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After two years of work in the studio, Armin finally releases his third artist album, Imagine, including 11 tracks, where many are vocals, and others influenced from many other types of music, such as classic, rock, pop, and breakbeat.
Commenting on his own album, Armin says briefly that “some of the tracks are more melodic and chilled than past productions”, and this is clearly realized after listening to the tunes. Sweet melodies and nice vocals are heavily used in the album, so they do create a chilling atmosphere for a great 2008 summer.
01. Imagine [9:28]
Guitar - Eller van Buuren
Written-By, Producer - Geert Huinink
An excellent introduction of the album with great electric guitar melodies (played live by his brother Eller Van Buuren) and piano chords. Orchestral elements and choirs also are included in this magnificent anthem.
The track also has a dirty electroish bassline (which will be used in many other tracks in the album), adding energy to the sweet melodies.
02. Going Wrong (with DJ Shah feat. Chris Jones) [5:36]
Vocals, Written-By - Chris Jones
Written-By, Producer - Roger P. Shah
This track got released some weeks before the album does, including remixes. It is produced for commercial purposes obviously, and the vocals and the melodies give a nice summer ambiance. Chris Jones' voice is very good, and fits great in the track.
03. Unforgivable (feat. Jaren) [8:03]
Guitar - Eller van Buuren
Vocals, Written-By - Jaren
The track starts with tribal toms, and the electroish bassline, and some vocal chops of Jaren's voice. We discovered not long time ago Jaren's beautiful voice from her tracks with Shawn Mitiska and her husband Matt Cerf. I foudn it smart from Armin van Buuren to choose her for the vocals on this track. The track in general is dreamy and emotional, and flows very smoothly.
04. Face To Face [7:29]
Vocals - Denise Rivera
Written-By - Adrian Broekhuyse , Raz Nitzan
The melody of this track seems to be a follow up to Armin's classic "Communication", since it includes very close Piano melodies. Armin tried to do a new "Communication" version with this track, but in my opinion fails to deliver the same quality. However, this track has is more modern, with new and fresh sounds. It gets a bit boring after the buildup since the melody repeats a lot. Still, it's a good track to listen to.
05. Hold On To Me (feat. Audrey Gallagher) [7:16]
Guitar - Eller van Buuren
Vocals, Written-By - Audrey Gallagher
Armin again is proving how smart he is, by choosing one of the new vocalists that rose very fast in the last months from the very famous track "Big Sky". The track includes some energy because of the electroish bassline abovementioned and some other "minimal" elements. Audrey Gallagher has a very beautiful and powerful voice, which gives her the best sport for this track. Very good vocal tune.
06. In And Out Of Love (feat. Sharon den Adel) [6:01]
Vocals, Written-By - Sharon Den Adel
This one is one of the best tracks in the album, with great vocals from Sharon den Adel. The track is a breakbeat song, with very good fresh elements (reminding me of "This World is Watching Me" elements), and good melodies! This track is expected to be single released with remixes.
07. Never Say Never (feat. Jacqueline Govaert) [6:59]
Vocals, Written-By - Jacqueline Govaert
This track also has very good melodies, and amazing vocals from Jacqueline Govaert, who is "a Dutch singer[, song writer and] pianist, currently playing with the band Krezip"(Wikipedia.org).. The bassline used is the same as the one used in "Going Wrong", but with more reverb. Armin uses an old skool Trance lead (the Nord Lead), trying to combine the old Trance music with new elements. This tune creates a good summerish feeling.
08. Rain (feat. Cathy Burton) [7:10]
Vocals, Written-By - Cathy Burton
Written-By - Adrian Broekhuyse , Raz Nitzan
When you listen to this track, you will directly realize how Armin is trying again to combine the old skool Trance with new elements and basslines. In my opinion, it's a very good try, since the track creates a great atmosphere, especially when the voice of Cathy Burton is included. Armin uses again piano melodies, and the old Nord Lead to compose a simple but very catchy melody.
09. What If (feat. Vera Ostrova) [7:17]
Vocals, Written-By - Vera Ostrova
"What If" is a bit different from other tracks since Armin experiments some minimal influences in the track with many different elements, such as "electric" sounds, the mid bassline, and the percussions. Vera Ostrova has a very soft voice, and fits well for this type of tracks, which does not involve a voice-power; it just needs to be soft. This track has a potential to be more club oriented if some remixes are made (or in case Armin releases a Dub version).
10. Fine Without You (feat. Jennifer Rene) [6:26]
Vocals, Written-By - Jennifer Rene
Here comes my second favorite on this album, featuring the astonishing voice of the one and only Jennifer Rene. Lyrics are very emotional, and so are the melodies. The track has a "rock" music influence with the guitar instrument used. Pads and background effects are greatly composed, and Jennifer Rene's voice fits perfect with the production. I'm 99% sure this track will be single released with many remixes.
11. Intricacy [7:06]
Written-By, Producer - Sean Tyas
The last track of the album does not 100% reflect Armin's work. The Kick and the bassline are Armin's signature, but the Claps (and how they are reverbed) and the Acid lines compositions are definitely another genius's signature: Sean Tyas.
This track is lovely, and very club oriented. I also expect this one to have some remixes in the future.
To sum up, the album's concept "Imagine" is mostly interpreted with beautiful melodic and vocal tracks to stimulate listeners' imagination. Armin in my opinion tried, in collaboration with many different big artists, to give the trance music different approaches. It is not pure Trance music though since it's influenced a lot from many other genres; It would better be desribed as Melodic, as Armin stated.
Production wise, It's not the best quality we have in the scene, but melodies and vocals wise, they are from the best that we listen to.
This album definitely creates a great summer feeling, and i'm sure most of you will enjoy listening to the tunes while sunbathing, sitting alone under the moonlight, or sailing in the sea.
