Paul van Dyk’s latest album, ‘Music Rescues Me’, is the ninth collection to be delivered by the electronic musician, composer and performer. Containing collaborations with Alex M.O.R.P.H., Sue McLaren, Jordan Suckley, Plumb, Saad Ayub, Lostly and a host of other talents, the album us out now.
Paul van Dyk: “Though it might have been its seed, this new album is not about music bringing one person back from the brink. Its theme reaches beyond that. This is about music’s ability to open us up, to stimulate mental imagery, to unlock or bring back memories. It’s about its often hard-to-fathom capacity to support us, to get us through our tougher or more challenging times, as well as soundtracking the good ones, and making them even better.
“This, to me, goes beyond the mere ‘inspirational’. This is something else. That music can ‘unlock’ us, allow us to access emotions and places our mind might not otherwise go to is nothing less than extraordinary. It’s both force and a gift. I feel that’s a big part of what keeps it so magical for me - indeed for all of us. So this album is a celebration of this most mysterious, impalpable and wonderful aspects of music’s nature.”
Stimulus driven by his recuperation from the now-well-documented events of spring 2016 has had the profoundest of effects on van Dyk’s life-view. That has been expressed most clearly through his professional work, taking the form of a tap-wide-open creative stream. Telegraphing Paul’s developmental, progressing and to-the-future outlook, it’s one that’s echoed by the vibrant state of the music scene in which he operates.
For the album, a number of last year’s co-producers have been invited back to the studio with Paul. Alex M.O.R.P.H., James Cottle, Jordan Suckley and Tristan D (under his new Delta One guise) are some of those who’ve returned to Berlin to write follow-up tracks. With even deeper roots in the PvD universe, there are also vocal contributions from Sue McLaren (‘Lights’/’We Come Together’) and Plumb (‘I Don’t Deserve You’).
Equally though there are co-productions with artists that Paul is in a studio partnership with for the first time.
Paul van Dyk: “Alan Wyse, Steve Deekay, Saad Ayub, Rafael Osmo, Project 8, Lostly - these are musicians from around the world who, week-in, week-out, we see lighting up the VONYC forums.
“The producers who’ve really risen in estimation for me. Sound-wise, each one has their own area and represents a different sub-style within our shared field. It’s these shades, grades & tones, meshed with my own, that open up a whole world of new musical angles for this, my ninth album.
“My greatest aspiration for this release is that people - either now, or in years to come – listening to ‘Music Rescues Me’ will find that one of its tracks elevates, alleviates, opens them up, or takes them out of themselves. That’s the point at which I’ll consider it a success.”
© justaweemusicblog.com
