Customer Reviews

The Nine Worlds

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Achillea - Prelude

An opening like a usual Enigma album, swirling atmospheric sounds and some left to right floating tunes, just like a hallmark of the sound, different but resembles ''The Voice of Enigma'' in a way..


Ragnarok - Twilight of The Gods (05:57):


.....into harmonic haunting and classic vocals of Helene Horlyck...Setting a clear start to the whole masterpiece...''Sanctietuuuus, Santiemus'' Voices from nature, waves crashing on the shores, birds singing around while Helene singing the art of music...Then the drums are introduced with water droplets just like an Enigma track....Her vocals are dreamy, meditating, incredibly powerful...Main beats are completely new, never heard before...Saxophone like instrument is introduced with the beat, not forgetting the amazing Gad guitar solo....Water droplets, hi-hats, classic vocals after a transition the song turns into the beats of Principles of Lust-like...Layers are identical to Enigmatic pieces as we are used to hearing on each new release...


Odin's Hill (07:09):


...we are still in the jungle, but there is a deep bass sound travelling the notes with Helene's vocals again....Here kicks the main beats, just like the previous track, this is something really new, pure sophisticated pop music blended with Classic vocals and rock-ish guitar riffs of Jens....Then the Page of Cups like effects ''Sudden fade in's and out's'' we all have heard on Voyageur...This song is truly a masterpiece on the album..You can't help your imaginations here, just like running near a sunny shore...We also hear some classic guitars on this song too...Truly amazing...


The Monks of Lindsifarne (03:12):


...Gregorian chants are back and better than ever! We are in A.D 793, The attack of the Vikings represented the vengeance of Satan on the Christian outposts of Europe..Swirling sounds are back again with the great guitar solo of Jens....The beats reminded me a remix intro of Mea Culpa (actually, Fading Shades version of the song)... All are complete by 3:12....


Cape Porcupine (04:38):


...Another ambient track with Helene's fantastic vocals again...In fact is something I would like to call ''Progressive Chill Out'' or ''Chill Out Part 2''.
It is not pop, it is not classical either...Vividly reminiscent of Enigma quality...
His touches to guitar are simply stunning...


The Seeress Prophecy - Daydreaming (04:26):


...A Piano voice like the softness of a Harp into modern pop tunes powered with Classic guitar. And Jens introduces us an instrument , something like a journey from the human voice to electronic guitar, finally the first English whisperings can be heard on the track ''Keep on dreaming....Daydreaming.'' this is from a voice very similar to Elisabeth Houghton, but I believe this is Helene whispering in the track..While the piano fades out we are...


The Land of the Elves (02:24):

...back to the jungle, but i believe it's night now because we can clearly hear cicadas...Guitar solo by Jens again...This track is more like an interlude to the next track...Guess what we hear on the track...Sandra! Yes, surprisingly there are seducing Sandra breathing samples from left to right channel looping throughout the song, just dancing with the electronic guitar...Enclosed with the whisperings of Helene...Feels like listening to a Lord of The Rings score featuring Sandra samples...Sandra samples are similar to Enigma Tracks like ''Beyond The Invisible or Push The Limits Radio Edit addon Sandra breaths (I know you never noticed them before)


Shears From Scar (04:37):


...The song starts in the jungle again with an interesting instrument that reminded me the voices of Raptors on the Jurassic Park Movie...Helene is on the main vocals again...A Variety of Sadeness beats, but different enough...Helene sings from heaven to the audience, with the calm layers..This song would perfectly fit an Enigma album...In the end of the song beats are transformed to the radio effect into this Gregorian chants of...


The Nine Worlds (03:56):


...the next brilliant album title song ''The Nine Worlds''..Kinda ''Out from the Deep or '' like layers with the Push The Limits/ TNT For The Brain authentic looping instrument...Whisperings continue with the electronic guitar...There's a chant on the song just like the ones we hear on ''Push The Limits...Soft but still vivid to ears..


Staraja Lagoda (05:00):


...we hear some stick voices while morphing into Jens Gad's submarine...Continous breathing voices, just like diving in Staraja Lagoda...Our Viking ship arrived to Russia? (Staraja Lagoda was the important first Viking staging post on the trade route to Russia)...A true Ambient track, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that on a Cafe Del Mar release...


Othila - The Rune Masters (03:03):


...An opening like a documentary soundtrack...Just like visiting the ancient civilizations of history (this is being Vikings in our story) This is like telling an epic tale to us... Very soft and calm...This is the type of track very close to be considered as Classical music...Helene is like singing an opera...Her voice resembles Sarah Brightman on this track..The song fades out to...



Achillea - Exodus (01:19):

...close the first chapter of the Achillea journey....With the same identical whisperings and the prelude tunes...Just the typical formula of Cretu.

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Achillea is a great chill out / classical album with Enigma flavours... Dreamy, exciting, relaxing...Just like an Enigma release with a more Historical theme.
Cheers to Jens Gad...That was an incredible session...
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Spiritual, mysterious and emotionally evoking, The Nine Worlds is a must for anyone who has ever enjoyed an Enigma track.

It is very difficult to find the right words to impress how outstanding this album is. Each track grabs you and evokes an emotional deep connection and as with each track progression the album becomes increasing spellbinding and intoxicating.

Jens Gad (the co-producer and guitarist of Enigma) has really raised the bar and this album manages to capture the soul of the genre while progressing into new territory. Helene Horlyck's vocals are simply perfectly matched and simply magical.

