Start to move slowly, very slowly
September 30, 2016 5:35 PM Subscribe
Enigma - MCMXC a.D.. I don't know what the producers of this album were thinking, but obviously one should never put this album on during sex.
Bonus remixes: Sadeness Part I (Violent US Mix), Mea Culpa Part II (Fading Shades Mix)
Bonus remixes: Sadeness Part I (Violent US Mix), Mea Culpa Part II (Fading Shades Mix)
IIRC it was pretty fantastic when one was 14 and there was no sex.
posted by qbject at 5:45 PM on September 30, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by qbject at 5:45 PM on September 30, 2016 [15 favorites]
I can't say for sure whether I've done the thing you anti-recommend, but it wouldn't surprise me if I had.
Listening for the first time in a long time now and man, those synth trumpets in Principles of Lust.
posted by Gimpson at 5:46 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Listening for the first time in a long time now and man, those synth trumpets in Principles of Lust.
posted by Gimpson at 5:46 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
I don’t know what the producers of this album were thinking, but obviously one should never put this album on during sex.
I don’t understand this comment yet, but in 40 minutes maybe I will.
posted by Going To Maine at 5:46 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
I don’t understand this comment yet, but in 40 minutes maybe I will.
posted by Going To Maine at 5:46 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
I don't know what the producers of this album were thinking, but obviously one should never put this album on during sex.
Yeah, nobody would ever do that! Even if they were, uh, in college!
In my defense my neighbor boned his girlfriend while episodes of Star Trek TOS were playing, soooo....
posted by selfnoise at 5:46 PM on September 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
Yeah, nobody would ever do that! Even if they were, uh, in college!
In my defense my neighbor boned his girlfriend while episodes of Star Trek TOS were playing, soooo....
posted by selfnoise at 5:46 PM on September 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
Also just FYI, the slideshow that plays during the "violent remix" listed above is SUPER NSFW/L. Fascinating in a sort of boner trainwreck way, though.
posted by selfnoise at 5:47 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by selfnoise at 5:47 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
In my defense my neighbor boned his girlfriend while episodes of Star Trek TOS were playing, soooo....
I had a roommate who'd bone while watching basketball games on the TV. I'm not at all familiar with this album, but surely it can't be less sexy than that.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:51 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
I had a roommate who'd bone while watching basketball games on the TV. I'm not at all familiar with this album, but surely it can't be less sexy than that.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:51 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
I was in a dorm with music majors, theater people, and a few SCA folks. Boning was taking place with both Rachmaninov and Amiga MODs (not at the same time, AFAIK).
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:57 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:57 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
I went with the anti-recommendation because my initial impulse was to subtitle the post "the album made for fucking" and that seemed a bit too much to appear on the front page.
posted by hippybear at 5:58 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 5:58 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
So I'm vetting some stuff for a radio show I'm doing, and running the first track of Steve Buscemi and Elliott Sharp's "The Right Spells" over the "Violent Mix" video for Sadness above is kind of weirdly perfect.
posted by Shepherd at 5:59 PM on September 30, 2016
posted by Shepherd at 5:59 PM on September 30, 2016
To be fair, with kids of college age it's about impossible to stop them from boning.
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:04 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:04 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
I went with the anti-recommendation because my initial impulse was to subtitle the post "the album made for fucking" and that seemed a bit too much to appear on the front page.
“The album made for sexxing”
posted by Going To Maine at 6:04 PM on September 30, 2016
“The album made for sexxing”
posted by Going To Maine at 6:04 PM on September 30, 2016
The album made for determining the gender of various animals from cats to chickens?
posted by hippybear at 6:12 PM on September 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 6:12 PM on September 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
from cats to chickens
Those are indeed the poles of the genital spectrum, yes.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:22 PM on September 30, 2016 [14 favorites]
Those are indeed the poles of the genital spectrum, yes.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:22 PM on September 30, 2016 [14 favorites]
From the comments:
Brandon Boyer1 year ago
My parents used to F**k to this back in the early 90s. Lol...........
DroverChicago11 months ago
+Brandon Boyer Chances are this album was the soundtrack to the conception of roughly 25% of Millennials.
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 6:23 PM on September 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
Brandon Boyer1 year ago
My parents used to F**k to this back in the early 90s. Lol...........
DroverChicago11 months ago
+Brandon Boyer Chances are this album was the soundtrack to the conception of roughly 25% of Millennials.
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 6:23 PM on September 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
In a time where to be different was to be condemned...
posted by zippy at 6:29 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by zippy at 6:29 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Put this together with some Enya and you have my entire college experience.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 6:41 PM on September 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 6:41 PM on September 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
My age is given in my profile. The rest is left as an exercise for the reader.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:42 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:42 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
I was unaware of that movie trailer, but I literally LOLed. Thanks!
posted by hippybear at 6:42 PM on September 30, 2016
posted by hippybear at 6:42 PM on September 30, 2016
First CD I ever bought too! (Along with Days of Future Passed" by the Moody Blues) My bratty little sister heard it and ran to my parents screaming "Mooooom! Elly's listening to CULT MUSIC!" and they took it away from me. They gave it back when I pointed out the cross on the front and that they recited bible verses. YES.
posted by Elly Vortex at 6:49 PM on September 30, 2016 [17 favorites]
posted by Elly Vortex at 6:49 PM on September 30, 2016 [17 favorites]
Thank goodness she didn't hear you listening to Moody Blues!
