mcmxc a.D.

Enigma’s MCMXC a.D. is the album that launched a sonic movement. Released in 1990 by Virgin Records, it fused Gregorian chant, ambient electronica, and sensual mysticism into a genre-defying experience. This vinyl edition, especially in its remastered 180g format, is a tactile and auditory ritual—ideal for immersive listening.

The album title MCMXC a.D. translates to “1990 Anno Domini”, or “1990 A.D.” It’s a deliberate choice by Michael Cretu to evoke a sense of timelessness, ritual, and spiritual gravity—as if the album were a sacred manuscript rather than a debut electronic release.

🕯️ MCMXC a.D. – Enigma

Label: Virgin Records / UMC
Format: LP Vinyl (180g Remastered)
Release Date: December 1990 · Remastered editions from 2018 onward
Mastermind: Michael Cretu (aka Curly M.C.)
Packaging: Glossy sleeve with black inner sleeve featuring quotes from Freud, Blake, and Father X

Some albums entertain. This one initiates. MCMXC a.D. is structured like a spiritual journey—layered with whispered vocals, ethnic textures, and meditative beats. It’s both sacred and sensual, cerebral and cinematic.

🎶 Tracklist

Side A

01 The Voice Of Enigma
02 Principles Of Lust
a. Sadeness
b. Find Love
c. Sadeness (Reprise)
03 Callas Went Away

Side B

04 Mea Culpa
05 The Voice & The Snake
06 Knocking On Forbidden Doors
07 Back To The Rivers Of Belief
a. Way To Eternity
b. Hallelujah
c. The Rivers Of Belief

Studio monitors will reveal microdynamics of chant layering, ambient transitions, and the emotional fingerprint of Cretu’s production. The remastering enhances spatial depth, making it ideal for vinyl playback.

Visually, the cover is iconic: a red-robed figure bathed in light, standing on a hill beneath a radiant cross. It’s not just mystical—it’s editorial metaphor. Enlightenment as threshold. Sound as sacrament.