ARMIN VAN BUUREN.

Armin van Buuren builds music that only works at full power when the tension is given time. A melody is allowed to appear first, and only later fill the entire space.

With Van Buuren, a recurring chord can first form the background and later define the entire feel of a track. The power lies in the timing of that shift. On vinyl, you can listen to his album work and longer selections with a different focus than during a busy set: the layers behind the grand melody come to the fore, as does the calm that precedes the release.

76 is an entry point to his albums. Piano reveals another side; the releases surrounding A State Of Trance demonstrate how his work also lives on in a longer series.

The 2000s provides context to a period in which dance became an album world of its own for more and more listeners. Through trance and electro, you can follow the rhythm and melody further.

Above & Beyond shares the focus on build-up. Daft Punk, Soulwax, Depeche Mode, and New Order demonstrate just how many other routes electronic music can take.