• Interesting, long-awaited collaboration
• Perfect balance of both artists’ sounds & style
• Melodic & interesting production overall
Written by our fan Ishuka. Thank you!
As premiered at Armin’s ASOT 900 main stage set where they called Tony & Jono back, the audience was shocked and why wouldn’t they be? It’s a collaboration between two renowned artists in the electronic scene, something people really wanted back in 2010-14. The two heavyweights have remixed each other’s productions as well, notably Armin Van Buuren remixing “Sky Falls Down” by Above & Beyond (who were known as OceanLab back in 2002), and Above & Beyond returned the favor by remixing “Sound Of Goodbye” as the alternative alias of Perpetuous Dreamer in 2007. Further more, their successful radio shows/festivals have set landmarks in the genre, this team-up is definitely a treat for both the fan-base.
“Show Me Love” begins with a metronomic kick and reverbed claps, something very noticeable in Armin’s club mix of “Lonely For You”. It is then followed by some punchy snares and rides, which leads to some vocal synth and a main vox, backed up by some energetic festival trance leads. An Anjunabeats type climax is noticeable in the beginning, with an engaging pattern and bass to add the ASOT festival flavour. Things become more interesting when the breakdown approaches, filled with an amazing piano arrangement and a classic trance riff, resonating with Armin’s signature sounds again but with an Anjunabeats friendly structure. After this, something unusual and creative follows: the main riff is used as a build-up, followed by an electro groove climax. This resembles what Above & Beyond have lately been doing in instrumentals like “Rocket Science” and “A. I”. This climax provides an excellent rhythm with the various components working together, embedded with a frenetic structure.
As closing thoughts, “Show Me Love” is a well-balanced record, with a distinguishable 50/50 from both Above & Beyond and Armin Van Buuren. It fits the contemporary style well enough, but it is worth imagining what this joint-effort would’ve sounded back in the peak-time days.
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