Paul Van Dyk - Seven Ways

Revered remixer for the likes of New Order, Tori Amos and Curve, German techno producer Paul van Dyk finally gets a chance to exhibit some of his own work outside of his native country. Steeped in the early-'90s acid-house tradition, his second album, 1996's Seven Ways, gushes with the kind of propulsive rhythms and sweeping synthesizers that make ravers go mad on the dance floor. His signature club hit, "Words," is the initial attention grabber, but other selections, such as "Forbidden Fruit" and the title cut, also stand out for their trippy adventurism. It's a shame it took American audiences so long to discover him. Limited editions of this release come with a bonus disc of essential remixes and remakes. --Aidin Vaziri Amazon.com

Great music to have sex

Many people fail to realize the power of music when it comes to seducing women. The secret is to play rare music that she will not recognize.

7 Ways has rhythm that will set your minds in a total trance. And this type of music has the reputation of putting both partners on the same wavelength. It also gives both partners a lasting rhythm that actually prolongs the whole experience. I highly recommend, that and it sounds great. August 2, 2008

vital trance creation

Quick, how many trance albums can you name? Not compilations, nor DJ mixes, but artistic endeavors crafted by musicians intent on delivering a complete, original experience? More than likely you didn't get past a few fingers, especially if just counting the good ones, but you probably had Paul van Dyk figured in there somewhere. Though known for his DJ exploits or his newest release Out There and Back (a quality if perhaps too-slick tech/trance piece aiming more for clubbers) he should be recognized for making one of modern trance's seminal statements with Seven Ways.

Conceived as a continuous mix, the variety and depth of sound are startling. Opening "Home" has breathtaking builds and chords that pack twice the intricacy of most tunes cranked out today, which in no way prepare you for the fierce, dark growling "Heaven." "I Like It' runes on pure groove, before shifting to the Van Dyk trademark acid squelch/ euphoric atmosphere combo found in several tracks as in "Come and Get It." "People" is the lone stumble before closing with the expansive "I can't feel it," building you up one last time for PVD's oft-mixed "Words." Oh, and there's an entire second disc of alternate cuts to boot.

It's unknown how well electronic dance music can stand the challenge of time, though certainly rereleases of label catalogs like Transmat, and the stream of wide-reaching house and disco sets such as The Loft and Live at the Paradise Garage show the viability. As for trance, Seven Ways plays as invigorating and vital as it did in 1996, no small feat in a genre constantly reinventing its style. March 30, 2001

PvD's best offering to date

You definitely get your moneys worth in this album. Each track on the original CD is inventive, introspective, original, and most importantly, good to listen to. What separates PvD from other artists is his ability to be one of the top club spinners in the world but also be at the top in music production. Perhaps Sasha and Digweed are the only ones in the trance genre that can approach that sort of acclaim from a guy like me.

As an added bonus, there is another disc full of b-sides included, which in my opinion is better than the original. The tracks on the bonus disc are more dance-oriented, and that's not to say the material on the original disc isn't, but the beat and progression on the bonus disc simply bangs louder and draws more of a response out of me.

Paul Van Dyk is one of, if not the best, trance/club music producers on the planet, and "Seven Ways" is his best offering to date with his style of mixing all of the individual tracks together, giving that sense of a "journey" which is more the responsibility of a DJ than a producer...PvD happening to be among the best in both respects. January 4, 2001

Paul Van Dyk does not disappoint..

Paul Van dyk is one of the rare breeds of DJ who produces his own tracks and tracks that are actually really really good. I had listened to singles of his for a few years, as well as remixes but never heard a full cd until his recent out there and back cd. A few weeks after hearing that album I was at a friends and saw this cd laying on the stereo and put it in for a listen. The next day I searched local shops and bought it. The album is a long mix of his own tracks and it's really well done melodic trance without being overly fluffy or cheesy. The second bonus cd has a few really lame remixes but most of the remixes are rather interesting and enjoyable. Tracks 2 5 and 10 are the ones I enjoyed the most. September 13, 2000

Just okay

First of all, I would like to say that I have listened to PVD'S Seven Ways cd and found it to be somewhat repetitive and not really something that would make you get up and move. On the other hand, the bonus cd I can not comment on and give a fair review because when I purchased the cd set I recieved a duplicate cd of Seven Ways and not the bonus cd. Obviously packaging error. Does anybody out there know how I could possibly obtain the bonus cd? August 14, 2000

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