The Screen Behind the Mirror

The Screen Behind the Mirror is a 1999 music album created by the musical project Enigma. Recorded at the A.R.T. Studios in Ibiza, Spain, it was released worldwide by Virgin Records.

Supporters of the album credited it as the most mature album Michael Cretu had created, while critics lamented the use of extensive samples from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, even though it only appears on four out of the eleven tracks on the album.

“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 of Vangelis’ 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 an electric guitar solo 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 6’23” track as it fades to silence, leaving a blurry mumble at the end of the song, and the beginning of the next one.