Album Review: Armin van Buuren – Mirage [Deluxe Edition] (2011)

Originally released in 2010 by the worlds #1 DJ for four years (2007-2010), “Mirage” from Armin Van Buuren saw a November 2011 re-release in a Deluxe Edition just in time for the Holiday Season. The three-disc and one DVD package includes the original sixteen track “Mirage” with the likes of familiar names such as Van Buuren, younger brother Eller Van Buuren, Susana Lise, Christian Burns, Nadia Ali, Ana Criado, BT, Ferry Corsten, Laura V, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Winter Kills, Adam Young, Cathy Burton, Van Velzen, Fioria, Jessie Morgan and more.

CD One provides as the perfect soundtrack to just about anything. From its opening track “Desiderium 207” featuring Susana, into the albums title track “Mirage”, it’s evident that Van Buuren knows how to captivate his audience. The albums “This Light Between Us” featuring English singer/songwriter Christian Burns, was chosen as a single and released in 2011 along with several others which made the cut. The gracious Sophie Ellis-Bextor provided vocals for “Not Giving Up On Love” which was released as a single by Bextor and Van Buuren. Some of the albums other collaborations are alongside Nadia Ali on the albums’ “Feels So Good”, Laura V on “Drowning”, Winter Kills for “Take A Moment”, Brother Eller Van Buuren on “Coming Home”, EDM legend BT on These Silent Hearts and long time friend and colleague Ferry Corsten on “Minack” all of which can be found on on disc one. Van Buuren, sure to stick to his roots also set the bar high with the instrumental sounds of “I Don’t Own You” and “Orbion”. The first disc, concluded by Adam Young of Owl City on “Youtopia” is sure to leave you feeling lighter than air.

The second CD features six bonus tracks including an Acoustic Mix of the albums “Virtual Friend” featuring Sophie. Five of six tracks are Mirage Bonus Tracks which we’re included on iTunes since the original release. Although Mirage saw a Remix release this year, Armada and Van Buuren have also included a third CD in the Deluxe Release which includes new remixes from Mirage as well as new remixes of classic trance anthems. With an uplifting remix of the introductory track “Desiderium 207” by Leon Bolier, and a Dennis Sheperd Remix of the title track “Mirage”, Disc 3 is sure to keep your ears entertained. Track 3 is a proper house-music remix from Michael Woods of “Youtopia” featuring vocalist Adam Young, the lead singer of Owl City. The albums first single “Full Focus” sees a new remix release from Chris Schweizer as well as Bonus Track “Breathe In Deep” with a Blizzard Remix. “Imagine” classic tune “Rain” which features Van Buuren along with Cathy Burton is also included on this disc with a new remix from Maor Levi. Nadia Ali makes her second appearance with the ambitious “Who Is Watching” with a new Mike Shive Garden State Remix. Two of the other new remixes found on this disc are Sebastain Brandt’s remix of Van Buuren alias Rising Star “Touch Me” as well as closing track by Laura Jansen “Use Somebody” also mixed by Van Buuren himself.

The DVD serves as the perfect element to complete the Mirage Deluxe Edition. Each Music Video from Van Buuren’s “Mirage” era can be found on this disc. From “Fool Focus” which sanctions fans to visionary glimpse into the A State Of Trance 450 celebrations to the more recent Gaia “Status Excessu D” taking fans on a journey through the more recent A State Of Trance 500, the Mirage DVD collection is a must have for any Armin Van Buuren Fan. With a music video shot throughout Ibiza, Spain for “Not Giving Up On Love” with the elegant Sophie Ellis-Bextor, to the James Bond-Style Casino Royale style “Feels So Good”, and even Laura V & Armin Van Buuren “Drowning” can be seen on the DVD.

Tracklist:
CD1
1 Armin van Buuren feat. Susana – Desiderium 207
2 Armin van Buuren – Mirage
3 Armin van Buuren feat. Christian Burns – This Light Between Us
4 Armin van Buuren vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Not Giving Up On Love
5 Armin van Buuren – I Don’t Own You
6 Armin van Buuren – Full Focus
7 Armin van Buuren feat. Winter Kills – Take A Moment
8 Armin van Buuren feat. Nadia Ali – Feels So Good
9 Armin van Buuren feat. Sophie – Virtual Friend
10 Armin van Buuren feat. Laura V – Drowning
11 Armin van Buuren feat. Ana Criado – Down To Love
12 Armin van Buuren – Coming Home
13 Armin van Buuren feat. BT – These Silent Hearts
14 Armin van Buuren – Orbion
15 Armin van Buuren vs Ferry Corsten – Minack
16 Armin van Buuren feat. Adam Young – Youtopia

CD2
1 Armin van Buuren feat. Fiora – Breathe In Deep
2 Armin van Buuren feat. VanVelzen – Take Me Where I Wanna Go
3 Armin van Buuren feat. Cathy Burton – I Surrender
4 Armin van Buuren feat. Jessie Morgan – Love Too Hard
5 Armin van Buuren feat. Sophie – Virtual Friend (Acoustic Version)
6 Armin van Buuren feat. Christian Burns & Bagga Bownz – Neon Hero

CD3
1 Armin van Buuren feat. Susana – Desiderium 207 (Leon Bolier Peaktime Remix)
2 Armin van Buuren – Mirage (Dennis Sheperd Remix)
3 Armin van Buuren feat. Adam Young – Youtopia (Michael Woods Remix)
4 Armin van Buuren – Full Focus (Chris Schweizer Mix)
5 Armin van Buuren feat. Fiora – Breathe In Deep (The Blizzard Remix)
6 Armin van Buuren feat. Nadia Ali – Who’s Watching (Mike Shivers Garden State Mix)
7 Armin van Buuren feat. Cathy Burton Rain (Maor Levi Remix)
8 Rising Star – Touch Me (Sebastian Brandt Remix)
9 Armin van Buuren – Blue Fear (Orjan Nilsen Remix)
10 Laura Jansen – Use Somebody (Armin van Buuren Rework)

DVD
1 Full Focus
2 Not Giving Up On Love
3 Not giving up on love (Dash Berlin 4AM Mix)
4 This Light Between Us
5 Drowning
6 Drowning (Avicii Remix)
7 Feels So Good
8 Feels So Good (Tristan Garner Remix)
9 Gaia – Status Excessu D

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About the Author

Angela Samartano Angela has been dancing since before she could walk. As a technically trained dancer for the past 20 years, Angela has always had an affinity for bass heavy beats and uplifting trance melodies. Holding a Bachelors of Science in Advertising and Marketing Communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, she has an extensive online journalism background and is current Editor in Chief of EDM Insider. Besides her personal twitter, she is the face behind the @EDMinsider Twitter account.