posted by hippybear at 6:51 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 6:51 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Not having heard this album since the early 90's, I find that as I listen to it now I
can
not
stop
giggling
oh my god it just gets sillier and sillier
I'm like five minutes in and I'm just losing it
why did you do this
posted by phooky at 6:51 PM on September 30, 2016 [16 favorites]
can
not
stop
giggling
oh my god it just gets sillier and sillier
I'm like five minutes in and I'm just losing it
why did you do this
posted by phooky at 6:51 PM on September 30, 2016 [16 favorites]
*music stops*
*four beats of heavy breathing*
*music resumes with synthesized pan flute solo*
posted by phooky at 6:52 PM on September 30, 2016 [38 favorites]
*four beats of heavy breathing*
*music resumes with synthesized pan flute solo*
posted by phooky at 6:52 PM on September 30, 2016 [38 favorites]
why did you do this
Because there's one night left to Happy Fun September, and bom chicka wow wow.
posted by hippybear at 6:53 PM on September 30, 2016 [10 favorites]
Because there's one night left to Happy Fun September, and bom chicka wow wow.
posted by hippybear at 6:53 PM on September 30, 2016 [10 favorites]
phooky, dis moi, qu'est-ce tu cherchais.
I can't help but have *ahem* warm remembrances of this album.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 6:53 PM on September 30, 2016
I can't help but have *ahem* warm remembrances of this album.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 6:53 PM on September 30, 2016
In that case I see your Enigma and raise you one Art of Noise
posted by phooky at 7:05 PM on September 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by phooky at 7:05 PM on September 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
+Brandon Boyer Chances are this album was the soundtrack to the conception of roughly 25% of Millennials.
Possibly even higher! Remainimg %s surely include "something on Narada or Mo' Wax." I sound my extremely chill LOLs over the roofs of the world.
If you dig this sort of thing, I recommend Rhys Fulber's Conjure One project which features Poe and is very sort of "woo-I'm-Stevie-Nicks-at-Burning-Man!" Ideal for a long soak in the tub with candles and procsecco.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:09 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Possibly even higher! Remainimg %s surely include "something on Narada or Mo' Wax." I sound my extremely chill LOLs over the roofs of the world.
If you dig this sort of thing, I recommend Rhys Fulber's Conjure One project which features Poe and is very sort of "woo-I'm-Stevie-Nicks-at-Burning-Man!" Ideal for a long soak in the tub with candles and procsecco.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:09 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
In that case I see your Enigma and raise you one Art of Noise
STOP PEERING INTO MY BRAIN!
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 7:10 PM on September 30, 2016
STOP PEERING INTO MY BRAIN!
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 7:10 PM on September 30, 2016
I'm fairly familiar with Art Of Noise.
posted by hippybear at 7:13 PM on September 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 7:13 PM on September 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
oh my god it just gets sillier and sillier
It's a fantastically cheesy album – the corny spoken-word intro! the synthetic pan flutes! the gratuitous French! – and yet I'm still listening to it twenty minutes later.
It's also possibly the most 1990 record ever made. I mean, this could not have been made at any other moment in musical history.
I'm pretty sure I've had sex to this album, but I did not put it on.
I...guess I like it? I mean, I think it's ridiculous. But I also like it.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 7:16 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's a fantastically cheesy album – the corny spoken-word intro! the synthetic pan flutes! the gratuitous French! – and yet I'm still listening to it twenty minutes later.
It's also possibly the most 1990 record ever made. I mean, this could not have been made at any other moment in musical history.
I'm pretty sure I've had sex to this album, but I did not put it on.
I...guess I like it? I mean, I think it's ridiculous. But I also like it.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 7:16 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
To be fair, with kids of college age it's about impossible to stop them from boning.
People are still having sex. And nothing seems to stop them.
posted by stannate at 7:16 PM on September 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
People are still having sex. And nothing seems to stop them.
posted by stannate at 7:16 PM on September 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
RobotVoodooPower, I have a feeling we went to the same school and potentially knew each other.
Unrelated, I have totally, er, utilized this album. For one step beyond, try Deep Forest
posted by grumpybear69 at 7:36 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Unrelated, I have totally, er, utilized this album. For one step beyond, try Deep Forest
posted by grumpybear69 at 7:36 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's a fantastically cheesy album – the corny spoken-word intro! the synthetic pan flutes! the gratuitous French!
And the laid-on-with-a-trowel religious symbolism.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DEVIL.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 7:41 PM on September 30, 2016
And the laid-on-with-a-trowel religious symbolism.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DEVIL.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 7:41 PM on September 30, 2016
Fine you guys, I have this playing in the background and now I'm sexting a college friend of mine from 1995. Thanks (it's going awesome btw)
posted by asockpuppet at 7:57 PM on September 30, 2016 [19 favorites]
posted by asockpuppet at 7:57 PM on September 30, 2016 [19 favorites]
Deep Forest! Haha. I got that album from one of those "12 albums for a penny" Columbia House things you used to get in the mail, with the big sheet of stamps.
That sort of "world electronica" was new then – chill electronic beats with just enough samples of doumbeks and Paraguayan chants or whatever to lend that noble-savage, eco-conscious vibe. Kind of embarrassing now.
