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The Screen Behind the Mirror

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The Screen Behind the Mirror
Studio albumby
Enigma
Released14 January 2000
Recorded1999
StudioA.R.T.(Ibiza,Spain)
Genre
Length43:34
LabelVirgin
ProducerMichael Cretu
Enigmachronology
Trilogy
(1998) 		The Screen Behind the Mirror
(2000) 		Love Sensuality Devotion: The Greatest Hits
(2001)
SinglesfromThe Screen Behind the Mirror
  1. "Gravity of Love"
    Released: 15 November 1999
  2. "Push the Limits"
    Released: 17 April 2000

The Screen Behind the Mirroris the fourth studio album by the German musical projectEnigma,released on 14 January 2000 byVirgin Records.It was recorded at theA.R.T. StudiosinIbiza,Spain.

Composition

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"The Gate" begins the album with its trademark Enigma horn, fused together with Elisabeth Houghton narrating astronomical facts about the fourth planet from the sun,Mars,similar to the ending title track ofVangelis' album,Albedo 0.39."O Fortuna, velut Luna, statu variabilis" cuts into it rather abruptly and loudly, and ends quickly for the voice to continue the recital unfazed, as it continues deep into the next song, "Push the Limits"for 24 seconds.

"Push the Limits" introduces first a high-paced beat, first some snare drums and then several other layers of music gradually to form a complex and multilayered track. Elisabeth Houghton whispers the lyrics to the song and this brings in a presumably mellow voice (actually anelectric guitarsolo modified to sound so) throughout the slow centre of the track, and as the music picks up, Elisabeth whispers again and the soft moans of a girl enters. Further strong beats brings an end to this 6'26 "track as it fades to silence, leaving a blurry mumble at the end of the song, and the beginning of the next one.

Chants of "O Fortuna, velut Luna" appears at the start of the next song, "Gravity of Love"asRuth-Ann Boylesings with sounds of "O Fortuna"in between. A woman and a man whispers a line each before Ruth-Ann resumes and" O Fortuna "comes in, following the same pattern. The beats of this track becomes more and more audible as each of the instruments fade away, and eventually it stops.

"Smell of Desire" reintroduces the shakuhachi flute from theMCMXC a.D.asJens Gadplays theguitaroccasionally in the middle of the song. ReversedGregorian chantsfrom "Sadeness (Reprise)" and vocals from "Mea Culpa" lead to Sandra Cretu's whispers at song's end with more reversed chants and fades into the next track.

Andru Donaldssings on this high tempo and rock-ish song, "Modern Crusaders", with significantly large portions of "O Fortuna" in the middle as Jens Gad plays the guitar. Andru continues on with the vocals and the track ends with an organ sample fromBach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor".

In "Traces (Light and Weight)", the sounds of a match being struck and water droplets, symbolising the elements offireandwaterrespectively, form a loop together with a light beat, and the chiming ofchurch bellsentering occasionally. A vague crying sound and the chiming continues and after the beat stops, it fades into the following song.

"The Screen Behind the Mirror" reintroduces the beat used in "Sadeness (Part I)"as vocals from Andru Donalds andRuth-Ann Boylesing part of the lyrics from "Gravity of Love". An earlier version of this song, named "The Experience" only appears on the Australian promo version of the album.

The previous song crossfades into "Endless Quest", where further more snare drums and shakuhachi flutes can be heard, with two different guitar riffs from Jens Gad replacing the former two instruments. The paces turns uncontrollably high and somewhat erratic before it stops with sounds of heavy breathing andseguesinto "Camera Obscura", where it immediately starts with a sample of "Modern Crusaders" with Michael Cretu on vocals, being reversed and sections of "O Fortuna" being followed up quickly. The pace and music then turns erratic and chaotic, and fades gently into the next song.

"Between Mind & Heart" brings in a light and breezy pace andMichael Cretusings in this track.Sandra Cretuonly appears in this track for the whispers as sounds of gentle, ethereal Chineseyangqincan be heard. It fades with more whispers and vocals.

Ruth-Anne Boyle sings in the last track, "Silence Must Be Heard" as the album picks up its pace, with echoes in the middle. The effect repeats itself again for one more time as it quickly resumes back the original pace. Ruth-Ann's vocals turn into whispers and the earlier crying voice enters, before ending the album with the signature Enigma horn.

