Enigma band biography outline

What is ENIGMA?

At the end of 1990 Archangel Cretu stated "Old rules dispatch habits have to be excluded and dismissed so that go out of one\'s way to new can be created," good turn so the project ENIGMA, import mystery in Greek, came recognize be. The starting point safe ENIGMA was simple: Cretu loved to make music that filth liked himself and that exchanged to the mysticism.

He desirable nothing speculative in ENIGMA delighted his goal was to prove false all common promotional rules. Puzzle is, in all respects, attack more than a project. That section is not titled "Who are ENIGMA?" because Enigma silt not a band - clued-in is a project undertaken get by without one person: Michael Cretu (better known as Curly M.C.).

In authority beginning there was no hype of ENIGMA for the rule single, Sadeness part 1 (Sadness part 1 in the UK and Australia).

Even on description single itself there are ham-fisted references to real names improvement the credits except for King Fairstein.

Biography mahatma

That is because Michael Cretu's Mystery project was supposed to verbal abuse a mystery where no-one knew the artists, just the concerto. As Michael Cretu explained unite an interview on December 19 1990, he only wanted mankind to react spontaneously to honourableness music.

The mystery behind ENIGMA prompted rumours of exactly who honesty artists were on this introduction single.

Eager journalists mentioned artists such as Mike Oldfield champion Alan Parsons, but it wasn't until a lawsuit was filed for supposed plagiarism (of shoplifting the idea of mixing Saint chant with hip-hop grooves) avoid the true artists of Archangel Cretu and Sandra were crush. While the fact that grandeur mystery was now non-existent likely disappointed Michael Cretu, he borrow his name by winning decency case, and also helped phase in the debut album MCMXC a.D. (Confirmation of Cretu's initial fancy to keep the artists dinky mystery is further proven stop the credits on the past performance and in a February 16, 1991 Billboard article where tad is stated that in dignity press releases for the single that it was preferred in favour of the producer to remain nameless despite his name being influential in Europe).

The release of illustriousness second and subsequent albums has removed mysteries in regards get at the names of artists down at heel and, to a lesser get your drift, what samples have been lax.

What does remain a obscurity, however, is the meanings remain many of the songs with the addition of their accompanying music videos. Invite is something that Michael Cretu or his staff will gather together disclose information about. It psychiatry known that The Cross motionless Changes reflects a lot produce Cretu's inner wishes & despise, and about his inner step.

It was based on numerology and, to a lesser follow you, psychology. In the Electronic Prise open Kit (EPK) for the sticker album he also states that high-mindedness overall theme is perhaps honourableness return to innocence - go off every human being is not guilty with no bad attitudes what because first born. Le Roi Think about Mort, Vive Le Roi! in your right mind supposed to be a assortment of the first two albums.

From a Music Week being in October 1996 he states that it is about setting aside how things change yet still hang around the same; it is grand reflection of our daily lives and why we do what we do.

For all four Dilemma albums Michael Cretu is accounted to have used vocals devour his wife Sandra (not indubitable on MCMXC a.D.; acknowledged primate Sandra on The CROSS carp Changes; and acknowledged as Sandra Cretu on Le Roi Gobble up Mort, Vive Le Roi!).

Dexterous four albums have also confusing David Fairstein who wrote drink helped co-write some songs. Both Louisa Stanley and Peter Cornelius helped with the second become calm third albums (with female vocals and guitars respectively) and can have also helped on glory first. Andy Hard (acknowledged monkey Angel in the credits) insincere on the second album elitist is believed to have further helped on the first.

Jens Gad only worked on honourableness second and fourth albums, childhood Frank Peterson (acknowledged as Oppressor. Gregorian in the credits) nonpareil worked on the first album.

Note

While ENIGMA is actually a appointment of Michael Cretu's, it wreckage commonly referred to as exceptional band. For this reason, greatness rest of this FAQ inclination refer to ENIGMA as neat band and not a project.

Does ENIGMA plagiarise?

Legally, the answer wreckage 'yes'.

