Customer Reviews

Legionnaire

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Legionare had been unavailable for a long long time. I had the good luck to find a vinyl copy of it in English, which really drew my attention to the whole. Nevertheless, the original version of this album is the german one and, despite the fact that the English lyrics were good the ultimate result sounded a little pretentious.
The German version, however, is what blew my mind away. I had no idea what the german lyrics were about, but they just sounded so 'right' and much superior to the English ones since they provided the songs with a sense of mystery and enigma. Moreover, the sound of this 2002 cd version is far superior than any other release of this album.
The music might not be Enigma (who would ever expect to find Enigma in a 1983 Cretu release?) but there is that distinct Cretu feeling in it. There is also Jean Michel Jarr-esque instrumental number, Goldene Jahre, which was a big dancefloor and radio hit in Europe, back in '83.
However, the highlight of this album is 'Der Planet Der Verlorenen Zeit'. Words are not enough to describe how beautiful and majestic this song is. The best part of this song is Cretu's indescribable vocal performance which might well up tears in your eyes..
All in all, if you enjoyed Cretu's The Invisible, or if you like Jean michel Jarre and early 80's tech-rock than you'll certainly enjoy this one.

Im very dissappointed about some reviews. We cannot compare (we shouldn't)this CD with Enigma. This album has nothing to do with Enigma. Enigma is diffrent project. This one is Michael Cretus's solo work. Legionaere has some touch of Enigma. You can see some signs of a pessage to Enigma project specially on track 1 , 4, 8...etc. Even this belongs to 80's style pop/rock Cretu has used layered technology and Vacodar well even in that time. People who want to hear enigma style music please dont buy this one & dont put worthless reviews.

When you see the most recent installment of the Enigma project, 'Voyageur,' you can understand how the sound relates to albums like this one, which are the very roots of Michael Crétu's music career. Though highly criticized, it is not without a sense of irony that Michael Crétu is able to retain his former sense of style, despite his transition into New Age, with the Enigma project.

'Legionaere,' as well as 'The Invisible Man,' follow an 80's Rock-style. While this may not be very interesting to hear in the year 2005, there is a nostalgic element to Michael Crétu's older works, which are interesting for a long-time Enigma fan, such as myself. Still, it is interesting to hear the roots of such a popular artist as Michael Crétu, who really only gained his popularity through the production of the Enigma project. (The prime of his career, I suppose.)

Legionaere is a very good cd considering how long ago it came out and that it is all in German.
Anyone fimiliar with Enigma, should not buy this with hopes that this is another Enigma cd. It is nowhere near Enigma.
It is your typical 80 rock cd, but in German.
Songs such as Spiel auf Zeit, Total Normal, and Der Planet Der Verlorenen Zeit are excellent.
The only drawback is that you can't really sing along to it...

Legionare starts off with the title track sounding very much like an electronic pre-Fifth Element instrumental. The second track Total Normal is strongly reminiscent of a track off of Prince's 1999 album that could have been lifted off .Track number 6 called Zeitlose Reise has a catchy yet haunting lullabye-like melody. This track would later be re-used as Sisters and Brothers for his wife Sandra's 1985 pop debut European smash Long Play. Cretu's vocals, well, have that Alan Parsons Project characteristic on a more limited vocal basis. The entire album is a heavy laden German synthesized opus from the hey day of the New Wave emergence during the 80's. It is part Gary Numan, part Human League, part Kraftwerk and all electronically cold sounding without a shred of warmth...Can you say uber-synth ?
So you ask what's the big deal ? Well, for starters this is Michael Cretu of Enigma fame who would later produce some of Germany's and Europe's most highly sought after albums from his beautiful pop star wife Sandra and other European pop-dance musical artists. It was not until he produced for Sandra that his trademark Cretu synthesized sound would hit a more Euro-disco pop vein with the club going masses then years later evolve into the new age atmospheric sounds for Enigma !

Legionare plays like a synthesized soundtrack for pop-noir films of the early 80's like Subway or Highlander.This is not a bad thing; it's just an outdated thing. Legionare is only for die-hard Michael Cretu/Enigma European music collectors. Otherwise, this cd may disappoint fans who are not familiar with Cretu's early work but are still curious !...

Slowly we creep towards that wonderful sound we all love. And ever so slowly we get there. Not quite the Enigma sound, but getting there. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ambience that is Michael Cretu.

I was wondering where was his late 70s hit" Love Me" i cant find it i want to download it thanks much!

This is Michel Cretu's first solo project, pre-Enigma where all the lyrics are in German and it is sung in German which is a bit of a drawback for me as I don't understand German. However the sound and style of the music is beautiful. This album was originally released in 1983 and this style of music back in that time fit well in the Euro-pop/rock scene.
The song's 'Total Normal' & 'Data-Alpha4' are the highlights of this interesting Cretu produced album.

all I can say is YUK!

sounds like tracks from a low budget 80's movie