Banco de Gaia was a (slightly later) exponent of the style, though he had more of a dub influence, and often leaned into more straight-ahead melodic techno with less of the world-music stuff.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:00 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
That sort of "world electronica" was new then – chill electronic beats with just enough samples of doumbeks and Paraguayan chants or whatever to lend that noble-savage, eco-conscious vibe. Kind of embarrassing now.
Banco de Gaia was a (slightly later) exponent of the style, though he had more of a dub influence, and often leaned into more straight-ahead melodic techno with less of the world-music stuff.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:00 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
I had Cross of Changes, its follow-up. Did not convene sexual congress to it. But that drumbeat on the opening cut. Was there an agreement among recording artists in the late '80s/early '90s that songs had to be recorded over that boom-buhdoomboom-boom-bap beat? For me, it started with Bruce Hornsby's "The Way It Is" and then Soul II Soul's "Keep On Moving" and on into the decade...
posted by the sobsister at 8:00 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by the sobsister at 8:00 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Do you want the highlights of the album? Is 41 minutes of this silliness too much? Is there a downtempo part at a particularly inopportune time? Razormaid's got your back.
posted by Kyol at 8:01 PM on September 30, 2016
posted by Kyol at 8:01 PM on September 30, 2016
Or perhaps you prefer the slightly latin tinged B-Tribe ¡Fiesta Fatal!.
posted by Kyol at 8:03 PM on September 30, 2016
posted by Kyol at 8:03 PM on September 30, 2016
I went with the anti-recommendation because my initial impulse was to subtitle the post "the album made for fucking" and that seemed a bit too much to appear on the front page.
Welp, there's always Songs About Fucking
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:05 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Welp, there's always Songs About Fucking
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:05 PM on September 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Banco de Gaia. Wow.
Just to be clear I love everything about this thread.
posted by phooky at 8:07 PM on September 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
Just to be clear I love everything about this thread.
posted by phooky at 8:07 PM on September 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
It's also possibly the most 1990 record ever made.
Dunno. Mickey Hart's Drumming at the Edge of Magic gives it some mean competition.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:08 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Dunno. Mickey Hart's Drumming at the Edge of Magic gives it some mean competition.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:08 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Saturday mornings in the 90s, my future spouse and I would eat kid cereals and watch "Style with Elsa Klensch" on CNN. Almost every week, some fashion show or other would have models walking to a song from Enigma.
I also had both Deep Forest cds (Deep Forest and Boheme), and the Fiesta Fatal cd. Ah, the 90s. The best part about Deep Forest is that it led me to Marta Sebestyen and Muszikas.
posted by mogget at 8:12 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I also had both Deep Forest cds (Deep Forest and Boheme), and the Fiesta Fatal cd. Ah, the 90s. The best part about Deep Forest is that it led me to Marta Sebestyen and Muszikas.
posted by mogget at 8:12 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
MetaFilter: Fascinating in a sort of boner trainwreck way
posted by dragstroke at 8:25 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dragstroke at 8:25 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm fairly familiar with Art Of Noise.
I liked the song where the talking turtle told the aspiring figure skater to just believe in yourself.
Those little curlicues scratched in the ice whilst the harps arpeggiate...
posted by ovvl at 8:47 PM on September 30, 2016
I liked the song where the talking turtle told the aspiring figure skater to just believe in yourself.
Those little curlicues scratched in the ice whilst the harps arpeggiate...
posted by ovvl at 8:47 PM on September 30, 2016
...add a bit of Tears for Fears (Break it down again), or Duran Duran (wedding album) and I'm right back to late high-school/early college (and a fair dash of Nirvana and the Violent Femmes). ...add a bit of googling, and wow I'm 'old'.
posted by combinatorial explosion at 8:52 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by combinatorial explosion at 8:52 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, hippybear, you've done it again: I am now baffling my husband, who is a critical 3 years younger than me and so was still in high school when I was in college*, hanging out on alt.music.nin and going dancing at The Church on Thursdays and Sundays.
We're now dancing to Shriekback. It's going to be one of those weekends.
*That Deep Forest track led me to observe that weed is really different now than it was then.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:52 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
We're now dancing to Shriekback. It's going to be one of those weekends.
*That Deep Forest track led me to observe that weed is really different now than it was then.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:52 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
MTV Party 2 Go Volume 2—one of the first albums I ever bought. Hotness.
posted by limeonaire at 8:59 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by limeonaire at 8:59 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm fairly familiar with Art Of Noise.
I recall Madonna citing them as a favorite for sex in an 80s interview.
posted by lazycomputerkids at 9:03 PM on September 30, 2016
I recall Madonna citing them as a favorite for sex in an 80s interview.
posted by lazycomputerkids at 9:03 PM on September 30, 2016
In our school, that Enigma album was what we did dance warmups to for musical theater. So I'm having warm fuzzy memories about learning rib isolations and how to roll down properly (one vertebra at a time), and having a vague unrealized crush on my dance teacher.
