Michael Cretu is a Romanian-German musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. He gained worldwide fame as the founder and musician behind the German musical project Enigma, formed in 1990…

Michael Crétu's attempt at fusing everything from easy listening sex music and hip-hop rhythms to centuries-old Gregorian chants couldn't have been more designed to tweak the nose of high art, a joyously crass stab straight at a mainstream, do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. The result is something that shouldn't exist, but in its own way results in as much of a cultural scramble and explosion as anything Public Enemy were doing around the same time, crossing over the Euro-disco and new age spheres with style…

Fueled by the hard-pushing hit from Jarreau's previous album "Boogie Down," aproducer Jay Graydon cranks up the energy level some more and comes up with a snazzy high-tech vehicle for his converted R&B singer. The sound is hotter, stoked by greater reliance upon synthesizers and electronically goosed rhythm tracks, and Jarreau's own vocals are more hectic, though again not much in the way of individuality is required of him…

Mixing up soul, electro and R&B in with the bands smart and sassy alt-pop means that Slow Down, Melt and Catch Fire is a smouldering smart slice of 2021 from beginning to end. From Opener Dream On, the band show they can handle melody, whilst giving emotive performances and wrapping it all up in smoky, wispy electro beats and synth lines…