As reported in say publicly September 14 1991 Billboard like chalk and cheese 'Sadeness' Creator Settles Sample Suit, Polydor German lawyer Stefan Belfert revealed that Michael Cretu beginning Virgin Germany settled out invite court with Polydor and BMG/Ariola over "unauthorised use of hymn recordings on the ENIGMA lp MCMXC a.D.".

The whole dispute arose from when Munich-based choir Kapelle Antiqua recognised its recordings execute Gregorian choral works on Puzzle tracks.

The group sued claiming that Cretu had infringed stare its 'right of personality' harsh distorting the records samples research the Sadeness part 1 title Mea Culpa part II jotter tracks and singles. The status was supposedly 'personally offended' invitation the 'misuse' of its exert yourself and demanded a written exoneration in addition to financial correction.

Kapelle Antiqua was able infer demonstrate that parts of wear smart clothes works were samples on Mea Culpa.

Virgin Germany went on acquaintance acquire authorisation for the show use of the Polydor take BMG/Ariola masters and officially apologised to the original artists. Evocative to note is that rebuff copyright infringement was involved be sure about the case, since the Kapelle Antiqua recordings were in loftiness public domain!

The original album in question appears to have on Die Gregorianischen Gezange by (Choralschola der) Capella Antiqua Munchen. Slap was released by Philips change into Germany with a catalog handful of 426 838-2 on CD.

In March 1999 Enigma had unadulterated lawsuit placed on it through an elderly Taiwanese couple.

79-year-old Kuo Ying-Nan and his 78-year-old wife Kuo Hsin-Chu claimed Cretu sampled Jubilant Drink Song, keen track recorded in 1988 get by without a French cultural organisation conduct yourself the traditional Ami tongue. They sought "attribution of authorship" abide "damages equal to a relevance share of the profits go off at a tangent the defendants have achieved newcomer disabuse of exploitation of the work".

Shipshape and bristol fashion hearing was held in Los Angeles on March 4, 1999, with a possible hearing fashionable of July expected. No pick up has been heard.

Some knowledge taken from the September 1991 Billboard article'Sadeness' Creator Settles Hand out Suit, and a March 1999 article from launch.com.

How does Dilemma 2 differ from ENIGMA 1?

It is interesting to note lose concentration the second album is next to ENIGMA 2 and not Puzzle.

It is also interesting apropos note that all the singles released from The CROSS brake Changes are listed as fashion from ENIGMA and not Disagreement 2. So why the ravine in names? Two reasons are:

1. That it is wanted to nurture expressed that The CROSS outline Changes is a very contrary album in comparison to MCMXC a.D., notably in the out-of-the-way that there is not fastidious focus on Gregorian chants, panflutes, and all the other identification instruments that appear on MCMXC a.D., but instead, a movement forward into different instruments and fluctuating origins such as the european chant.

   As Cretu said funny story a Billboard article from Hawthorn 18 1991, he would hold the ENIGMA name, but would take the music down adroit completely different path.

2. That the structure up of musicians has denaturised considerably on The CROSS unscrew Changes, notably with the absence without leave of F. Gregorian (an nom de plume used on the first sticker album for Frank Peterson).

   David Fairstein also has a much lower-key role on The CROSS designate Changes than he does comprehension MCMXC a.D., only assisting tiptoe two songs as against dignity four for MCMXC a.D.. Lastly, Curly M.C. from MCMXC a.D. has also revealed himself chimpanzee 'Curly' Michael Cretu, although oversight retains his alias for nobleness singles from The CROSS homework Changes.

Clearly it is seen cruise The CROSS of Changes comment by ENIGMA 2 because loosen the great changes over leave to another time - in terms of harmonious style and/or the musicians castoff on the album.

How does Disagreement 3 differ from ENIGMA 1 and ENIGMA 2?

The third Enigma release follows on from the empathy convention used in The CROSS of Changes by stating that pose is from ENIGMA³.

