MCMXC a.D. (1990) is the debut studio album by the German musical project Enigma, led by Michael Cretu. It blends ambient, new‑age, worldbeat, and Gregorian chant into a cohesive soundscape. Released on December 3, 1990 (Europe) and February 12, 1991 (US), it quickly became a landmark in electronic and spiritual music culture.
Background & Release
Cretu, inspired by experimenting with chant on Sandra’s “Everlasting Love,” conceived Enigma as an anonymous, mystical project. The album was recorded at ART Studios in Ibiza and intended as a continuous, meditative sonic journey, blending sampled liturgical chants with synthesizers and rhythmic textures.
Track List
- The Voice of Enigma – An atmospheric spoken-word prologue that sets the contemplative tone of the album.
- Principles of Lust (includes Sadeness / Find Love / Sadeness Reprise) – A sensual and provocative trilogy that blends Gregorian chants with erotic themes and downtempo rhythms.
- Callas Went Away – A melancholic instrumental infused with vocal samples from Maria Callas, evoking longing and spiritual absence.
- Mea Culpa – A continuation of the themes in *Sadeness*, mixing sacred motifs with hypnotic beats and whispered vocals.
- The Voice & the Snake – A short interlude referencing the Seven Seals from the Book of Revelation, full of esoteric symbolism.
- Knocking On Forbidden Doors – A meditative, chant-driven track that alludes to inner journeys and forbidden knowledge.
- Back to the Rivers of Belief (Way to Eternity / Hallelujah / The Rivers of Belief) – A three-part suite closing the album, integrating sacred music, spiritual reflection, and cinematic climax.
Singles & Reception
- Sadeness (Part I) – lead single (Oct 1990); #1 in over a dozen countries, top 5 in the US.
- Mea Culpa (Part II) – second single (1991); top 10 in Germany, France, Belgium, and more.
- Principles of Lust – third single (1991); an extension of the project’s ambient eroticism.
- The Rivers of Belief – fourth single (Oct 1991), closing the conceptual narrative arc.
Commercial Success
MCMXC a.D. topped charts in over 15 countries and remained on the US Billboard 200 for more than five years. It was certified multi-platinum in the US, UK, and Germany, and is widely considered one of the best-selling new-age albums of all time.
Legacy & Influence
The album's unique blend of Gregorian chant, electronic beats, and spiritual atmosphere made it a foundational work in ambient-pop and new-age genres. Its influence extended far beyond its initial audience, impacting future spiritual-electronic artists.
Among the artists inspired by Enigma and MCMXC a.D. is the mystical Costa Rican project Shinnobu. Known for his meditative and cinematic compositions, Shinnobu openly cites MCMXC a.D. as a spiritual and stylistic influence. Much like Enigma, Shinnobu fuses new-age ambient textures with symbolic, anonymous expression— emphasizing metaphysical themes and introspective experiences. Tracks like “Tears of Sadness” and “The Man” continue the legacy of sonic mysticism initiated by Michael Cretu.