No, wait, I learned rib isolations (which are friggin hard!) in elementary school. And the teacher at that time was a little more radical, so she had us doing routines to Midnight Star. Having lives the first five years of my life in a rural area away from technology, the vocoder action scared me at the time. Now I see a bit of Afrofuturism in their vibe (though a more diluted strain than P-Funk, and not one that's aged well).
posted by gusandrews at 9:05 PM on September 30, 2016
No, wait, I learned rib isolations (which are friggin hard!) in elementary school. And the teacher at that time was a little more radical, so she had us doing routines to Midnight Star. Having lives the first five years of my life in a rural area away from technology, the vocoder action scared me at the time. Now I see a bit of Afrofuturism in their vibe (though a more diluted strain than P-Funk, and not one that's aged well).
posted by gusandrews at 9:05 PM on September 30, 2016
Uh -- epilepsy warning on that first Midnight Star video. Sorry folks.
posted by gusandrews at 9:08 PM on September 30, 2016
posted by gusandrews at 9:08 PM on September 30, 2016
I had that album, I had the follow-up. I had the remixes, which included just the original Gregorian chants.
Je ne regrette rien.
I had plenty of Art of Noise, though I considered them vastly inferior to Yello. Which I also had all the remixes for.
Let the rhythm be your guiding light.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:15 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Je ne regrette rien.
I had plenty of Art of Noise, though I considered them vastly inferior to Yello. Which I also had all the remixes for.
Let the rhythm be your guiding light.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:15 PM on September 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
I hated Enigma with a passion then and I hate Enigma just as much today. And I hate all the Spawn of Enigma too. I got it on just fine with better music playing, and since we're playing this game might I recommend This Mortal Coil. Obligatory Link
posted by ashbury at 9:15 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by ashbury at 9:15 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
Wait, there was an entire Enigma album and not just that one single?
Disclosure: I'm pretty sure I still own the single and its remixes
posted by Slothrup at 9:22 PM on September 30, 2016
Disclosure: I'm pretty sure I still own the single and its remixes
posted by Slothrup at 9:22 PM on September 30, 2016
Wait, there was an entire Enigma album and not just that one single?
Apparently they are releasing their 8th album in November. I didn't like any of the ones subsequent to the first, but I only heard the first 2 or 3... or 4... Feh.
posted by hippybear at 9:24 PM on September 30, 2016
Apparently they are releasing their 8th album in November. I didn't like any of the ones subsequent to the first, but I only heard the first 2 or 3... or 4... Feh.
posted by hippybear at 9:24 PM on September 30, 2016
1990 top singles. A lot of sexual frustruation, except for that nice boy Billy Joel.
posted by benzenedream at 9:26 PM on September 30, 2016
posted by benzenedream at 9:26 PM on September 30, 2016
Some of us went a different direction in the 90s.
Thank god I've learned a LOT since then...
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 9:33 PM on September 30, 2016
Thank god I've learned a LOT since then...
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 9:33 PM on September 30, 2016
This was all a prelude to 1991's Lust by Lords of Acid which included this most NSFW earworm.
posted by humanfont at 9:34 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 9:34 PM on September 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
I think we used this single as a roleplaying game backing track. *sigh*
posted by Harald74 at 9:51 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Harald74 at 9:51 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Welp, there's always Songs About Fucking
I have an hilarious story about this that I cannot tell to anyone. Ever.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:43 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have an hilarious story about this that I cannot tell to anyone. Ever.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:43 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Banco de Gaia. Wow.
Just to be clear I love everything about this thread.
I don't. Enigma was the aural equivalent of a stain* as far as I was concerned at the time (it's a long story). But Banco de Gaia -- that was as opposite as you could get while still employing many of the same methods (beats, samples, melody etc).
* and Deep Forest (named after an insect repellent)
posted by philip-random at 11:12 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Just to be clear I love everything about this thread.
I don't. Enigma was the aural equivalent of a stain* as far as I was concerned at the time (it's a long story). But Banco de Gaia -- that was as opposite as you could get while still employing many of the same methods (beats, samples, melody etc).
* and Deep Forest (named after an insect repellent)
posted by philip-random at 11:12 PM on September 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
In the 90's I'd often play The Last Temptation of Christ sound track and/or Kanon Pokajanen over and over to go into a deep dark place for all-night work sessions, and then play this and/or Deep Forest to come out of it as dawn was breaking.
posted by lastobelus at 11:17 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lastobelus at 11:17 PM on September 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeesh, I couldn't make it through the whole album. It's interesting how what we like because it's cheesy & what we hate because it's cheesy shifts over time. For a palette cleanser I'm listening to Dial "M" for Monkey which I'm pleased to discover I do still enjoy.
posted by lastobelus at 11:29 PM on September 30, 2016
posted by lastobelus at 11:29 PM on September 30, 2016
Some of us went a different direction in the 90s.
Thank god I've learned a LOT since then...
Wait what's wrong with that? It's a good album. To me it's not that different a direction though in a way.
posted by atoxyl at 12:06 AM on October 1, 2016
Thank god I've learned a LOT since then...
Wait what's wrong with that? It's a good album. To me it's not that different a direction though in a way.
posted by atoxyl at 12:06 AM on October 1, 2016
Dear thread,
Why are you posting about my old gaming group's soundtrack? Were you there, playing Werewolf till dawn, hidden on the golf course? Was it you , who ran a game of Mage at ComiCon in 1993? And, if so, why haven't you mentioned Orbital yet? Or Artificial Intelligence Volume 1?
Kinda funny, what's aged well, and what has not. I can still get into a little headphone sesh with Banco de Gaia, or the early Warp comps. But I gotta stop listening to Enigma, or I will wake the kids with my sniggering and chortling.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 12:13 AM on October 1, 2016 [5 favorites]
Why are you posting about my old gaming group's soundtrack? Were you there, playing Werewolf till dawn, hidden on the golf course? Was it you , who ran a game of Mage at ComiCon in 1993? And, if so, why haven't you mentioned Orbital yet? Or Artificial Intelligence Volume 1?
