The top DJ in the world
If you’ve never heard of Dutch DJ and producer Armin van Buuren, now’s the time to get to know him. Armin van Buuren was voted 2008’s No. 1 DJ in the world by readers of leading dance music bible DJ Mag, beating other obvious favorites like Paul van Dyk and Tiesto for the top spot. And with his latest artist album “Imagine” snapping up accolades left and right, it’s not hard to imagine why.
The Dutch trance pro’s latest album, released under Armin’s label Armada and soon to be released locally by Activ8 Records, is doing fantastic in his homeland. “Imagine” debuted at No. 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100, making Armin the first dance act ever to debut in the top spot of the chart. The album is doing pretty hot outside Armin’s native
Critics and dance music connoisseurs have nothing but praise for the album, stating that it is more mature compared to previous album “Shivers” because it incorporates a broader range of sounds. Seeing as they’re mostly right, I’ll jump on the Armin fandom bandwagon.
The album starts off with title track, a compelling song with an epic, looming intro that appropriately ushers the listener in to the eclectic trance voyage he is about to experience in the next hour. Imagine starts out in the vein of many trance songs, with lush, quiet textures that speak of the imminent trance trip that awaits the listener. But then an imposing piano track jumps in, followed by a forlorn classic rock guitar wailing in the mix. The result is an operatic affair that mingles with that deep techno bassline, and this early you know that the Dutch pro has got a few surprises up his sleeve.
The second track is Going Wrong, also the first single off “Imagine.” If Imagine was imposing, almost ominous, Going Wrong is where Armin lightens up and gets the house party going. Going Wrong is a collaborative effort between Armin, DJ Shah and Chris Jones on vocals, and what a collaboration it is. Chris offers deep, sexy vocals to the flirty house-tinged track (who knew Armin could do flirty?!). A simple guitar strum finds its way into the song to add an organic, human depth to the electronic opus, making it one of the best tracks on the album.
Armin’s imagination runs wild
Then Armin changes gears, going the tribal route with tribal beats making an appearance in the progressive trance piece Unforgiveable. This relatively down-tempo offering features the effortless bedroom vocals of Jaren to add a sexy, albeit darker dimension befitting the song’s theme of infidelity. A tribal touch can also be detected on Never Say Never, which is a mishmash of pleading vocals, ultrasonic bass, banging trance kicks, and a little house love thrown in for good measure. Jacqueline Goyaert’s vocal contribution, reminiscent of house act Iio’s Nadia Ali, adds a sultry seductress tone, ringing high and distant in the midst of the thick accompaniment.
Another ultimate party-starter is Hold on to Me, a fun-loving synth-infused track that features Audrey Gallagher’s sweet and childlike voice. Electric guitar goodness is added to the mix, the ambience is turned way up, and the relentless bass beats just keep on coming. This is easily the most infectious floor-filler in this collection.
Armin also experiments with vintage hip-hop breakbeats and kitschy ‘80s electronic sounds on the stellar track In and Out of Love, which features the beautifully vulnerable vocals of Sharon den Adel. The synth-laden electro sound is offset by
Face to Face starts quietly enough, with ambient tones, the lonely sound of piano keys, and heavenly female vocals sighing. Then, with throbbing bass and melodic synths, it launches into full-on trance mode. No words can be heard, just sighing, and then it fades down as quietly as it started.
What If is an electro-house gem that has a slower tempo but still has trance’s requisite ambient touches. Vera Ostrova provides simple yet warm vocals, adding a human touch to the prog-house track.
Fine Without You speeds things up in the wake of What If with a low bass guitar riff and a disco-inflected vibe. Jennifer Rene indignantly sings “I’ve given you everything,” betraying a note of loneliness in a song about moving on.
Both Rain and Intricacy call on the unforgettable trance sound of the late 90s. On Rain, Cathy Burton’s vocals sneak in every now and then, almost a whisper above its lightness. Final track Intricacy has the makings of a trance anthem, high on tension and building up almost imperceptibly to a mesmerizing climax. Intricacy is one of only two tracks on “Imagine” that don’t feature vocals. But the lack of a human voice just makes the trance elements all the more glaring. Intricacy appropriately burns out at the end, making the song a fitting end to an electronic masterpiece.
All in all, “Imagine” is an unpredictable release, with surprises that jump at you as soon as a song starts. Sometimes the surprise only kicks in once you’ve reached the middle of the track, and a feeling of delight tickles the discerning listener. “Imagine” sees Armin further experimenting with his abilities in the studio, improving on his earlier styles, taking on newer territory, and combining whatever’s on the table the way only a true master of his craft can.
With “Imagine,” Armin dares to take a risk outside the musical niche that has nurtured him for most of his career: trance. Since Armin is greatly regarded as a trance DJ, people who have gotten used to his earlier style will probably raise an eyebrow at this new collection, which offers a mishmash of vocal trance, vocal house, old school trance, old school house, electro-rock, electro-house, synth-trance, synth-house, and other electronic music marriages that Armin has come up with. But “Imagine” only reinforces Armin as a true leader of the pack, unafraid to think out of the box and defy previously held expectations of him.
* * *
For comments and suggestions, feel free to e-mail me at bigfish@bigfishmanila.com.
