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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After topping the DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs in 2007, it seems that Armin van Buuren has gone on to achieve the international superstardom enjoyed by the likes of Tiesto and David Guetta, not to mention claim 2 more DJ Mag titles. The last few years has also seen his music take a more commercial route, as was evident on his last album 'Imagine', and with names such as Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Adam Young of Owl City fame making vocal contributions, it may not look good to the old school Armin fans.
The album does start off positively, however, with 'Desiderium 207'. Haunting wordless vocals from Susana draped over dreamy synths makes for a spine-tingling intro, which flows nicely into the title track: an epic trancer which feels like everything and the kitchen sink has been thrown at it. With orchestral pieces and a crunchy guitar riff, it's not dissimilar to the title of Armins previous effore 'Imagine', and equally as powerful.
From here it's mainly business as usual. The vocal-heavy tracks such as 'This Light Between Us', 'Not Giving Up On Love' and 'Feels So Good' you probably won't hear on any self-respecting trance DJ's set, nonetheless there are no filler-sounding tunes on here and there is enough variation to keep you interested. The album also has a feeling of 'flow'; not like they are just a bunch of B-Sides thrown randomly together. The big positives on here come in the form of the progressive 'I Don't Own You' and the hard hitting 'Orbiton', full on trance tracks that will no doubt rip up a few dancefloors and remind you
that it is indeed the same artist who gave us 'Communication' etc.
So it may not be an absolute return to form, but it was never likely to be. 'Mirage' is indeed very commercial sounding. However, after the dreadful 'Kaleidoscope' from the Legend that is (was) Tiesto, it's nice to see van Buuren hasn't completely sold out. There are enough solid trance tracks on here to keep most of the Armin faithful happy, and it's varied enough to be an acceptable commercial dance album, a happy medium which I suspect may have been the aim of the album in the first place.
The album does start off positively, however, with 'Desiderium 207'. Haunting wordless vocals from Susana draped over dreamy synths makes for a spine-tingling intro, which flows nicely into the title track: an epic trancer which feels like everything and the kitchen sink has been thrown at it. With orchestral pieces and a crunchy guitar riff, it's not dissimilar to the title of Armins previous effore 'Imagine', and equally as powerful.
From here it's mainly business as usual. The vocal-heavy tracks such as 'This Light Between Us', 'Not Giving Up On Love' and 'Feels So Good' you probably won't hear on any self-respecting trance DJ's set, nonetheless there are no filler-sounding tunes on here and there is enough variation to keep you interested. The album also has a feeling of 'flow'; not like they are just a bunch of B-Sides thrown randomly together. The big positives on here come in the form of the progressive 'I Don't Own You' and the hard hitting 'Orbiton', full on trance tracks that will no doubt rip up a few dancefloors and remind you
that it is indeed the same artist who gave us 'Communication' etc.
So it may not be an absolute return to form, but it was never likely to be. 'Mirage' is indeed very commercial sounding. However, after the dreadful 'Kaleidoscope' from the Legend that is (was) Tiesto, it's nice to see van Buuren hasn't completely sold out. There are enough solid trance tracks on here to keep most of the Armin faithful happy, and it's varied enough to be an acceptable commercial dance album, a happy medium which I suspect may have been the aim of the album in the first place.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Armin van Buuren = trance music. His 'A State of Trance' albums and radio show prove this, and the afore mentioned albums and his DJ sets are usually sublime. He is the best mixer of trance music (and probably most other forms of music as well) than anyone else out there at the moment. Which is why it's a shame that, in my opinion, this album isn't very good.
I've heard comparisons between this album and the horrific Kaleidoscope by Tiesto, the latter being exceptionally commercial. Most people have said that Mirage is not as commercial and they are right. There are some tracks which are not commercial at all, usually the ones with no vocals in them, and it's good to see that AvB has kept in some more traditional trance sounds within this album.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of tracks which are very vocal-dominated, which is fine if the musical talents of the artist are not lost in the process, but in most of these songs, I feel that the ability of AvB's music creating quality isn't shown in full. He has created a couple of stunners in the past, such as Shivers and Burned with Desire, which have soothing and gorgeous vocals that complement the euphoric trance music, rather than destroy it. He appears on many tracks to have let the vocals dictate the song, rather than compliment it.
