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Rating:
Mirror, indulge, enjoy. A vanity exercise not to be taken lightly. Michael Cretu, the mind, limbs, and timeless fluid of the Enigma project is a 5-star master in this sense.
For example: the Pandora's box was opened with the debut album, the multi-gold "MCMXC" (1990). From then on, Cretu revived the project from work to work, echoing the past: not self-plagiarizing, mind you. Rather, as mentioned above, indulging himself. The tribal rhythms might change, perhaps the singers' intonation: not the ambient context. That is to say, whispers, flatteries, breaths, Gregorian chants even in reversal mode, with relentless rhythms interspersed with litanies.
Life, death, and miracles of the Enigma project.
It has always shone with its own light and continues to do so even in this fourth episode, "The Screen Behind The Mirror" (2000). The Allmusic reviewer got it right at the time. He said: “Oh dear, there is no growth, no. But the work is pleasant, solid, and will not disappoint the fans.” True.
‘Enigma 4’ relies on certainties acquired in the previous three experiences. Trusted vocalists, including the ex-wife Sandra (at the time not yet an ex editor's note), Ruth-Anne Boyle, and loyal Andru Donalds; Jen Gads occasionally on electric guitar.
Acting as breakwaters, trying to color and elevate the level of performance, the "Carmina Burana" which, like it or not, drags on for almost the entire duration of the record.
Compared to its predecessor, “Le Roi Est Mort…….Vive Le Roi!” (1996), this work starts with a more upbeat rhythm. Once the listener is secured with the customary intro represented by the Enigma Horns, “Push The Limits” sets the familiar rhythm which, at the same time, makes you tap your foot while leading you into introspection. The first single released, the slow “Gravity Of Love,” bridges with one of the highest points of the album, “Smell Of Desire,” which reprises part of the spoken word from “Mea Culpa” and a reverse-Gregorian of “Sadness (reprise).” The perfect summary, in short, of what was explained in the introduction: looking forward without disentangling from the past.
Not convincing is the emphasis put on “Modern Crusaders” (back with the Carmina Burana, for those who missed it), while the triptych “Traces” (a melancholic slow track of tribal origin) – the title track (also known as "The Experience") – “Endless Quest” is an excellent omen.
“Camera Obscura” enjoys reversing “Modern Crusaders” without, needless to say, failing to reprise guess what? Exactly. Poor Carl Orff must be either turning over in his grave or feeling flattered.
The closure is varied, with the meditative “Between Mind & Heart” and the driving “Silence Must Be Heard.”
In short: nothing new on the horizon. Although, it must be said, the finished product is reassuring, of quality, excellently arranged and equipped. The last effort made in the "ART Studio" of Ibiza, which will later be replaced by “Alchemist” and “Merlin.” Because, let it be known, Cretu is restless when it comes to experimentation and, once a studio is consumed, he demolishes it (I swear) and creates a more cutting-edge one. So it goes. “Screen” is an album of absolute transition, with “Voyager” (2003) partial innovations will come, rejected by the fans, but the project will be lost in too many veils and small veils whereas, this fourth episode, paves the way for Enigma keeping them on course, heads held high, chest puffed, and mind in perpetual introspection.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Modern Crusaders (03:50)
Modern Crusaders
Don't look back, the time has come
all the pain turns into love
we're not submissive, we're not aggressive
but they think we can't defend
STAND UP, JOIN US, MODERN CRUSADERS ALIVE
we have the power to face the future
Cause we are the fighters
just fighting for our rights.
They're accusing, like always without knowing
what is just fiction or what is the truth.
They have no mission, they have no passion
but they dare to tell us what's bad and what's good!
STAND UP, JOIN US, MODERN CRUSADERS ALIVE
we are the power to face the future
Cause we are the fighters, just fighting for our rights
STAND UP, JOIN US, MODERN CRUSADERS ALIVE
02 Return to Innocence (04:15)
Love - Devotion
Feeling - Emotion
Don't be afraid to be weak,
Don't be too proud to be strong.
Just look into your heart my friend,
That will be the return to yourself.
The return to innocence.
If you want, then start to laugh,
If you must, then start to cry.
Be yourself don't hide,
Just believe in destiny.
Don't care, what people say,
Just follow your own way.
Don't give up, and use the chance.
To return to innocence.
That's not the beginning of the end,
That's a return to yourself.
The return to innocence.
03 The Eyes of Truth (07:14)
The Eyes of Truth
Are always watching you.
Алсын газрын зэрэглээн
Адуу шиг мал шиг торолзоноо хуоо
{Alsyn gazryn zeregleen
Aduu shig mal shig torolzonoo khuoo}
Je me regarde
Je me sens
Je vois des enfants
Je suis enfant!
05 Silent Warrior (06:00)
Long ago, for many years,
White men came in the name of god.
They took their land, they took their lives.
A new age has just begun.
They lost thier gods, they lost their smile,
They cried for help for the last time.
Liberty was turning into chains.
But all the white men said:
That's the cross of changes.
In the name of god - The fight for gold,
These where the changes.
Tell me - is it right - In the name of god,
These kind of changes?
They tried to fight for liberty,
Without a chance in hell, they gave up.
White men won in the name of god.
With the cross as alibi.
