"MCMXC a.D." is the debut studio album by the music project Enigma, led by Romanian-German musician and producer Michael Cretu. The album was released on December 03, 1990, under the label Virgin Records, and it became one of the most influential albums of early 1990s ambient and new-age music.
"MCMXC a.D." combines elements of various styles, such as progressive rock, new age, ambient, worldbeat, and electronic music. The content of the album is known for its groundbreaking fusion of Gregorian chants and atmospheric musical elements, mixed with dance beats and samples.
The album’s opening track, "The Voice of Enigma," sets the stage with its calming waves and soft-spoken introductions. One of the album's best-known songs, "Sadeness (Part I)," has Latin and French chants that revolve around Marquis de Sade, and it was a massive commercial success worldwide. Other tracks such as "Mea Culpa" and "Principles of Lust" also gained significant popularity, contributing to the album’s global impact.
"MCMXC a.D." was a commercial success across the world, topping charts in several countries and ultimately earning multiple platinum certifications. It's one of the few albums to have been in the United States Billboard 200 charts for over five continuous years. It was been sold above 12 million copies worldwide, reflecting its massive success and influence in the early '90s music era.
The album's distinct sound has had a lasting significance and marked a change in the landscape of popular music, merging dancefloor rhythms with soothing, ethereal pads, and giving mainstream exposure to new age and ambient motifs. Furthermore, with Cretu manufacturing the music in a home studio, it led the way in home recording, influencing thousands of musicians worldwide.