In addition, the tracks on this album that are not vocal-dominated don't seem to express AvB's full talents either. No, they're not commercial, and yes they are trance - but they are still disappointing, and just seem to be in there to satisfy people like me who wanted to avoid a totally commercialised album. AvB can create better music than this, and he certainly has an ear for stunning tracks, as his State of Trance albums have proved on numerous occasions.
Yes, AvB is at his best when mixing, but Shivers was a better album than this. The talent, the professionalism and the sheer quality that this guy possesses in a musical sense is not in question, and long may his compilations continue. But Mirage, in my opinion, is somewhere deep in the huge shadow of Armin's ability.
I've heard comparisons between this album and the horrific Kaleidoscope by Tiesto, the latter being exceptionally commercial. Most people have said that Mirage is not as commercial and they are right. There are some tracks which are not commercial at all, usually the ones with no vocals in them, and it's good to see that AvB has kept in some more traditional trance sounds within this album.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of tracks which are very vocal-dominated, which is fine if the musical talents of the artist are not lost in the process, but in most of these songs, I feel that the ability of AvB's music creating quality isn't shown in full. He has created a couple of stunners in the past, such as Shivers and Burned with Desire, which have soothing and gorgeous vocals that complement the euphoric trance music, rather than destroy it. He appears on many tracks to have let the vocals dictate the song, rather than compliment it.
In addition, the tracks on this album that are not vocal-dominated don't seem to express AvB's full talents either. No, they're not commercial, and yes they are trance - but they are still disappointing, and just seem to be in there to satisfy people like me who wanted to avoid a totally commercialised album. AvB can create better music than this, and he certainly has an ear for stunning tracks, as his State of Trance albums have proved on numerous occasions.
Yes, AvB is at his best when mixing, but Shivers was a better album than this. The talent, the professionalism and the sheer quality that this guy possesses in a musical sense is not in question, and long may his compilations continue. But Mirage, in my opinion, is somewhere deep in the huge shadow of Armin's ability.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Armin has really done a good hard work in the studio with fantastic people around him!!
I Love his style him Tiesto and Ferry Corsten are the BEST in the Buisness!!
Frankie Wild, vejle dk
I Love his style him Tiesto and Ferry Corsten are the BEST in the Buisness!!
Frankie Wild, vejle dk
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Non-stop listening!! :o)
I have listened to this album non-stop since owning it and I still love it! Would recommend it to any Van Buuren fans.
Published 17 months ago by S. Morrison
Armin at his best
If you like Armin then this is him at his best not quite like seeing him live but close.
Published 18 months ago by B. F. Meredith
great
this is fantastic,trance music with some brilliant singing over the top. some well known artists on here too.
Published 18 months ago by andy
Hes back!!!
Being a fan of Armin van buuren i was thrilled to hear the news of the releasing a new studio album. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Barry Pearce
Grows on you but the special bonus tracks edition is better
I agree with the other reviews. However before you read on, I recommend that you get the Special Bonus Tracks Edition which has four brilliant extra trance tracks that are so... Read more
Published 19 months ago by ham the man
Great artist CD. It's a bit unfair to compare it to his mix CDs
This is a great artist album, which is how it should be reviewed and not be compared to his previous excellent mix CDs - just as you wouldn't with 'Above & Beyond' and Tiesto. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. J. R. Barton
Stick to mixing
As always, a good album from Armin. Though it is far below par when compared to his mixes. His ASOT albums simply blow this out of the water, and that is the speciality that he... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ben Kelly
What are you talking about ?
fantastic album.
Trance personified ...
Virtual Friend is the stand out track for me .... Sublime beauty
Trance personified ...
Virtual Friend is the stand out track for me .... Sublime beauty
Published 20 months ago by Stephen P. Daly
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