New release from Armin van Buuren. The double disc contains 21 unmixed tracks. While some DJs weave a set strictly out of other people’s records, other DJs go that extra mile and add their own productions to the mix. As a result, you desperately want to heartheir own classic tracks and exclusive remixes as much as the freshest cuts at the front of their boxes every time they play out.Armin Van Buuren falls into the latter category, and it’s testament to his ability to produce timeless, genre defining tracks thateven 6 years after their release, clubbers regularly fight their way to the front to beg for one more spin of the likes of Communication and The Sound of Goodbye to make their evening’s aural pleasure complete. It’s now 10 years since Armin’s debut single Blue Fear was picked up by Sasha and Digweed for the Northern Exposure compilation,but this is the first time his back catalogue of trance classics has been available in their full original versions on one CD.

“It’s not really a ‘best of’ album,” says Armin,“it’s more like tying up the loose ends. I’ve produced a lot of tracks under different names - Gaia, Perpetuous Dreamer, Darkstar– and loads of people ask me how to get hold of them, why certain trackswere only ever released on vinyl… A lot of mixes I didexclusively for my sets, but there’s so much demand for them, this seems like a good time to celebrate their success and just putthemout there.”

Not yet 30, Armin’s enjoyed a dream decade sinceunleashing Blue Fear on the world. “It all kicked off for me with that record. Back then, I didn’t really appreciate what it meantto have your track played at half time during a Manchester United match, but now I understand what a big track it was.” His midastouch has stayed with him ever since, Communication wenttop 20in the UK in 2000 – the version on this album has never been released and is probably the most requested track here; The Sound ofGoodbye was picked up by a small label in New York, became a bigBillboard dance chart record, and helped break the notoriously tough US market; his latest remix, Love You More, has gone Top 20 in Holland. Armin’s played gigs and festivals the whole world over,including a memorable gig on Brooklyn Bridge overlooking Manhattan, racked up an impressive number of awards and silverware, andset up the hugely successful Armada label. “It was never the plan!” he laughs, “but I know how lucky I am to be living thislife.”And don’t expect Armin to rest on his laurels, as there’s muchmore to come: “I want to push myself even more creatively, with a big studio, live instruments, artists – but it’ll always be dance music based, as that’s where my heart is.”