There's no god who ever tried,
To change the world in this way.
But for the ones who abuse his name,
There'll be no chance to escape.
On judgement day.
In the name of god - The fight for gold,
These where the changes.
Tell me - is it right - In the name of god,
These kind of changes?
Tell me why, tell me why, tell me why,
The white men said:
That´s the cross of changes?
Tell me why, tell me why, tell me why,
In the name of god,
These kind of changes.
06 Second Chapter (02:15)
We came out from the deep,
To help and understand, but not to kill.
It takes many lives, till we succeed,
To clear the debts,
Of many, many hundred years.
09 Camera Obscura (01:27)
(M.Cretu.)
In reverse mode
Cause we are the fighters
Just fighting for our rights
Stand up, join us, modern crusaders alive
We have the power...
We're not submissive, we're not aggressive
But they think...
Stand up, join us, modern crusaders alive
We have the power...
. Sors salutis
et virtutis
michi nunc contraria
Hac in hora
sine nora
cordum pulsum tangite;
quod per sortem
sternit fortem,
mecum omnes plangite!
(Translation:
Fate, in health
and virtue,
is against me
So at this hour
without delay
pluck the vibrating strings;
since Fate
strikes down the strong man,
everyone weep with me! )
11 The Screen Behind the Mirror (03:58)
Here's the mirror. (behind, there is a screen)
Turn around. (On both ways, you can get in)
The experience of survival.
Look around just people,
Can you hear their voice?
Find the one who'll guide you,
To the limits of your choice.
(The experience of survival)
Try to think about,
That's the chance to live your life,
And discover.
Try to think about,
The experience of survival.
(The experience)
The experience of survival.
(The experience)
12 Gravity of Love (03:58)
Turn around, and smell what you don't see.
Close your eyes, it's so clear.
Here's the mirror, behind there is a screen.
On both ways, you can get in.
Don't think twice before you listen to your heart,
Follow the trace, for a new start.
What you need, and everything you'll feel,
Is just a question of the deal.
In the eye of storm you'll see a lonely dove,
The experience of survival, is the key,
To the gravity of love.
The path, of excess, leads to the tower of Wisdom.
(The path, of excess, leads to the tower of Wisdom)
Try to think about it...
That's the chance to live your life and discover,
What it is, what's the gravity of love.
Look around just people, can you hear their voice?
Find the one who'll guide you, to the limits of your choice,
But if you're in the eye of storm,
Just think of the lonely dove,
The experience of survival, is the key,
To the gravity of love.
14 The Dream of the Dolphin (02:47)
In every colour, there's the light.
In every stone, sleeps a crystal.
Remember the shaman, when he used to say:
"Man is the dream, of the dolphin"
15 Push the Limits (06:26)
Inclination of equator to orbit:
24.936 degrees.
Gravitational escape velocity:
3.121 miles per hour.
Inclination from Orbit.
Basic instincts, social life.
Paradoxes side by side.
Don't submit to stupid rules.
Be yourself and not a fool.
Don't accept average habits.
Open your heart and push the limits.
16 Smell of Desire (04:57)
Je ne dors plus
Je suis folle, je m'abandonne
Je ne dors plus
Je suis a toi
Je ne dors plus
Je suis folle, je m'abandonne
Je ne dors plus
Je suis a toi
Je ne dors plus
Je suis folle, je m'abandonne
Je ne dors plus
Je suis a toi
The eternal flame will always burn
Feel - understand - and learn
17 Silence Must Be Heard (05:12)
Look into the others eyes, many frustrations
Read between the lines, no words just vibrations,
Don't ignore hidden desires
Pay attention, you're playing with fire
Silence must be heard, noise should be observed
The time has come to learn, that silence...
SILENCE MUST BE HEARD
or diamonds will burn, friendly cards will turn
cause silence has the right to be heard
People talk too much for what they have to say
Words without a meaning, they are fading away
Silence must be heard, noise should be observed
The time has come to learn, that silence...
SILENCE MUST BE HEARD
or diamonds will burn, friendly cards will turn
cause silence has the right to be heard
18 Out From the Deep (04:53)
We came out from the deep.
To learn to love, learn how to live.
We came out from the deep.
To avoid the mistakes we made.
That's why we are here!
That's why we are here!
That's why we are here!
We came out from the deep.
To help and understand, but not to kill.
It takes many lives till we succeed,
To clear the debts of, many hundred years.
That's why we are here!
That's why we are here!
That's why we are here!
That's why we are here!
That's why we are here!
That's why we are here!
19 The Cross of Changes (02:05)
If you understand, or if you don´t.
If you believe, or if you doubt.
There's a universal justice,
And the eyes of truth,
Are always watching you.
20 The Gate (02:04)
Closest approach to earth:
34,600,000 miles.
Mean distance from the sun:
141,600,000 miles.
Period of rotation around the sun:
1.88089 years.
Sideral rotation period:
24 hours, 37 minutes, 22.66 seconds.
Mean surface atmospheric temperature:
-23 degrees.
Visual albedo:
0.159.
Pole Star:
BD 52, Degrees 2880.
Visual magnitude at mean opposition:
-2.01.
Mass:
0.10174.
Density:
3.93.
Diameter:
0.532.
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