Customer Reviews

Universal Religion 2004: Armada at Ibiza

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Armin has risen to the top of my favorite DJ list because of CD's like this. Yet it's not like his other ones - - and that's part of what I love about him, he's evolving and keeps blowing my mind by showing how far you can expand rich, deep, melodic trance into new dimensions of sound. Where he used to verge on cheesy in his track selection, he now is more cutting-edge and leads the way in delivering new sounds that hook you with their depth and euphoric, hypnotic beauty.

I especially recommend this album to those on a limited budget who want to spend wisely on a few choice trance CDs. I know several people in California and Texas who are totally addicted to this, and all of them have made profanity-laced comments like "holy f***ing s***, this is incredible!!!!" The fact that these extreme trance fans are going as crazy about this album as I am should come as a very solid recommendation. And when you first hear Track 4, your head just might explode - - the moment it kicks in, it's like you've been transported into a new world of sound. There is nothing quite like it. And unlike so many other good trance CD's that blow their best on the first 3 or 4 tracks, this one is even more solid from track 7 through the end than it is at the beginning.

This album is very rich, thick, extremely melodic, and intensely rhythmic all at the same time. It is not anthemic and doesn't feature belted-out vocals but instead has some unique tracks that use vocals in ways I'm not at all accustomed to -- cool, trippy, edgy, but well-integrated into the overall sound and never obnoxious like the disco queen sound that used to ruin some of the more cheesy trance albums. The overall effect is like an exquisite meal at a 5-star restaurant, or an extremely lush landscape - - filled with colors and flavors that take over your senses and lift your spirit. How anything can be this banging and rhythmic while being so smooth and beautiful, I have no idea, but Armin pulled it all together and made what is now my favorite trance CD ever (as of January 2005, anyway!) Play it loud. Very loud.

I became a fan of AVB's after hearing his "State of Trance 04" cd,and fell in love with his music.I didnt know what to expect because usually when dj's put out two mixes in one year,one is usually pretty crappy and their doing it just for the money.In this case this is not true at all...this is one talented dj that gives you all the bang for your buck!After one listen this cd quickly became one of the best TRANCE cd's I've ever heard!This is epic trance that will make you melt into your seat,and put you into an awesome state of mind,like no other!There is just so much emotion and feeling to this album,it keeps a smile on your face.The live recording makes it so much better,and really adds real meaning to the mix.The mixing and flowing of tracks is done to perfection,there are no errors,it's very professional and certainly not done with cheap equipment.Just give it a listen and Im sure any electronic dance or trance lover will be BLOWN away by this extravagant mix!Way to Go ARMIN I want more !!!!

Armin Van Buuren is the best thing I have been listening too as of spring 2005, still yet not finishing coming to grips with all the mixes on 2004's State of Trance, State of Trance 2005 is absolutely more of the same, and so is this, and that is a very good thing. While trance is certainly moving towards domestic radio and home culture entertainment, break beats now the new outdoor exercise activity of the disco halls, Van Buuren mixes like a radio DJ (and hah, he is a very good one!) to the long distance lorry driver or the security guard who has just come home from work, or the mini group of friends that are looking for the kind of trance that might give them another two hours of life before it is all over, Van Buuren has a nice balance of stuff that will impress the more you listen to it, and this requires you to play the thing even if you do not like it the first time round (and believe me, trance would not be so good if it was not for this effort we make), Van Buuren is really a DJ to behold, much like James Holden or Ferry Corsten, these three names are the new Paul Van Dyk, Paul Oakenfold or DJ Tiesto. This is great trance that is getting better every progressive year. DJ Tiesto really is responsible for this direction, PVD needed a new Politics of Dancing and gave us Vol. 2, Oakenfold's Creamfields is very good and worth getting, Tiesto still has his sunrise series. Anyway this might not be the best start to trance music, but it is some of the very best out there.

Get all the State of Trance CDs, Collect DJ Tiesto, try James Holden Balance 005, Don't forget Mark Schulz - Miami '05, Paul Oakenfold's Creamfields of course PVD's new The Politics of Dancing 2. This is enough to keep that iPod battery running out for the next year or so...

Armin Van Buuren doesn't disappoint with this album, with killer tracks such as Tilt's famous single "The World Doesn't Know" the heart-felt, "Find" by Ridgewalkers the euphoric sounds of "Surrender" by Tranquility Base and the amazing "CQ" by EnMass.

This whole cd takes you for a ride through more fast paced trance to the more chill out trance. It's simply a great cd that after you listen to a few times you'll start having more and more favorites!

In my personal opinion though despite how great this cd is, there are a few tracks which seemed a little boring, but it's not enough to hinder the feeling you get from listening to this cd!

First of all if you don't know who Armin Van Buuren is then you should look him up. He's the number 3 DJ in the world!! If you like Diesto, Ferry Corsten and many trance DJ's you should consider Armin amongnst the best of them. As for the CD, the reason i gave it a five is due to the perfect choice of tracks by Armin to be used at Ibiza and the blending of what he calls the Balearic feeling. Blend of music that gets you up, grabs you and makes you swerve. A cd that ensures good times.

I was fortunate enough to experience this CD "live" at Armada Night at Amnesia 2 weeks before this CD was recorded there in August 2004.

The current trance renaissance owes much of its success to the Armada crew which in my opinion defines modern trance.

The CD begins with "Hello Strings", a track that sets an edgy and rhythmic tone that begs your body to move. The next two tracks are more bliss and less edge, but retain the energy nevertheless. At mid-point Perry O'Neil opens things up with his "hands in the air" track "Waveforce".

The remainder of the set is a superb mix of flawless transitions, sharp keys and strings, build-ups and classic drops. Track 12 - Signum's Timelord is a layering masterpiece that envisions arms open wide riding an energy wave. The last track is Armin's own collaboration with M.I.K.E. (aka Push, Plastic Boy, etc...). A fantastic closer ending the set on a hard "we want more" tone. For those of you who have been to Amnesia, at 3:28 of the last track you will recognize the unmistakable hiss of the cold steam rushing through the tubes over the dance floor. That steam, like this CD is something that must be experienced and can not be justly explained.

PS. For those wondering why I did not rate it as a 5, track number 7 - Talk Like A Stranger is slightly out of place and somewhat "fromage". Oh well, no one is perfect.

Enjoy.

If you love Tiesto or Paul Van Dyk. You have got to hear this cd. It's a mix of the world's two top DJ's. The moment I put this in my stereo it never left. This cd is a must have for any mood that you are in. 2 thumbs up!!!

Armin Van Buuren is a very good DJ. Definately one of the better ones out there and this is his best album. Even though it's live, and I usually hate live CDs (except for this one and DJ Irene's Live at Spundae, where DJ Irene shows us she discovered trance), this is the Armin CD I listen to the most. The State of Trance series is pretty good too but this album is consistently great.
If you like this I recommend you try In Trance We Trust, Special Collectors Edition by DJ Cor Fijneman, Creamfields by Paul Oakenfold and the In Search of Sunrise series by DJ Tiesto.

first: armin is a genius! second: this album is his best condense compilation. the song "Find" dominated the scene both 2004 and 2005-and is still my soul song...listen to this cd-copy it if you have to:) and if you love trance you'll love this- if you don't already:)

On the back of this album.. you will see a quote from Armin saying that he hopes that this CD will bring you the Euphoric feeling ... and a taste of Ibiza... I think he did this very well. This is a great Cd to just put in your CD player and just drift off. Well done and well recorded. The mixing is done so clean you would barely know it hasn't been edited, but that it is recorded live. Bring Ibiza home and get this one!!