Seven Lives Many Faces

Enigma | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 30, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B001DUJNGS
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,958 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #28 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Spain

Track Listings

1. Encounters

2. Seven Lives

3. Touchness

4. The Same Parents

5. Fata Morgana

6. Hell's Heaven

7. La Puerta Del Cielo

8. Distorted Love

9. Je T'aime Till My Dying Day

10. Déjà vu

11. Between Generations

12. The Language of Sound

Editorial Reviews

Seven Lives Many Faces is Enigma's seventh album. This album expands the sound catalogue of previous releases and it is expected to lead to a new Omni-Cultural wave. The lead single "Seven Lives" is a powerful fusion of modern and classical elements. Enigma is an Electronic musical project founded by Michael Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. Cretu is both the composer and the producer; his former wife Sandra often provided vocals on Enigma tracks. Jens Gad co-produced and played guitar on three of the Enigma albums.17 tracks. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eclectic, June 8, 2009

By 

Oleg Kharitonov "Olego" (Bellevue, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seven Lives Many Faces (Audio CD)

If you're not well-acquainted with Enigma, then here's what you need to realize before purchasing this album. The main magic of Enigma, the essense of the project, are albums 1-4. They belong in their own category--they *form* their own category--but they represent a finished chapter in a book.

Albums 5, 6, and 7 are independent of them. Each of the albums explores a new, more-or-less impossible to describe, genre of music. In this particular album there's more hip-hop, more lyrics, and more of Cretu's scratchy voice; but those are just the general descriptions. Overall, it's good, addictive. I probably listened to the entire disk 10 times in the past week; every once in a while a random song from the album would pop into my head. I like some songs more than others, but all of them are good.

The only thing missing, though, is the emotional impact that I've come to love about the first 4 (and the 6th) albums. Unlike the earlier albums, this one did not become forever entwined with a set of memories that associated with the music; it did not summon the chills along my spine by piercing my soul. Hence, only four stars this round.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly different, yet a good listen., January 17, 2009

By 

Brian Martin (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Seven Lives Many Faces (Audio CD)

I'll be honest, when I first heard the single off this album, my first thought was WTF. It was a very stark contrast to the music I heard previoulsy from enigma. The guys voice was very jarring to me, and I didn't really like it.

I had bought it for a gift and ended up ripping it and gave it a few more listens. The single started to grow on me and the rest of the music was more in line to what enigma had done before. The single Seven Lives started to grow on me and I actually really like it now. It's defintely very different but has some connections to how he usually sounds.

I wouldn't have minded hearing a version with a girl singing. Not every song is a gem, but none of the songs are bad, and all offer something unique. I guess it's good he tried something different. It really was jarring at first to expect one thing and get another. The beatbox thing sounded cheesy at first, but it kinda grew on me and flowed with the song.

Overall, keep in mind that the main single is the most different thing on the album. The other songs are pretty in line with how Enigma usually sounds. With that being said I can see the mixed reviews, but if you really go in with an open mind, you'll be surprised.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A new feel for a new album, November 15, 2008

By 

J. A. Williams "James Williams" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Seven Lives Many Faces (MP3 Download)

Michael Cretu's seventh album is a smoother mix of sounds and less eclectic than previous albums. It retains a chilled euro-pop feel and I've had to listen to it several times to develop some favourite tunes because nothing struck me immediately.

There's the familiar musical and vocal introductory track and some songs have non-english-singing vocalists, like many previous Enigma albums. The Same Parents, La Puerta Del Cielo, and We Are Nature have an earthy, emotive and 'typical' Enigma feel to them.

Seven Lives Many Faces is more subdued, less punchy than Cretu's previous offerings, yet with repeated listening it'll grow on you. The additional tracks are well-worth downloading.