Enigma: The Platinum Collection is now released in Europe. It is a three disc “Best of” collection, with one disc with hits, one with favorite remixes and one with so called “Lost tracks” – or demo tapes if you will. American Enigma fans sadly have to wait until January 26, 2010. Such a delay should really be a thing of the past, but hey, that’s still the nature of major label music…

Both the selection of hits and remixes are, needless to say, great. There are some true classics among the remixes, like Sadness Part I – Violent US Mix – which truly takes the original song’s Gregorian chants samples to a new dimension. Another favorite of mine is the last one, Dreaming of Andromeda – Jean F. Cochois Remix. There are interestingly enough no Seven Lives remixes on this disc (even though there was a very good remix competition recently – but it must be said that the “Lost track” 10 is a Je T’aime Till My Dying Day remix).

So what is there to say about The lost tracks? As a Michael Cretu fan for over 20 years – and a fan of all his most recent material too – I was surprised to learn that he, the perfectionist, was to release a demo collection. It is very much out of character. But, when listening to it, I think that it gives a nice view into his studio, showing the master at work.

The lost tracks is a collection of selected demos that probably were created for Seven Lives – but didn’t make the cut. The disc does not have an overall sound design (with an intro and ending), like his “normal” albums. The songs does not have names, only numbers. I especially like track 2, which has that enigmatic melancholy that we know so well from the past. Track nine also has a nice feel. Track four could have been included in a “normal” Enigma album, it is that good.

The lost tracks would have been a much better release if there was older “lost tracks” too – like demos from the first three-four Enigma albums. This one is very close to the “synth VST” sound. But it is not like it is meant as a complete album.

It is what it is; a collection of songs that was left over when Seven Lives was mixed.  Not a top Enigma release, true, but still a welcome gift to any Enigma fan since the first disc is a superb “best of” collection.

Sample it on Amazon.de.