Kinda funny, what's aged well, and what has not. I can still get into a little headphone sesh with Banco de Gaia, or the early Warp comps. But I gotta stop listening to Enigma, or I will wake the kids with my sniggering and chortling.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 12:13 AM on October 1, 2016 [5 favorites]
D'Cuckoo's cover of Brian Eno's "No One Receiving" seems appropriate here.
posted by dbiedny at 12:32 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dbiedny at 12:32 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hey, let's not forget about Delerium, the other "world beat", religious-imagery infused "electronica" group from the heart of the 90's.
posted by Pyry at 12:42 AM on October 1, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Pyry at 12:42 AM on October 1, 2016 [5 favorites]
I can remember when Dead Can Dance were the go-to soundtrack for sex - probably around the same time as this. Maybe I knew too many goths, though.
posted by pipeski at 1:20 AM on October 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by pipeski at 1:20 AM on October 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
Delerium, aka Another Fucking Front Line Assembly Side Project. Delerium sounded a bit different before the first Enigma album; the rumor among the DJs I knew was that Semantic Spaces was made as an Enigma parody.
posted by rednikki at 1:53 AM on October 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by rednikki at 1:53 AM on October 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
Banco de Gaia was a (slightly later) exponent of the style, though he had more of a dub influence, and often leaned into more straight-ahead melodic techno with less of the world-music stuff.
Banco de Gaia was absolutely incredible live - full on psychedelic techno, no holds barred. One of the first outfits from that only-just-after-rave era (along with Orbital and Eat Static) that threw the works into a live performance, rather than just pressing start on their sequencer and punching the air.
posted by bifter at 2:59 AM on October 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
Banco de Gaia was absolutely incredible live - full on psychedelic techno, no holds barred. One of the first outfits from that only-just-after-rave era (along with Orbital and Eat Static) that threw the works into a live performance, rather than just pressing start on their sequencer and punching the air.
posted by bifter at 2:59 AM on October 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
Worldbeat as the unofficial soundtrack of late twentieth-century extractive global neoliberalism. Discuss. (20 marks.)
posted by Sonny Jim at 3:07 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Sonny Jim at 3:07 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
why haven't you mentioned Orbital yet?
Because you're thinking of The Orb.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:11 AM on October 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
Because you're thinking of The Orb.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:11 AM on October 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
The person in the next room to mine in university halls of residence only played one song during [intimate details redacted]. Over and over. This song.
Occasionally there would be another person involved, but not often and they didn't last.
Music I wish I had played as a soundtrack to [intimate details redacted] at various ages would probably be:
- Teen years
- University years (unsubtle excalibur metaphor is unsubtle)
- Early twenties (tip: always good to have a track that ends in applause as may encourage partner to do same if it wasn't the greatest of evenings)
- Late twenties
- Thirties
- Early forties
- Late forties
- Probably future decades
Optional for [intimate details redacted] which includes the involvement of:
- Alcohol
- Something a little stronger
- When you are really out there...
posted by Wordshore at 3:57 AM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
Occasionally there would be another person involved, but not often and they didn't last.
Music I wish I had played as a soundtrack to [intimate details redacted] at various ages would probably be:
- Teen years
- University years (unsubtle excalibur metaphor is unsubtle)
- Early twenties (tip: always good to have a track that ends in applause as may encourage partner to do same if it wasn't the greatest of evenings)
- Late twenties
- Thirties
- Early forties
- Late forties
- Probably future decades
Optional for [intimate details redacted] which includes the involvement of:
- Alcohol
- Something a little stronger
- When you are really out there...
posted by Wordshore at 3:57 AM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
....i unironically like Enigma.
I'll just go then, shall I?
posted by a power-tie-wearing she-capitalist at 4:30 AM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'll just go then, shall I?
posted by a power-tie-wearing she-capitalist at 4:30 AM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'll just go then, shall I?
Pay no attention to these hypocrites; you're among friends.
posted by qbject at 4:52 AM on October 1, 2016 [10 favorites]
Pay no attention to these hypocrites; you're among friends.
posted by qbject at 4:52 AM on October 1, 2016 [10 favorites]
Einstürzende Neubauten or old Bob Newhart albums work
posted by clavdivs at 5:33 AM on October 1, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by clavdivs at 5:33 AM on October 1, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'll always go with Violator as the 1990 fuckathon album of choice.
Enigma just makes me break into giggles. Fun, but not conducive to keeping a straight face while engaged in said other activity.
posted by blucevalo at 5:55 AM on October 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
Enigma just makes me break into giggles. Fun, but not conducive to keeping a straight face while engaged in said other activity.
posted by blucevalo at 5:55 AM on October 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
> Early forties
"The uploader has not made this video available in your country."
Is that a metaphor?
posted by I-Write-Essays at 6:11 AM on October 1, 2016
"The uploader has not made this video available in your country."
