Embrace (Armin van Buuren album)
Embrace is the sixth studio album by Dutch DJ and record producer Armin van Buuren. It was released on 29 October 2015 by Armada Music. The album features artists such as Angel Taylor, Cosmic Gate, Gavin DeGraw, Hardwell, Eric Vloeimans and Mr Probz.[4][5][6][7][8]
Embrace | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 29 October 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2015 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 74:28 | |||
Label | Armada | |||
Producer |
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Armin van Buuren chronology | ||||
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Singles from Embrace | ||||
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Background
Explaining the name of the album, Van Buuren said: "The idea was to 'EMBRACE' several different instruments and sounds, and incorporate them into my sound."[9]
Explaining the album cover, Anton Corbijn said: “I photographed Armin with the idea to modify the public perception of him and of what he is creating. He is such a nice guy, so I worked on giving him a bit more edge visually and created images that hold a mix of references to Sgt. Pepper and Mad Max. Playful stuff basically. Apt for a versatile DJ who adores music and travels the world.”[10]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
We Got This Covered | [11] |
John Cameron from We Got This Covered felt that despite Armin van Buuren's status as a "full fledged enterprise", the album still "manages to be genuine at all the moments that count".[11] The critic commented that "discerning trance fan[s] of yesteryear" may ridicule pop-centered tracks like "Another You", but nonetheless agreed that tracks "Make It Right" and "Gotta Be Love" still "allow the euphoric, emotional essence of trance to shine through", while calling the lack of instrumental samples heavily suggested in previous van Buuren interviews as a shortcoming of the album. Krystal Spence of Your EDM wrote that Embrace "opens cinematically like his [van Buuren] previous albums", but quickly "changes pace and sounds" throughout the album, notably with electro-trance track "Off The Hook" whose sound failed to complement with the other 14 record songs. She dubbed "Looking For Your Name" as a "beautiful ballad" produced by an electronic artist, but argued: "Unfortunately, it’s not trance. Most of Embrace isn’t."[12]
Track listing
On 1 October 2015, the list of songs on Embrace was announced in the episode number 733 of van Buuren's radio show A State of Trance.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Embrace" (featuring Eric Vloeimans) |
| 7:36 | |
2. | "Another You" (featuring Mr Probz) |
|
| 3:10 |
3. | "Strong Ones" (featuring Cimo Fränkel) |
|
| 3:08 |
4. | "Make It Right" (featuring Angel Taylor) |
|
| 5:41 |
5. | "Face of Summer" (featuring Sarah Decourcy) |
|
| 6:38 |
6. | "Heading Up High" (featuring Kensington) |
|
| 3:52 |
7. | "Gotta Be Love" (featuring Lyrica Anderson) |
|
| 6:41 |
8. | "Hands to Heaven" (featuring Rock Mafia) |
|
| 6:02 |
9. | "Caught in the Slipstream" (featuring BullySongs) |
|
| 5:07 |
10. | "Embargo" (with Cosmic Gate) |
|
| 5:19 |
11. | "Freefall" (featuring BullySongs) |
|
| 3:19 |
12. | "Indestructible" (featuring DBX) |
|
| 3:16 |
13. | "Old Skool" |
|
| 3:56 |
14. | "Off the Hook" (with Hardwell) |
|
| 5:44 |
15. | "Looking for Your Name" (featuring Gavin DeGraw) |
| van Buuren | 4:53 |
Total length: | 74:22 |
- Notes
- ^a signifies a vocal producer
- "Old Skool" contains elements from "Can You Feel It" by Fingers Inc.
Charts and certifications
Charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- "Techno track produced by Armin Van Buuren called "Old Skool" featured on Embrace album". Armin van Buuren. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- "Pop rock track produced by Armin Van Buuren called "Looking For Your Name" featured on Embrace album". Armin van Buuren. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- "Pop rock track produced by Armin Van Buuren called "Heading Up High" featured on Embrace album". Armin van Buuren. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- "iTunes: Armin van Buuren - Embrace (USA)". Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- "iTunes: Armin van Buuren - Embrace (UK)". Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- "iTunes: Armin van Buuren - Embrace (Canada)". Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- "iTunes: Armin van Buuren - Embrace (Europe)". Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- "Amazon.com: Armin van Buuren (Embrace)". Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- "Armada Music: Armin van Buuren - Embrace (Story Announced)". Armin van Buuren. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- "Armada Music: Armin van Buuren - Embrace". Armin van Buuren. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
- Cameron, John (2015-10-30). "Armin van Buuren – Embrace Review". We Got This Covered. Archived from the original on 2017-06-04. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
- Spence, Krystal (2015-11-03). "Is Armin Van Buuren Still the "King of Trance"?". Your EDM. Archived from the original on 2017-09-24. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
- "Ultratop.be – Armin Van Buuren – Embrace" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "Ultratop.be – Armin Van Buuren – Embrace" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "Armin Van Buuren Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Armin Van Buuren – Embrace" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Armin Van Buuren – Embrace" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- "Swisscharts.com – Armin Van Buuren – Embrace". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- "Armin Van Buuren Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2016-02-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)