of the song was used in the trailer for The Matrix.Even though it became popular with the trailer for The Matrix,it's still a popular song thanks to The Cross Of Changes.

This CD is VERY MUCH worth it ;-)
Like others, I was after this CD for the music from the movie "The Matrix" and oddly enough this music is not on the movie sound track. The version on the album is not as good as the "Radio Edit" which is track one of this single. The radio edit has the actual music from the movie trailers and it rocks!!

The Matrix trailer music!!
I was lookin everywhere for the music off the Matrix trailer because I loved it and after alot of research I found it and all I can say is that this single is the BOMB!!!

I think that Enigma should come out with a new album.
Enigma is one of the best artists known today! I absolutely love the song "Mea Cupula". the beats are excellent and the voices are great too. I think Enigma is way over due for a new album. They at least should give us that much. I hope they do songs as good as on the MCMXC A.D. and alot like Mea Cupula. But other than that They are doing a excellent job. I also LOVE the fealing of someone breathing in the backround. They are very sexual. ... Read more

Album Details

Taken from the Album "Screen Behind the Mirror" and Includes Two Lengths of the Atb Remix, which Pumps the Track Up Into a Dramatic Gothic Masterpiece, Best Enjoyed on a Dancefloor. Nonetheless, Still Pretty Great in the Car Too....5 Stars! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

NOT THE BEST BUT ENIGMA NONETHELESS
"Push the Limits" is the second single from "The Screen behind The Mirror". It has not the same energy as "Gravity of Love" nor its evocative rhythm, but is interesting anyway. It is far more experimental and its lyrics fit well the general rebellious theme of the album. The lyrics are not present in the video version of the song, but are present in the album version. This song is one of the few in the album which feature a brand new sound, different from the quotes from previous works. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

Deeply moving and provocative, Nitin Sawhney's Beyond Skin chronicles this British East Indian's struggle to find his identity as a citizen in a country that is not his ancestral homeland.Sawhney intelligently explores such diverse topics as identity, race, history, and atomic weapons through the eyes of a devout pacifist, while creating a musical backdrop where trip-hop, drum & bass, soul, and world music coexist peacefully. --Kevin Cole ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Beautifully reflective...
Almost impossible to classify, Nitin Sawhney's "Beyond Skin" is a bold, deeply personal musical statement. Sounds boring?... well think again for this record is crammed full of haunting melodies, atmospheric arrangements, excellent singing and tight playing. It's subtext - India's testing of its first nuclear weapons (and all that implies for a UK Indian like Sawhney) - provides the backdrop for an innovative and, with one exception in "The Pilgrim" (a bizarre venture into Indian rap), wholly successful fusing of Indian raga & late 90's club mixes. Few "concept" albums really work but this inspired attempt achieves its objective through the sheer quality of its production: in particular, Sawhney's clever use of excerpts from radio & news broacasts to emphasise the album's chilling theme and to contrast this with the often intense beauty of its music. You don't need to share his views or his culture to enjoy it and you won't find much else like it out there but, once it gets its hooks into you, it will repay with enormous listening pleasure. File under "beautifully reflective"...

Not as good as I had hoped
I was looking forward to this CD, after having heard a bit of the exciting new Asian Breakbeat music, much of it on Sawhney's label, Outcaste. I had become quite a fan of this genre of music after listening to such incredible albums as Badmarsh & Shri's "Dancing Drums," Joi's "One and One Is One" and Talvin Singh's "OK." So I was expecting the same kind of exotic energy and catchy driving beats in Sawhney's new CD. They're not here.

This CD is surprisingly full of very mellow R&B songs, with lots of "lite" jazzy piano, soulful female crooning, and acoustic guitar work worryingly similar to the Gipsy Kings. With only a couple tracks smacking of Sawhney's Indian roots. His musicianship is good, his heart is in the right place, but the songs are overdone, the "statements" too heavy-handed.

The acid test is this: If you found Massive Attack's rather dull and white-wine-flavored instrumental "Weather Storm" the best part of their otherwise amazing CD "Protection," then you'll be a fan of Nitin Sawhney's music. If, however, you usually skip over "Weather Storm" to get at the more interesting tracks, then you'd best skip over "Beyond Skin" as well.

Sublime
Sublime ...

All Nitin's other albums are also brilliant. There are 5 in
all - starting with Spirit Dance (plus many remixes). I
suggest owning all of them.

Simply... wonderful
This is pure beauty on a disk. Slick but real, filled with powerful imagery and beautifu lvibes, this one didn't leave my CD player for months. In the trip-hop vain but with plenty of india-real-world thrown in. You don't want this disk. You need it.

Nitin Sawhney is not so perfect after all
If you have ever listened to his first album, the MASTERPIECE 'introducing...' (Which I count as one of the best albums ever made, serious!) this album sounds like Nitin smelled money and went on the wrong commercial road of creating weak and boring r 'n b songs that the mainstream audience likes so much. Ok, if you ditch mellow r 'n b, you'll like this album too. 'Introducing...' sounds truly more honest, more deep, and way more Indian-underground, while half of the songs on 'Beyond Skin' are more aimed on Witney Houston fans than on Asian Underground-lovers. If you don't know Nitin yet, ditch this album and go for 'Introducing... Nitin Sawney' which I consider to be one of the best asian underground albums ever. But be aware, you will be greatly dissapointed if you have his first album and expect the same high quality on this second... ... Read more