Is that a metaphor?
posted by I-Write-Essays at 6:11 AM on October 1, 2016
Welp, there's always Songs About Fucking
My college roommate was a huge Steve Albini fan, but she seemed to prefer Shellac's "At Action Park" for sexy times.
posted by thivaia at 6:38 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
My college roommate was a huge Steve Albini fan, but she seemed to prefer Shellac's "At Action Park" for sexy times.
posted by thivaia at 6:38 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
No joke, I actually had a woman come on to me by asking if she could come to my place and listen to Enigma.
posted by matildaben at 7:47 AM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by matildaben at 7:47 AM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
During this time I was working a 4 days on, 4 days off late shift in "the OSGM Pit" at a game company. We'd frequently come in on days off for gaming or working on side projects, because their comptuers and internet connection was better than anything we had at home.
The unofficial rule was, whoever was on duty had control of the CD player. I had my variety of things. One coworker had a variety but would tend to listen obsessively to the same CD for weeks -- usually good stuff but she would play it long beyond when everyone else was sick of it. Another liked to put on the Art Bell radio show. But the fourth? Enigma. Always Enigma. I'm pretty sure he had a Deep Forest album too, but Enigma was always the one playing.
posted by Foosnark at 8:12 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
The unofficial rule was, whoever was on duty had control of the CD player. I had my variety of things. One coworker had a variety but would tend to listen obsessively to the same CD for weeks -- usually good stuff but she would play it long beyond when everyone else was sick of it. Another liked to put on the Art Bell radio show. But the fourth? Enigma. Always Enigma. I'm pretty sure he had a Deep Forest album too, but Enigma was always the one playing.
posted by Foosnark at 8:12 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's interesting how what we like because it's cheesy & what we hate because it's cheesy shifts over time.
I really like this sentence because it captures something I think about a lot.
For me, Enigma was big when I was a kid -- like, old enough to choose what music I would listen to, but not really old enough to have a well-developed taste of music yet. So I don't know if I find it cringe-worthy now because my tastes have matured, because times have changed, or both.
I didn't really get the "sexiness." I mean, abstractly, yeah, the heavy breathing is hard to miss. But I wasn't there yet. I think I liked it because it was incredibly (melo)dramatic. Kind of excellent soundtrack music.
I'm still drawn to music like that, which I especially like to listen to as I write. Some stuff is just too cheesy--Enigma falls into that category. I literally cannot listen to it without getting second-hand embarrassment now. But there is a lot of stuff I like that I wonder whether I will still like ten years for now. Has what I listened to gotten better? Or has what I listened to before just gotten tired?
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:13 AM on October 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
I really like this sentence because it captures something I think about a lot.
For me, Enigma was big when I was a kid -- like, old enough to choose what music I would listen to, but not really old enough to have a well-developed taste of music yet. So I don't know if I find it cringe-worthy now because my tastes have matured, because times have changed, or both.
I didn't really get the "sexiness." I mean, abstractly, yeah, the heavy breathing is hard to miss. But I wasn't there yet. I think I liked it because it was incredibly (melo)dramatic. Kind of excellent soundtrack music.
I'm still drawn to music like that, which I especially like to listen to as I write. Some stuff is just too cheesy--Enigma falls into that category. I literally cannot listen to it without getting second-hand embarrassment now. But there is a lot of stuff I like that I wonder whether I will still like ten years for now. Has what I listened to gotten better? Or has what I listened to before just gotten tired?
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:13 AM on October 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
I am told that some public and semi-public bdsm clubs/events basically had to ban Enigma for a while because EVERYONE KEPT PLAYING IT when they were doing scenes. The best antidote i've heard of was a friend who would play music like the Muppet Show theme.
posted by rmd1023 at 9:01 AM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 9:01 AM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
Every BDSM dungeon in the late 90s/early 00s played Robert Miles. In my experience, Grimes' music works well for BDSM too.
posted by AFABulous at 9:09 AM on October 1, 2016
posted by AFABulous at 9:09 AM on October 1, 2016
Oh man. Enigma is so much more listenable than Robert Miles. Enigma is at least a fumbling earnest attempt at making an "exotic" makeout album, it captures the uncertainty and pretension of being a college student on the make perfectly. Miles is just a MOD loop.
posted by benzenedream at 9:27 AM on October 1, 2016
posted by benzenedream at 9:27 AM on October 1, 2016
Another great album not to have sex to: The Necks, um, "Sex" (SFW) (Until you notice that cute co-worker and get carried away.)
posted by twsf at 10:35 AM on October 1, 2016
posted by twsf at 10:35 AM on October 1, 2016
Enigma and chill
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 11:06 AM on October 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 11:06 AM on October 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oops, wrong window, meant to put that in icq
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 11:07 AM on October 1, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 11:07 AM on October 1, 2016 [10 favorites]
I can explain the pan flute. It's one of the sounds that became popular once you got your hands on one of the finally-affordable samplers. That's why it sounds like the Bladerunner soundtrack with a sampler to my ears. I can't explain the Gregorian chants, however, except to say that us sampler-types were recording any and every piece of audio we could to feed into the sampler. (PBS documentaries on schizophrenia and TV preachers were always popular)
//might have done what subbie suggested
//that and sexplosion by Thrill Kill Kult
posted by readyfreddy at 11:40 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
//might have done what subbie suggested
//that and sexplosion by Thrill Kill Kult
posted by readyfreddy at 11:40 AM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Close Encounters theme at 31:10
posted by readyfreddy at 12:22 PM on October 1, 2016
posted by readyfreddy at 12:22 PM on October 1, 2016
Yeah there were several big pan flute or shakahuchi patches. Most famously the Korg M1 but looking it up it seems Enigma may have used one of the EMU samplers.
