PAUL VAN DYK
POLITICS OF DANCING 2

Politics – nothing to do with dance music? The genre’s most vociferous critics are fond of laying this charge at the dancefloor, insisting it’s a space devoid of any social or political action – a playground for hedonists only. But this simplistic view denies the fact that the dancefloor is a collective space for youth cultures the world over, containing many strands of political opinion. It also denies the numerous attacks made on rave culture in the developed and developing world. From the USA’s R.A.V.E Act and the UK’s Criminal Justice Bill, to the many police and military crackdowns on dance culture across Asia, Europe, and North America. Authorities are quick to act, citing dance music as a threat to the ruling order.

Paul van Dyk’s first instalment of Politics Of Dancing made clear his belief that dancing is itself a political act. He should know. As someone who was spied on by the Stasi in his native East Berlin before escaping over the wall to the West, he understood all too well that radios and early dance music were treated as instruments of Western propaganda. His experiences have led him to work with social organisations from India’s Mumbai province to social care networks in his native Berlin in partnership with the German Red Cross (Ruckenwind).

In stark contrast to the popularised image of the ‘superstar DJ’, as with his private conferences with leaders of the main German political parties, much of his work goes on behind the scenes. But when the need arises, as with 2004’s Rock The Vote campaign in the USA, he is there to add a public face to a movement (in this case his efforts helped add an extra 15 million voters to the electoral roll).

Musically, Paul is on top form in 2005. New single, ‘The Other Side’, is currently topping club charts worldwide, and receiving heavy rotation on Radio 1 courtesy of long-term supporter Pete Tong. This compilation is arguably his best yet, and shows how far Paul has embraced new digital technology. The majority of the tracks on Politics Of Dancing 2 have been reworked or rewritten by Paul to form this album. The melodic, slower rhythms of CD 1 includes tracks by Jose Zamora, Shiloh, Whiteroom, and Mr Sam, while the tougher beats of CD2, features tracks and remixes from the likes of Jose Amnesia, Angello & Ingrosso, Marco V, and James Holden. The end result is a unique mix by one of dance music’s most exceptional figures.

TRACKLISTING:

DISC 1 01. Alex Gold - String Theory  02. Tranquility Base - Getting Away  03. Calmec - Tangerine  04. Jose Zamora & Damian DP feat Paleday - Transatlantic  05.  Shiloh - Dream On  06. Walsh And Coutre Feat. Holly - Burn 07. Thomas Datt  - Alone  08.  Lolo – Why? 09. Purple Haze - Adrenalin 10. Kuffdam And Plant – Summerdream 11. Filo And Peri Feat. Fisher - Closer Now  12. White Water feat. Melinda Gareh - The Unknown  13. Marc Van Linden - Forbidden Love   14. White Room Feat. Amy Cooper – Someday 15. Kyau vs Albert - Falling Anywhere  16. Mr. Sam - Lyteo  17. Solange  - Messages

DISC 2 01. Paul van Dyk - The Other Side (Brand new PVD Single!!!) 02. Jose Amnesia vs Serp  - Second Day 03. Agnello & Ingrosso - Yeah  04. Simon & Shaker featuring Alicia Hawkes - Make It 05. Yellow Blackbird - Superfly 06. Giuseppe Ottaviani - Linking People 07. Marco V - More Than A Life Away  08. Thomas Bronzwaer - Close Horizon  09. Mark Norman - T34   10. CJ Stone - Shine  11. Santiago Nino  - Believe  12. Perasma - Swing To Harmony 13. Dallas Superstars - Higher  14. Wellenrausch - Carry On  15. Holden & Thompson - Nothing

THE ALBUM

Paul van Dyk’s first instalment of Politics Of Dancing made clear his belief that dancing is itself a political act. He should know. As someone who was spied on by the Stasi in his native East Berlin before escaping over the wall to the West, he understood all too well that radios and early dance music were treated as instruments of Western propaganda.

Musically, Paul is on top form in 2005. New single, ‘The Other Side’, is currently topping club charts worldwide, and receiving heavy rotation on Radio 1 courtesy of long-term supporter Pete Tong. This compilation is arguably his best yet, and shows how far Paul has embraced new digital technology. The majority of the tracks on Politics Of Dancing 2 have been reworked or rewritten by Paul to form this album. The melodic, slower rhythms of CD 1 includes tracks by Jose Zamora, Shiloh, Whiteroom, and Mr Sam, while the tougher beats of CD2, features tracks and remixes from the likes of Jose Amnesia, Angello & Ingrosso, Marco V, and James Holden.

The end result is a unique mix by one of dance music’s most exceptional figures.