The Politics of Dancing, Vol. 2

It differs little from his previous releases, but Paul Van Dyk's The Politics of Dancing, Vol. 2 is a satisfying argument that trance isn't dead. It's not even on life support. Van Dyk discards tracks at lightning speed on the album's first disc, a 17-song epic journey into uplifting, atmospheric dancefloor dreaminess. Theatrical stops and starts feature into every one of these blissful numbers, but Van Dyk keeps things moving at a pace such that the listener probably won't notice the gimmicky device is being overused. Otherwise, everything is tasteful with vocal numbers that don't get too precious and just enough Benny Benassi-styled electro to let you know this is 2005 and not 2000. Wayne Jackson's earthy vocals make Van Dyk's own "The Other Side" the album's song to remember while opening the more sprawling disc two. The drops followed by buildups are back for the second set, but the tracks are allowed to hypnotize longer and Van Dyk's segues are practically invisible as the DJ disappears behind the seamless set. From the hooky "Believe" by Santiago Nino to Holden & Thompson's cooing closer, "Nothing," it's Van Dyk at his best, perfectly chosen, perfectly mixed. No stylistic detours, but being so in tune with what makes a trance set work, why should he?