posted by atoxyl at 12:25 PM on October 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by atoxyl at 12:25 PM on October 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
I was born in the late 80s so I can't possibly have been conceived to this album and I will probably never have sex to it. This is called the Enigma Gap.
posted by atoxyl at 12:29 PM on October 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by atoxyl at 12:29 PM on October 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
Einstürzende Neubauten or old Bob Newhart albums work
Einstürzende Bob Neuharzen
posted by zippy at 12:31 PM on October 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
Einstürzende Bob Neuharzen
posted by zippy at 12:31 PM on October 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
atoxyl: Yeah there were several big pan flute or shakahuchi patches. Most famously the Korg M1 but looking it up it seems Enigma may have used one of the EMU samplers.
I think it was almost a status symbol thing. The Fairlight had a shakahuchi and they cost so much that only pros had them. By the time us rubes could afford sampling (Mirage?), you wanted all the sounds that the pros had, but you hadn't.
Also, this is, like you almost-mention, the digital synth era where you could get a decent fake of the sound too. (and there's plenty of other digital on this album… and every other album of the era).
posted by readyfreddy at 1:26 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think it was almost a status symbol thing. The Fairlight had a shakahuchi and they cost so much that only pros had them. By the time us rubes could afford sampling (Mirage?), you wanted all the sounds that the pros had, but you hadn't.
Also, this is, like you almost-mention, the digital synth era where you could get a decent fake of the sound too. (and there's plenty of other digital on this album… and every other album of the era).
posted by readyfreddy at 1:26 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
The E-Mu shakuhachi patch goes at least as far back as the Emulator II (1984), as heard here.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:48 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Sys Rq at 1:48 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
I only knew Enigma as the group who did the song and video for "Return to Innocence." Now I wonder if that song was a reaction to MCMXC d.S a.D.
I have to say, even though I was, uh, ten when the first single came out, I have to agree that Violator was probably the fuck anthem album of 1990.
posted by infinitewindow at 2:09 PM on October 1, 2016
I have to say, even though I was, uh, ten when the first single came out, I have to agree that Violator was probably the fuck anthem album of 1990.
posted by infinitewindow at 2:09 PM on October 1, 2016
Holy crap but I hated this album. Not in a rage-inducing way though. More like the kind of loathing you'd experience listening to a college sophomore corner you at a party and drone on about "energies" and the Kabbala or whatever in an attempt to impress and flirt with you.
On the other hand it was perfectly innocuous dinner party music, like Seal or Annie Lennox. As 90s music goes you could certainly do a lot worse. I mean, at least it wasn't The Spin Doctors.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 5:30 PM on October 1, 2016
On the other hand it was perfectly innocuous dinner party music, like Seal or Annie Lennox. As 90s music goes you could certainly do a lot worse. I mean, at least it wasn't The Spin Doctors.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 5:30 PM on October 1, 2016
But on topic: I remember a lot of music for fucking in the 90s involving a lot of Indigo Girls, Sarah Mclaughlin and for whatever reason, Psychic TV.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 5:33 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 5:33 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
This one goes out to hippybear:
808 State "Magical Dream"
posted by plexi at 6:43 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
808 State "Magical Dream"
posted by plexi at 6:43 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is the album you put on during sex.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:53 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 6:53 PM on October 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is what plays in my head during sex.
I find it helps keep my eyes uncrossed when the cramps start.
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:23 PM on October 1, 2016
I find it helps keep my eyes uncrossed when the cramps start.
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:23 PM on October 1, 2016
In The People Vs. O.J. Simpson, Enigma was playing in the background at the fancy L.A. restaurant when Robert Shapiro decided to represent O.J. and it was one of the most perfect music choices ever.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:04 PM on October 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:04 PM on October 1, 2016 [3 favorites]
Just realized that when Enigma was popular, Donald Trump was still paying taxes. IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW.
posted by Dr. Zira at 9:34 PM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 9:34 PM on October 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
OMFG, DEEP FOREST. I had completely forgotten about Deep Forest from almost 20 years ago when I was taking that bellydancing class at that gym on Ft Bliss. I've been thinking about bellydancing and that class lately, thank y'all for reminding me about Deep Forest!
posted by blessedlyndie at 11:43 PM on October 1, 2016
posted by blessedlyndie at 11:43 PM on October 1, 2016
A great companion album to this that is also very early-90s-psueudo-world-music is Deep Forest.
posted by zardoz at 4:33 AM on October 2, 2016
posted by zardoz at 4:33 AM on October 2, 2016
You want the absolutely best sex album evar? Troll through your local used vinyl store and find a copy of Environments 4. Ultimate Thunderstorm and Gentle Rain in a Pine Forest are the most amazing backgrounds for sex you will ever play.