The album should also appeal to those that have ever enjoyed an encapsulating melody or European flavor from an a really good Cirque du Soleil or Jean Michelle Jarre score - you will be blown away by this album.

And for anyone who is spiritual and ever worked with Runes, this album delivers another tonal layer of understanding and interpretation that could never be spoken but only ever captured by music.

I'm at a loss for words when describing this incredible mind journey but Enigma is back! I consider this album to be part of Enigma being Jen Gad worked with Cretu in previous Enigma albums. This album has elements that will remind you of Enigma it's a beautiful journey when heard. Truly Enigmatic! I can only hope his other work like Enigmatic Obsession will be released by Sequoia as well. Sequoia did a great job with this release as it's a beautiful CD. Jen Gad is a genius!

This album needs a few listens to allow its true beauty to unfold.
If you are after the lush percussive sensory smorgasboard of Enigma , you will be disappointed.

Put aside your preconceptions and open your mind to the pure spare instrumental arrangements accompanied beautifully by Helene Horlyks sublime ethereal vocals . Everything is pared back to a delightful minimalism that sometimes sounds so spacious that the songs seem otherworldly.

Definitely a match to the other great works of Delerium, Enigma , Amethystium etc

I am a big fan of early Enigma and having found a first solo release by co-producer of Enigma's Jens Gad, I decided to purchase this release from Amazon.com. Jens is a superb handler of the guitar and it was a pleasure to hear his contributions on Enigma especially on 'Cross Of Changes' and the song 'Turn Around'. But it is good and fitting to see his first solo album be released, and whilst there is alot of similarity with Enigma, he brings to his album a more reflective, softer ambient driven sound that is both spiritual and refreshing. It is a nice chill-out album.

'Achilles' provides sweet and sensual beats with gregorian chants, soft guitar rifts, and a ethno-flavoured landscape. It should be noted that both Jens and his singer Helene are danish and this album is fashioned after numerous Danish folklore. Therefore you expect Danish lyrics and you do get a mixture of Latin and Danish with some English mixed in. All in all the mix is beautifully orchestrated and well-done.

The 12 tracks on this albums offers the listener pure music bliss, and it will take you on a journey that is much needed and is soul nourishing. There is no need to go through each track. This album will mean different things to all people who listen to it. Open your mind, have a open opinion and enjoy. I have and still do.

My Oh My...This beautifully composed album, The Nine Worlds, invokes the mind to a deep imaginative melodius voyage to far out and distant lands!

As a huge Enigma fan, I have to say that this album by Achillea, Enigma's co-producer and guitarist Jens Gad, is excellent and captures the spirit of Enigma while taking the music in a highly distinct and uniquely different direction. The Nine Worlds is far more "loungy" and laidback than and transports the listener to a serenely magical place that lies somewhere between the Electronica and New Age realms. This is a fascinating hybrid that's the perfect mix for relaxing with your headphones on or putting on the stereo for the perfect compliment for an intimate gathering with friends that enhances the ambience. Jens Gads guitar work and orchestration are at their finest here and Helene Horlyck's striking vocals are nothing short of enchanting. If you want to experience the musical stylings of Enigma in a whole new light, then give The Nine Worlds a spin.

New age is my favorite type of music for daily listening, it's simply easy on the ear and on the soul and sometimes can be very exciting and inspiring, I find that it goes well with my mellow personality and it's an easy choice when I want something playing in the background. Since I've been an avid Enigma fan for half my life this is close to my heart, for anyone who enjoys artists such as Enigma, Amethystium, Mythos, Era and Delerium this will be a sweet new discovery. I enjoy this at work or when I read, it helps me escape into a different state of mind, and I love that I don't understand the words, Jens Gad relies on ancient Swedish and Latin to breathe a little mystery into his haunting melodies.

This album has a little bit of everything; chanting monks, electronica, ambient and primordial melodies of ancient Earth that sound like a backdrop for mythical stories about lands we know little about. I was surprised to see that one track is called Ragnarok since I was just reading about it and the future of our planet, how it will freeze again into a ball of ice in few million years, perhaps the music isn't as fantasy based as we think. Ragnarök is an important event in the Norse mythology and has even made it into Richard Wagner's music at one pint. The Danish world of myths and make believe flourishes in this album, mingling new and old sounds into something truly magnificent.

Most of the songs are soothing echoes of layers with electric guitar masterfully blending in, whispers of sound and color, perfect music for star gazing if you ask me. Music has been a part of my life every since I can remember and it still has a power of taking over and transporting my mind. The problem is that there's so much good stuff out there and not enough time to listen to. I'm always vigilant about discovering any new and similar sounds to what I all ready like and sharing it with everyone else.

- Kasia S.

There is a sense of pure enchantment when I listen to this album. The female vocals are seductive and haunting. I'm addicted! I would also have to recommend Amadas Estrellas. Both of these albums are necessary additions to any music library.

I was entranced by the debut release by artist Achillea. To my peasant surprise, I leanred that it is also a side project of Enigma's guitarist and in terms of side-projects, Achillea is almost as good as Enigma.

The debut album has a similar trademark to Enigma's album but the tracks stand out altogether with beauties like "Odin's Hill", "The Garden if Lisfaraine" and "Seeres Prophecy". Overall, "The Nine Worlds" is almost like a sequel to Enigma's third album from more than a decade ago.

This is highly recommended.