As anyone knows who keeps up with the DJ world and trance music in general, Paul Van Dyk is one of the premier DJs and trance masters out there. His live sets are not only legendary, but they also showcase a massive talent to parlay music into an unforgettable experience for the crowd and make it a event that most will talk about for weeks to come. With such a devote following, it is no surprise that Paul Van Dyk is constantly voted one of the top DJs in the world and his live sets are always filled to capacity . His music has progressed since his beginnings and while he still mostly known for trance, we have also seen him cross borders and now infuses house and techno music into his sets which allows him more variety in his presentation. We see this natural progression in his newest release Cream Ibiza.
Cream Ibiza is a two-CD compilation that captures the real live experience of Ibiza and club atmosphere of Amnesia, covering a wide variety of genres from minimal and electro to house, trance, and techno. As in most live sets, the music builds during the set and in a way we see that with each CD but each one seems to exist with its own character.
I do feel that some of the choices on the first CD come across as dated even though many of the tracks still aim to please and provided enough to stamina and energy to keep the party going. I am curious about the opening track he uses because it definitely doesn't flow as an entrance and "Always Want" doesn't help build on to the following tracks. While some tracks like "Get Down" and "Freakshow Disco No 2" miss their mark in this collection and come off as out of place, there are several tracks that seem to resonate with Paul Van Dyk's signature sound and his own "New York City" is a perfect example of a great track that is seamlessly infused into the mix and generates a certain electricity and excitement that any crowd would feed off of.
The second CD, though, is definitely a better experience and definitely feels like something you would hear at the peak hours of Ibiza or at any nightclub PVD is performing at. It is here that that you realize the sheer brilliance of Paul van Dyk's seamless weaving of over 20 tracks in the span of little more than an hour and truly feels as though you are a part of a true live experience with the master DJ himself. While there really is no one massive track on the release, all the tracks are mixed so flawlessly that it feels as though it is one huge massive set that is definitely going to please the trance enthusiasts. The Signalrunners remix of "Waves" by Nitrous Oxide is used so beautifully at the beginning the second set and definitely leaves you desiring more and flows so well into the following tracks.
Other such tracks like "Elektra" by Super8 and Tab are so spot on and seem to flow so beautifully with the next track that it's hard to gather when it truly ends or begins. Other amazing tracks on this CD are "Phoria," "Follow Me," and "No More Alone" but all the tracks on this second CD seem to work and provide a cohesive set for a maximum listening experience. I do think though that it would have been better for PVD to lower the quantity of songs played and had longer play periods for each song so each song could have been maximized even more. Still though, the second set is an amazing experience and definitely makes this two disc set worth buying.
While the first CD set of Cream Ibiza seems more disjointed and lacking of what most true Paul Van Dyk's fans may be looking for, the second CD definitely lives up to the DJ's reputation. The various differences between the two cd sets may though attract a larger fan base since one is more reflective of PVD's move toward progressive sounds in house and techno while the other is more steeped in the trance roots that PVD has built his music on. I think this actually make this CD experience even better in that there is something for everyone and they can all be happy with the final outcome... which is a phenomenal live DJ experience that definitely kicks the party into high gear no matter where you may be listening. I definitely suggest this cd set for anyone who is fan of trance or Paul Van Dyk and for anyone who is looking for an authentic live DJ experience without leaving the house or flying to Ibiza.
Released June 2008.