I. Kid. You. Not.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:28 AM on October 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
I. Kid. You. Not.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:28 AM on October 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
The album made for sexxing
That would be Dummy by Portishead
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:42 AM on October 2, 2016 [4 favorites]
That would be Dummy by Portishead
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:42 AM on October 2, 2016 [4 favorites]
All of the Environment records are worth tracking down. Volume 3, I think, is the one with one side devoted to a 1969 "Be-In" in Central Park, the other to dusk in the woods.
posted by octobersurprise at 10:17 AM on October 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by octobersurprise at 10:17 AM on October 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
I found several of the Environments records posted to a vinyl blog a few years ago and have them on my iPod. (I own them on vinyl too, purchased first-release because I was a weird kid). When I'm traveling and staying in a too-quiet hotel room, Ultimate Thunderstorm at exactly the right volume on repeat is exactly the right kind of noise to keep me asleep all night long.
posted by hippybear at 10:20 AM on October 2, 2016
posted by hippybear at 10:20 AM on October 2, 2016
Deep Forest sounds like the album Ronan would make to kill some time on his way to steal back the orb from Peter Quill.
posted by Dr. Zira at 10:27 AM on October 2, 2016
posted by Dr. Zira at 10:27 AM on October 2, 2016
I had this on repeat when it came out. But I never thought of Enigma as sex music even though the lyrics where obvious enough. I just hadn't heard anything like that before. I didn't (and still don't) really pay attention to the meaning of most lyrics because I think most musicians are horrible poets.
I used it more for of background music to this game. The robots walked in time.
I migrated to Front 242 after that. :-)
posted by smidgen at 10:55 AM on October 2, 2016
I used it more for of background music to this game. The robots walked in time.
I migrated to Front 242 after that. :-)
posted by smidgen at 10:55 AM on October 2, 2016
Acccording to everyone who went to the Woodstock revival in the summer of 1994 everyone was fucking when Nine Inch Nails took the stage and performed Closer from the Downward Spiral. IIRC this made it the fuck album of the winter of 94-95.
posted by humanfont at 7:54 PM on October 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 7:54 PM on October 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
Man I loved this as a broody small town homeschooler pube with crushes on all the goth girls (this is what I imagined they all listened to). lol, no, I learned.
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 9:46 PM on October 2, 2016
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 9:46 PM on October 2, 2016
This whole thread is making me think of that scene in Sideways, and how differently it would've played if the album in question had been MCMXC a.D.
posted by Sonny Jim at 3:41 AM on October 3, 2016
posted by Sonny Jim at 3:41 AM on October 3, 2016
This thread lead me to find out where the 'Soul II Soul' beat came from, as used extensively by Enigma. The answer is Graham Central Station - The Jam, which is a wicked tune! You will find the oft used sample at around 5m10s. It's been slowed down and beefed up, but there it is. Very much the sound of 1989 for me.
I see the Enigma album as being of a kind with Enya, music with an eye on being played in coffee shops and hotel foyers. As regards music for sexy time from the early 90's, CDs were good because you didn't have to flip them over, but a tape deck with autoplay would give 90 minutes of music to the maximum of 60 minutes on a normal CD and start all over again. IIRC I spent many hours listening to Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman and Exist Dance - Transmitting from Heaven, which you might think would leave me having affectionate memories of these albums, but I haven't listened to either in the past twenty years.
In a strange circular way Nightmares on Wax used to use Art of Noise - Moments in Love as a warm up tune when they were building up to playing one of their cuts in 1990. That was when they were making music aimed at the dancefloor rather than coffee shops and hotel foyers.
posted by asok at 6:24 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I see the Enigma album as being of a kind with Enya, music with an eye on being played in coffee shops and hotel foyers. As regards music for sexy time from the early 90's, CDs were good because you didn't have to flip them over, but a tape deck with autoplay would give 90 minutes of music to the maximum of 60 minutes on a normal CD and start all over again. IIRC I spent many hours listening to Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman and Exist Dance - Transmitting from Heaven, which you might think would leave me having affectionate memories of these albums, but I haven't listened to either in the past twenty years.
In a strange circular way Nightmares on Wax used to use Art of Noise - Moments in Love as a warm up tune when they were building up to playing one of their cuts in 1990. That was when they were making music aimed at the dancefloor rather than coffee shops and hotel foyers.
posted by asok at 6:24 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread lead me to find out where the 'Soul II Soul' beat came from, as used extensively by Enigma. The answer is Graham Central Station - The Jam, which is a wicked tune! You will find the oft used sample at around 5m10s. It's been slowed down and beefed up, but there it is. Very much the sound of 1989 for me.
While Soul II Soul and Enigma may have used that one, the true sound of 1989 is indisputably "Ashley's Roach Clip" by The Soul Searchers, which is pretty much the same thing plus tambourine and hi-hat.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:09 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
While Soul II Soul and Enigma may have used that one, the true sound of 1989 is indisputably "Ashley's Roach Clip" by The Soul Searchers, which is pretty much the same thing plus tambourine and hi-hat.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:09 AM on October 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
This has been one of my favorite albums since someone introduced me. The combination of beat and slower music lines is something i find extremely beneficial. Indeed, this combination was instrumental in the earlier stages of removing 33% of my body weight. The beat promotes motion while the music keeps the tension down. It is also a very pleasant kind of music to make.
posted by Goofyy at 3:46 AM on October 5, 2016
posted by Goofyy at 3:46 AM on October 5, 2016
Neneh Cherry -- Buffalo Stance
"I'd like to introduce the high hat"
"And now the tambourine...right now!"
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:40 AM on October 10, 2016
"I'd like to introduce the high hat"
"And now the tambourine...right now!"
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:40 AM on October 10, 2016
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posted by mittens at 5:44 PM on September 30, 2016 [6 favorites]