MCMXC a.D.

MCMXC a.D.
Studio album by Enigma
Released	3 December 1990
Recorded	1990
Studio	A.R.T. (Ibiza, Spain)
Genre	New-age worldbeat dance pop
Length	40:16
Label	Virgin Charisma
Producer	Michael Cretu
Enigma chronology
MCMXC a.D. (1990) The Cross of Changes (1993)
Singles from MCMXC a.D.
"Sadeness (Part I)" Released: 1 October 1990 "Mea Culpa (Part II)" Released: 1991 "Principles of Lust" Released: 1991 "The Rivers of Belief" Released: 1991

MCMXC a.D. (1990 AD in Roman Numerals) is the debut studio album by the German musical project Enigma, led by the Romanian-German musician Michael Cretu. It was released in Europe by Virgin Records on 3 December 1990, and in the United States by Charisma Records on 12 February 1991. Cretu became fascinated with mixing archaic sounds with modern music after producing "Everlasting Love" by the German pop singer Sandra, for which he experimented with Gregorian chant. Following their marriage in 1988, Michael developed Enigma and recorded the album over the course of eight months in 1990 at A.R.T. Studios.

MCMXC a.D. combines new-age music with dance rhythms, Gregorian chant and themes of religion and sexuality, for which it received generally positive reviews. The Gregorian chant was sampled from recordings by Capella Antiqua München, which resulted in the Munich-based choir's label, Polydor Germany suing Cretu and Virgin Records for infringing on its "right of personality".^[1] The case was dropped after Cretu agreed to pay compensation.

MCMXC a.D. reached the top 10 on record charts in 10 countries, including the United States, where it stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for over five years. It was certified quadruple platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Sadeness (Part I)", "Mea Culpa (Part II)", "Principles of Lust" and "The Rivers of Belief" were released as singles. The lead single topped charts worldwide.