Enigma - Voyageur
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Music Reviews of Voyageur
Music Review: Obscurely notorious
Rating: 5 Stars
There's little sense in over-intellectualizing the work that is Enigma. This album presented a scaled down front as opposed to "Screen Behind the Mirror", which was, to say the least, uber-orchestrated. You'll find the occasional beat heavy pieces on "Voyageur"-- but nothing so ostentacious as to turn down your speakers for fear of blowing them out. In fact, there's a lighter, crisper feel to the music. Indeed, it's much like being on the outside, looking in on a voyage into places beyond.The theme here resides in a sense of vocals and beats as opposed to central samplings from whichever source is the flavor of the year. Note, in MCMXC A.D. the Gregorian chant was much the focal point; in Cross of Changes we heard something to the effect of aboriginal beats and intonations; Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! put forth a wildly alluring focus on Southeastern Asian rhythms and chants-- and for some reason Screen Behind the Mirror delved into the realm of Opera, more specifically Orff's "Carmina Burana". The latter, of which, didn't seem to appeal, despite the addition of explosive percussion tracks to an already celebrated classic. Voyageur, while lacking in central theme, hardly lacks. The choices made in the album were quite so in accordance with the group's overall style, capturing an ambience lost in "Screen", more reminiscent of the voluptuous sound of "Le Roi..."
Music Review: OH COME ON!!! YOU DON'T WANT FIVE "SADENESS" REPLICAS DO U?!
Rating: 5 Stars
I don't understant these negative reviews I've been seeing on this product! "Voyageur" is an absolutely amazing experience and is by far their greatest album since their debut album from many years ago. In a lot of ways, Cretu made a very smart move by veering away from their trademark Gregorian chants and into a much more ethnic sound with some ambient techno-dance sounds in the arena of Eurodance.
The title track is a blissful experience with tight beats and mystifying ambient sounds. You will find yourself bobbing to the strong rhythm. The best song on here is the closing track "Following The Sun". This is a very powerful and edgy song that reminds me a lot of "Return To Innocence" with the production styles of "Silence Must Be Heard".
"Voyageur" is a spectacular album and is a brilliant achievement in taking on a totally new style while maintaining Enigma's personality. I am not dissapointed one bit with this album.
The album packaging is a bit odd, having a bizarre booklet shaped in a circular way, in the round case below where the CD itself would go when put away. The front cover has really cool artwork painting but there's no way to replace it should the CD cover break for any reason so I can't say it's the best packaging idea but it's at least original in style.
"Voyageur" is a must-own and tell these negative reviewers to shove it!!
Music Review: Wonderful journey for open-minded people.
Rating: 5 Stars
I've been a fan of Enigma since its very beginning, and I always try to be totally unbiased in my opinions. I respect everybody's opinions although some of them are completely missing any significant reasons as to why they hate the album.Of course, it took time for me as well to like the album. But I love it, this is not a commercial album. What did you expect ? I prefer artists who try to evolve to "artists" always making the same music. Why don't you listen to "Voyageur", "Look of Today", "shadows and light", "Page of Cups" a couple of times before criticizing it? Apparently the ones who criticized it have the right not to like it, but pleeeeaaaase, stop asking for the same atmosphere, the same lyrics, the same music : artists change. Michael Cretu is so gifted, nobody can have doubts about it. Now give it a try and then, give a significant opinion with, possibly, justifications : I would like to know the real motivations behind every criticism, the real reasons why some of you don't like the album, artistic reasons, not criticisms about the timing : 47 minutes ? So what !! Listen to Madonna's latest effort, this is not worth the money. But of course, some of you are probably going to but Britney's next record and will like it. God !
Anyway, thank you Michael for sharing your gift with us. This album is great. Follow your instinct and please, don't stop.
Music Review: Enigma est mort, vive Enigma?
Rating: 2 Stars
Michael Cretu amazed the world when his project Enigma married dance beats with the sounds of Gregorian chants in 1990. With Enigma's successful debut it was only inevitable that the concept would be imitated with varying degrees of success. Over the course of 4 albums Crety has mixed differnt elements into the Enigma concept and each has created its own special soundscape. On "Voyaguer"- the 5th studio album Cretu wwants us all to believe that this album marks an entirely new direction for the act. Whether he believes this statement or if this a nice way of saying "I'm out of ideas" is up to the listener. Personally, I say don't believe all the pretentious reviews praising the album. If this album had been released under any other artist name it wouldnt have recieved any recognition.
The album begins with the Enigma's trademark horn opening before being drown out with thumping dance beats. Lots of strange samples follow and and the next track begins. The album continues with a mixture of sounds. Some of the tracks are surprisingly good like the "the piano" while others border on cheese (Boum-boum). The album is overall a ho-hum mix of ambient music and generic eurodance that doesnt really take you on any kind of musical journey. I've listened to this album numerous times and still havent felt moved on any level. Definetly sample this cd before you commit to buy.
Music Review: Follows in the tradition of Enigma...
Rating: 5 Stars
I feel sorry for those who gave this album less than 3 stars in their reviews. They've lost sight of what the true purpose of Enigma is--Enigma was created to make us think and react. I admit, hearing this album the first time, I was a bit suspicious of what I heard; it didn't sound like Enigma too much, but I had to remember that Enigma never sounds the same twice, for their formula changes with each album.That said, I believe this CD is worthy of five stars. Cretu did a good job with this album, and his trend toward perfection shows up wonderfully well in all the tracks. The tracks are well-balanced, the music is melodic and the lyrics will make you think, same as any other Enigma album. Cretu seems to focus more on lyrics-driven work this time around, but that shouldn't be unusual considering the balance is about the same for his other albums and songs--Return to Innocence, Dream of the Dolphin, Screen Behind the Mirror, etc.
To the casual listener this album may seem a bit unusual--but if that's the case I suggest listening to the first four before taking this one on! To those who have listened to the first four, I strongly recommend this as an indication of the natural progression of Cretu and Enigma... I'm eagerly awaiting Enigma 6!
(By the way--Incognito (Track 3) is very interesting... listen to see if you can hear some old stuff being used in a new way)