Shivers [CD]

Shivers is Armin Van Buuren's first artist album (we'll discount 2003's 76 as that would be like saying Sasha's first full-length album was The QAT Collection), yet despite the wait, and a plethora of guest vocalists and producers as a support cast, there's nothing remotely groundbreaking, and very little original, to speak of.

Opening with "Wall Of Sound", featuring Justine Suissa and the aptly named "Empty State" sporting Mic Burns' deeper tones, the dreamy and ethereal approach to their delivery can do little to shore up the fact that they're drab and predictable songs. There's even former Genesis vocalist Ray Wilson popping up on the breakbeat-ish "Gypsy" - need I say more?

Surprisingly this album was two years in the making; recorded in Amsterdam, San Francisco (with Gabriel & Dresden), Miami (with Markus Schulz) and New York (with Nadia Ali of Iio who features on "Who Is Watching"). Armin's pairing with G&D on the rousing "Zocalo" is actually one of the album's few highs; the other in collaboration with fellow Dutchmen Remy and Roland Klinkenberg on the proggy "Bounce Back".

Armin is quick to declare that Shivers is a major step for him into full songwriting, having co-written most of the lyrics. A brave move that whilst perhaps satisfying his own craving, fails to offer anything new to the creative process.

As a DJ the sellout tours and worldwide bookings speak for themselves, however making the transition to the recording studio is not always as smooth. People may pay top dollar to hear a DJ spin, yet not nearly as many will pay a similar price for a DJs CD. Stick to what you do best mate, play other people's music. --Jack Smith

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Shivers features some brilliant vocal and production collaborations with notable highlights including Zocalo a co-production with US producers Gabriel & Dresden with a superb melodic track that lies in the current vogue area of trance meets house. Not to be outdone, fellow Dutch producers DJ Remy and Roland Klinkenberg get together with Armin for a tougher edged mid-tempo techno workout "Bounce Back". Vocal collaborations also include long time Armin vocalist Justine Suissa on dirty breaks track "Wall Of Sound", Ray Wilson (another long termer) on rolling progressive breaks track "Gypsy", IO’s (Ministry Of Sound) Nadia Ali on the chilled "Who Is Watching", Martijn Hagens on equally laid back tale of female induced woe "Golddigger" and finally Mic Burns on uplifting tech trancer "Empty State".

Armin also teams up with celebrated composer Jan Vayne on Serenity which is the theme to the massive Sensation party in Holland this year. Shivers is more than just a trance album but rather, displays all the signs of an accomplished piece of electronic music refusing to be pigeonholed.