Hands on In Between

AMG Review of Hands on In Between

Rick Anderson
All Music Guide

Paul van Dyk's celebrated artist album In Between was followed by lots of touring, a situation that lends itself naturally to a follow-up placeholder release built purely out of remixes. A project like this can be either a cynical money move or a genuine artistic exploration that sheds new light on the original versions. In this case, it's mostly the latter -- and the budget-line pricing helps dispel the cynical view as well. The album opens powerfully with van Dyk's own remix of "Talk in Grey," a brilliant version on which Ryan Merchant's lush and laid-back vocal is counterposed with an urgent house beat. A Kyau & Albert remix of "Complicated" mines similar territory, though the beat is more complex and Ashley Tomberlin's vocals are even prettier. On the second disc, Tomberlin is back for the Giuseppe Ottaviani remix of "Get Back," on which a nervous and jumpy beat suddenly gives way to a straightforwardly gorgeous song. The Tyler Michaud remix of "Haunted" and Tom Colontonio's take on "Complicated" are equally lovely, and if the Reaves & Ahorn remix of "Détournement" is a bit headache-inducing, well, it's a rare house or trance compilation that can go that long without inducing a headache.