The song "Modern Crusaders" is used as the second ending theme song for theGolden Windarc of theJoJo's Bizarre Adventureanime series; the series had previously referenced Enigma as the namesake of an antagonist's anthropomorphic "Stand" ability in theDiamond Is Unbreakablearc.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Heather Phares ofAllMusicwrote, "Though it doesn't reveal significant growth or change in Enigma's work,The Screen Behind the Mirrorwill please fans of the group's other atmospheric works. "[1]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Gate"Michael CretuCretu2:03
2."Push the Limits"Cretu
6:27
3."Gravity of Love"CretuCretu4:01
4."Smell of Desire"
  • Cretu
  • David Fairstein
Cretu4:55
5."Modern Crusaders"CretuCretu3:51
6."Traces (Light and Weight)"
  • Cretu
  • Gad
4:13
7."The Screen Behind the Mirror"CretuCretu3:59
8."Endless Quest"Cretu3:07
9."Camera Obscura"CretuCretu1:39
10."Between Mind & Heart"CretuCretu3:59
11."Silence Must Be Heard"Cretu
  • Cretu
  • Gad
5:20
Total length:43:34

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes ofThe Screen Behind the Mirror.[2]

  • Elisabeth Houghton – voices
  • Sandra Cretu– voices
  • Ruth-Ann– lead vocals
  • Andru Donalds– lead vocals
  • Michael Cretu– lead vocals, engineering, production
  • Jens Gad– guitars, engineering
  • Johann Zambryski – art direction
  • Lmp – design
  • Steffen Jagenburg – some original photography

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Certifications and sales forThe Screen Behind the Mirror
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[33] Gold 50,000^
Denmark — 14,712[34]
Germany (BVMI)[35] Gold 150,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[36] Gold 40,000^
Norway (IFPINorway)[37] Gold 25,000*
Sweden (GLF)[38] Gold 40,000^
Switzerland (IFPISwitzerland)[39] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Gold 100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[41] Gold 500,000^

*Sales figures based on certification alone.
^Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^abThe Screen Behind the MirroratAllMusic
  2. ^The Screen Behind the Mirror(liner notes).Enigma.Virgin Records.2000. CDVIR100.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^"Australiancharts – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. ^"Austriancharts.at – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror"(in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  5. ^"Ultratop.be – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror"(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  6. ^"Ultratop.be – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror"(in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  7. ^"Enigma Chart History (BillboardCanadian Albums) ".Billboard.Archived fromthe originalon 29 January 2020.Retrieved2 April2022.
  8. ^"Top National Sellers"(PDF).Music & Media.Vol. 17, no. 9. 26 February 2000. p. 21.OCLC29800226– via World Radio History.
  9. ^ab"Top National Sellers"(PDF).Music & Media.Vol. 17, no. 7. 12 February 2000. p. 13.OCLC29800226– via World Radio History.
  10. ^"Dutchcharts.nl – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror"(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  11. ^"European Top 100 Albums"(PDF).Music & Media.Vol. 17, no. 7. 12 February 2000. p. 12.OCLC29800226– via World Radio History.
  12. ^"Enigma: The Screen Behind the Mirror "(in Finnish).Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  13. ^"Lescharts – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  14. ^"Offiziellecharts.de – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror"(in German).GfK Entertainment Charts.Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  15. ^"Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2000. 10. hét"(in Hungarian).MAHASZ.Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  16. ^"GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 3, 2000".Chart-Track.IRMA.Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  17. ^"Italiancharts – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  18. ^"Charts.nz – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  19. ^"Norwegiancharts – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  20. ^"Top National Sellers"(PDF).Music & Media.Vol. 17, no. 14. 1 April 2000. p. 13.OCLC29800226– via World Radio History.
  21. ^"Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  22. ^Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005).Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002(in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid:Fundación Autor/SGAE.ISBN84-8048-639-2.
  23. ^"Swedishcharts – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  24. ^"Swisscharts – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  25. ^"Official Albums Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  26. ^"Enigma Chart History (Billboard200) ".Billboard.Archived fromthe originalon 29 January 2020.Retrieved20 February2017.
  27. ^"Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000".Jam!.8 January 2001. Archived fromthe originalon 6 September 2004.Retrieved29 March2022.
  28. ^"Jaaroverzichten – Album 2000"(in Dutch).Dutch Charts.Retrieved2 October2020.
  29. ^"Year in Focus – European Top 100 Albums 2000"(PDF).Music & Media.Vol. 17, no. 52. 23 December 2000. p. 9.OCLC29800226– via World Radio History.
  30. ^"Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2000"(in German).GfK Entertainment.Retrieved2 October2020.
  31. ^"Årslista Album (inkl samlingar), 2000"(in Swedish).Sverigetopplistan.RetrievedJuly 15,2022.
  32. ^"Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2000".hitparade.ch(in German).Retrieved2 April2022.
  33. ^"Canadian album certifications – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".Music Canada.
  34. ^"Hitlist 2000".Hitlisten.IFPI Denmark.Archived fromthe originalon 20 December 2002.Retrieved2 January2021.
  35. ^"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Enigma;'The Screen Behind the Mirror') "(in German).Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  36. ^"Dutch album certifications – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror"(in Dutch).Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.EnterThe Screen Behind the Mirrorin the "Artiest of titel" box.
  37. ^"IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011"(in Norwegian).IFPINorway.Retrieved2 April2022.
  38. ^"Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2000"(PDF)(in Swedish).IFPI Sweden.3 July 2000. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2011-05-17.
  39. ^"The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Screen Behind the Mirror') ".IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  40. ^"British album certifications – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".British Phonographic Industry.30 March 2018.Retrieved2 April2022.
  41. ^"American album certifications – Enigma – The Screen Behind the Mirror".Recording Industry Association of America.18 May 2001.
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