Armin van Buuren, who got the #2 spot on the 2011's DJ Mag poll, is a world-wide known Dutch DJ who held the #1 spot four years in row previously. Last year was a big year for Armin, celebrating his 500th episode of his radio show A State of Trance. It was celebrated in his home country – The Netherlands, with more than 30 DJs from around the world, and the event itself had more than 30,000 attendees. In his personal life, 2011 was a big year as well, because his first child Fenna was born over the summer. Since 2003, Armin managed to release 4 albums, the most recent one being Mirage in 2010. Armin continues to surprise us with his unique sounds from album to album, as well his tune selection for every ASOT radio show. All the Armin fans have a lot to look forward to, as he will continue to supply us with great Trance tracks in the future.

There's no better way to start a 2011 Yearmix than by opening the set with EDM's sexy vocalist Nadia Ali. Her collaboration “Pressure (Alesso Remix)” with Alex Kenjsi is a great way to start off this 2 hour Trance journey. Followed by another great 2011 Trance track is the Myon & Shane 54 Summer of Love remix of “Promises” by Andain. This remix received great attention last year, and ended up in the official Red Bull commercial. Armin has incorporated his own collaboration track “Youtopia (Blake Jarrell Remix)” with Adam Young into this mix, which was released in 2010 on his newest album Mirage. As well as another track off of the same album titled “Drowning (Avicii Remix)” featuring Laura V. The composition of the track “Phoenix From The Flames (Omnia & The Blizzard Remix)” is unique along with Justine Suissa's soft and dreamy vocals on this collaboration with Boom Jinx. While listening to this track, a feeling out of this world takes over and satisfies the listener's ear. Justine's vocals are outstanding on this track, and are full of emotion. The famous trio Above & Beyond also make an appearance on this Yearmix with tunes such as “You Got To Go (Kyau & Albert Remix),” “Sun & Moon (Club Mix),” and “Thing Called Love (Above & Beyond Club Mix)” all featured on their newly released album Group Therapy. These guys will never let us down, and continue to successfully deliver catchy tunes, such as “Sun & Moon (Club Mix)” in which Richard Bedford sings his heart out about a girl he can't get over. Lyrically this song is making a statement about love and losing someone, and contrasting between feelings, like contrasting between the Sun and the Moon. Towards the end of October 2011, Cosmic Gate released their brand new album Wake Your Mind, and it seems like their track with Emma Hewitt “Be Your Sound” didn't slip through Armin's fingers either. The track starts off with low vocals making the listener feel a little bit of darkness, but as the song builds up, so does the track and eventually lightens up. A wonderful addition to this Yearmix is Hannah's “Falling Away (Armin van Buuren Remix),” and although Hannah sings only two words continuously, her unique vocals keep us listening. It's a beautiful dreamy track with a progressive side to it, which makes us Trance addicts fist pump to the catchy beat at any given moment. The first CD includes many great Trance DJs and vocalists such as Nadia Ali, Arty, Mat Zo, Above & Beyond, Markus Schulz, Cosmic Gate, W&W, Ferry Corsten, Super8 & Tab, Tritonal, ATB, and Armin himself.

The less vocal but more progressive hour of the Yearmix is the second hour. The second hour opens up with a collaboration between John O'Callaghan and the NYC native Betsie Larkin with “Save This Moment (Gareth Emery Remix),” it's a strong opener to begin the next hour as it sets the more progressive mood for the listener. “Sun Gone Down” is a co-written track by Aruna, Sir Adrian, and Raz Nitzan for Protoculture featuring Shannon Hurley, who is a fairly new addition to the Trance family. It's a track that anyone will love on the first listen, as it is a very catchy one! An incredibly powerful track is “Into The Light (Alex Morph Remix)” by Gareth Emery featuring Mark Frisch, which continues to set the progressive mood for the listener. This incredible track has been released on Gareth's 2010 album Northern Lights along with 9 other great tracks. Yet again, Armin adds on 4 more of his tracks including a remix of his already known track “Blue Fear” from his 2003 album 76. It lets the listener to revisit and remember his first debut album from almost 10 years ago and compare it with Armin's latest work. There is a great deal of maturity between his 4 albums as well as the maturity of Trance music between now and 10 years ago. Orjan Nilsen modernizes this great Armin track, adding more power, bass, drums, and even more need to fist pump. An angelic tune with vocals from above can be described as “An Angel's Love (Vocal Mix)” by Alex M.O.R.P.H. featuring Sylvia Tosun. This angelic tune gives anyone a rush while listening and tingles your heart with this warm fresh sound. Adding a twist to the mix with “Painting Pyramids” by Bjorn Akesson, which has an extraordinary beginning that puts the listener into a completely different world, followed by the drum beat to fire up any party. To close off the two wonderful hours of powerful Trance, Armin joins forces with another wonderful DJ – Ferry Corsten. Together they brewed up a monster track “Brute” that brings out the clubber in anyone. This song has received its moments of fame on a Dutch station SLAM! FM. 

The double album offers two full hours of nothing but great Trance music. CD1 shows more of a vocal Trance selection while CD2 offers the progressive side of Trance with less vocals. It is very well mixed with great transitions, only using few minutes from each song, rather than the full songs to intensify the Trance rush. The best track on CD1 is “Phoenix From The Flames (Omnia & The Blizzard Remix)” a collaboration between Boom Jinx and Justine Suissa. It's a soft, catchy track and Justine's vocals complete it. And the best track from CD2 is “Sun Gone Down” by Protoculture featuring Shannon Hurley. It is a personal favorite of mine, and the tune is co-written by another great vocalist Aruna herself. Protoculture is actually a PsyTrance DJ who recently began producing in the Trance genre, and I think that it is a great transition between the two sounds. 

Just sit back, relax, enjoy, and listen to get the best of both worlds. Once again, Armin has done it! He closed off a great year with wonderful tracks to please all of our ears and immerse ourselves in great Trance music to remember 2011, and start off the New Year with a positive attitude. 

Review by: Eva Sipkova

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