After a few weeks of absence the regular Matt Darey news are now back on i:Vibes. Read on for his latest news, reviews, top ten list and an exclusive PVD interview.

Well its been a busy month for me in the studio and I’ve been making a start on my new album working with some really interesting people from Rock band Alabama 3, EDM duo Second Sun to Kirsty Hawkshaw and Tiff Lacey. From breaks to progressive to Rock........keep your ears peeled for something a bit different from me in the coming weeks. You can check out some of the new sounds and the tracks mentioned in this column at my brand new website www.mattdarey.com.

Exlusive Matt Darey i-view with Paul Van Dyk
Trance Titan Paul van Dyk will release the double mix CD The Politics of Dancing 2 this month. The CD marks Van Dyk’s first mix compilation in four years, since 2001’s The Politics of Dancing. This is arguably van Dyk's best compilation yet, and shows how far he has embraced new digital technology. The majority of the tracks on Politics Of Dancing 2 have been reworked, remixed, rearranged or edited by van Dyk to form this unique compilation. The melodic, slower rhythms of CD 1 include tracks by Jose Zamora, Shiloh, Whiteroom, and Mr. Sam, while the tougher beats of CD2, feature tracks and remixes from the likes of Jose Amnesia, Angello & Ingrosso, Marco V, and James Holden.
The end result is a stellar mix by one of dance music’s most exceptional figures. I caught up with Mr Van Dyk to find out more:

MD: Having been at the top of your game for years now do you still find being a DJ a challenge or is it second nature to you now?

PVD: It’s a bit of both. I am DJing for over 14 years now so it’s kind of a second nature. But it’s never business as usual! New clubs, new tracks, new technical opportunities – right now I am working with Ableton Live which is pretty exciting for me. It’s giving me the opportunity of working with at least 12 channels, of spontaneously reworking, remixing or editing songs and interacting by playing the keyboards live while the track is on. Next to DJing I am still also a producer and I am running my own label VANDIT Records. So, if you want a challenge you can find it!

MD: What is a typical day in the life of Paul Van Dyk?

PVD: Having breakfast, taking a walk with the dogs, working at the studio or office. Then there’s the airport-hotel-venue-hotel- airport- thing, it depends on the day!

MD: Do you think club land is as healthy as ever?

PVD: As we all now, the authorities shut down a few clubs, the legal restraints are much harder than they were some years ago. There are still amazing Clubs and Venues all over the world and wherever I am, I can feel the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd when it’s about music, dancing and having a good time. And finally that’s what it is all about.

MD: What do you see as the future for EDM? Is it all about the fusion with other Genre’s of music?

PVD: Electronic Dance Music has got so many facets! It’s evolving constantly, based on technical progress and artists’ inspirations. Right now you’ll probably see it focused on mixing Genres, we’ll see which way it goes in the future.

MD: What are your views on the new wave of DJ’s now using Software on there lap tops for live performances instead of vinyl or CD’s?

PVD: I am one of them and I love the flexibility and new opportunities!

MD: Your new album Politics Of Dancing 2 is your first mix album for a few years. Why was there such a long break between albums?

PVD: It was just not time for a mix album. I released the artist albums REFLECTIONS and RE-REFLECTIONS, the GLOBAL DVD, produced the soundtrack for the Mexican movie ZURDO, did countless remixed for my label VANDIT and for other labels and producers, too.

MD: According to your press release, you have embraced the use of the latest technology to mix the album often making unique re-edits and remixes of the tracks. What was involved and what technology did you use to achieve this?

PVD: The same technology that I am using while spinning, the Ableton Live System and additional the Serato Scratch Live and Audio Logic!


Matt Darey Reviews
Listen to all the tunes reviewed in the mix at the brand new www.mattdarey.com website.

Hernan Cattaneo & John Tonks - Warsaw (Bedrock)
I always try to drop in a bit of quality breaks into my sets to start the proceedings wherever possible and this track is as lush as they come with an ambient breathy lead riff coupled with classic breakdown. Because its arrange for the big room it rocks in a very progressive way but still has the hands firmly in the air. Have a listen if your on the web at dpdj.co.uk. 4/5

Deep Sky ft Jes - Ghost (W/L)
Deep sky from LA bring us a fine piece of progressive vocal EDM. The amazing vocals of Jes who brought us Motorcycles “When the Rush comes” bring the music to life with some sweet melodies and lyrics. This is the kind of tune that will stand the test of time and still get spins in years to come!!! Have a listen if your on the web at dpdj.co.uk. 5/5

Suicide Sports Club - Last Ghost Town (B-rock)
First release on Digweeds new B-Rock Label taken from the forthcoming “Electric Mistress”. I loved what the Redanka guy’s did with U2’s Vertigo. They have a unique sound blending Rock with EDM. Now they give Last Ghost town the same treatment with equally amazing effect. Interested to see what’s up next from these guys 5/5

Matt Darey ft Tiff Lacey - Always (Darey Products)
Recently I’ve been experimenting with deeper progressive sounds and using more organic sounds of guitars and real strings. This track is somewhere between a production from Gabriel and Dresden and the Irish folk band “The Corrs”. Ambient filtering atmospheres with acoustic sounds of real string sections. This is a definate move into new territories for me and next month you’ll be able to hear my recent colaboration with Rock Band “Alabama 3”. Have a sneaky preview on my new website www.mattdarey.com Judge for yourself!!

Menno de Jong - Tundra (Intuition)
I hammered the last release on this label “Johnas – Castamara” one of the few labels still making quality purist trance and still keeping it interesting. Its always good to be armed with something that keeps in with tradition and the Fierce dub mix of this tune has the Euphoric crew in there element with Glow sticks in hand. Lush melodies and Nrg bass lines with classic breakdown. 3/5

Carlos Resort - Rise (Spinning)
Typically following the sound of Belgium tech trance label Spinning, this new offering from Carlos will be big with the harder trance boys. Everything you have grown to expect from a label who’s track record is impeccable. Driving trance with chunky beats and ball busting bass line buzzing synths. Bring on the green lazer’s, glow sticks and another disco biscuit! 3/5

Headstrong - Show Me The Love (W/L)
Yep, its here, the follow up to the massive “Close your eyes” that rocked the worlds trance floors with Tiesto to Armin to Judge Jules. Already tried and tested tune on BBC Radio 1 here in the UK and even finding a place on tong’s show this is set to be bigger than the last. Its all about the song and will undoubtedly get the remix treatment from yours truly by the time you read this!! 5/5


Matt Darey Top 10 (11)
01. Way out West - Killa (Distinctive)
02. Apogee - Cold Fusion (Precision)
03. Dave Lambert - Yeh (Mostiko)
04. TDR - Squelch (Spinning)
05. Hernan Cattaneo & John Tonks - Warsaw (Bedrock)
06. Deep Sky ft Jes - Ghost (W/L)
07. Unknown - Last Ghost Town (Bedrock)
08. Matt Darey ft Tiff Lacey - Always (Darey Products)
09. Menno de Jong - Tundra (Intuition)
10. Headstrong -Show Me The Love (W/L)
11. Bart Caessen - Playmo (United)