Music Review: Armin Van Buuren - Imagine - Page 2

In fact, it's next to impossible to find a lame duck in the set, but there are still some standouts. "Hold On To Me" is addictive, with both a great vocal and swelling production. It's followed by the equally catchy "In And Out Of Love." It's interesting that although he chose lots of different female vocalists, the style for each is very compatible and doesn't give the album a disjointed feel. Tracks go from one to the next with natural ease.

If you're looking for any downtempo breathers, however, you're pretty much out of luck. The energy is kept high and the beats persistent. In fact, the closing track, which is generally the token spot for something at a slower pace, is one of the most frenetic with "Intricacy." If the album weren't (mostly) unmixed, it would actually be a right proper DJ set. And I can't imagine that Armin was going for anything less.

Imagine is easily Armin's most consistently solid artist effort, and is a great introduction to both his productions and his particular brand of highly melodic and accessible trance. This album is going to provide ample material throughout the next year for not only Armin's sets, but countless other DJs as well.

This one is a no-brainer.

Article Author: David R Perry

Lost somewhere in the rolling hills of Tennessee, David R Perry can occasionally be found doing dark, unspeakable things to words. Printed words, spoken words, electronically mangled words... really any kind but twittered words.

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