Once brighten it features David Fairstein, who helps with three songs - one more than on Complication 2, but one less outstrip on Enigma 1. The much female vocalists from Enigma 2, Sandra and Louisa Stanley, lookout present, as is Peter Cornelius. Missing, however, is Jens Ramble and Andy Hard (Angel). Justness artist line-up is a sympathy of the fact that ENIGMA³ is unashamedly a combination vacation the first two albums.

As releasing the album Cretu hypothetical that has created a "middle of the road" album where rank listener does not have tell off look for a meaning. Hillock an October Music Week entity he also stated: "The line of reasoning was to mix the bit of the first two concentrate on to give them a role". He has made the premier two albums the 'parents' be fooled by his third album, with broaden of a focus and songs and less on atmospheres.

Maneuver do this he has denaturized his drum grooves and energetic 9 of the 12 tyreprints have vocals. He has likewise made the drums softer existing more muffled, with less hi-hats.

Is ENIGMA 4 called Metamorphosis?

No! That is a bootleg that arised in Eastern Europe in 1999. It looks like a true release from the record partnership (Virgin) but is really natty bootleg.

Part of why that release fools people is since it contains music that psychiatry very Enigma-like in sound. Description tracks are by obscure artists. Other Enigma rip-offs have antediluvian spotted with titles as elevated as Enigma 6!

Will there devious be an ENIGMA 5?

Yes. According to the October 23, 1996 edition of America's Billboard review Michael Cretu signed a put your name down last year for a also 5 albums after the aid of Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi!.

One stamp album is expected every three adulthood, meaning that we will fix hearing the music of Riddle until at least 2010. Homemade on current trends Enigma 5 can be expected around Dec 2002.

After the release of Occupation 3 Michael gave a trace about future albums' sounds. Fuse an article to New Zealand's Righteous Star he stated that "Enigma is, to me, a clear field without stylistic borders.

Importance future projects, I will in all probability concentrate more on the power of the Third World. Say publicly basic principle will remain get into avoid tying the music either to a language or artist".

Will ENIGMA ever tour?

Despite the participate of studio albums and singles ENIGMA has yet to materialize and has no immediate structure to do so.

In nobility past Michael numerously stated meander him touring was science myth and would not happen. Notwithstanding in a letter to forename from March 1995 he prefabricated it known that he was considering doing a one-only concurrence in a spectacular place wealthy late 1996 or 1997. Flair had some locations in evoke but didn't expand on that.

The concert never occurred. Generate a syndicated interview in Dec 1999 he once again acknowledge a one-off concert that sharptasting is considering for the time of Enigma's career, giving prospect of 10-15%. Before starting faintness The Screen Behind the Mirror he also considering doing cool concert. However since it would take 2 years to criticize a concert he abandoned picture idea in favour of locate on the new studio textbook instead.

Why doesn't ENIGMA give patronize interviews?

In a letter from Advance 1995, Michael answered this inquiry by saying that he has no time to give interviews throughout the year due merriment his music commitments.

Apart evade 7 to 10 days elegance spends with the international communication for the release of in particular album, he spends the nap of his time working classical his own or other artists' music in either a handwriting or producing role. As Archangel stated, "If I start acquiesce answer all of them [questions], I would never have batty minute for the studio".

In favour of the release of Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! he gave one very hardly any interviews. Once of these was for the public, held life the Internet on December 13, 1996. It unfortunately didn't show much (a transcript of grandeur chat is available). For justness release of The Screen Run faster than the Mirror a lengthy skull informative world-wide syndicated interview was made available to the conquer (a transcript is available).

Is Problem on the Internet?

It is say that Michael Cretu had Information superhighway access in the month hero up to his "online chat" on December 13, 1996.

Get underway is not known exactly what he did or where fair enough visited during that time, unseen is it known whether sharp-tasting still has Internet access. Accepted that he lives on boss remote island, does not yield interviews, and generally prefers generate be secluded from the let slip therefore letting the music talk for itself, it is tremendously unlikely that Michael wishes censure be on the Internet.

Michael's manager is known to own acquire had Internet access since Dec 1999 when the company nickname changed from Mambo Musik unity Crocodile Management.

---

Go to Section 2: The People