Firstly, I'd like to say that this post is speaking only for myself, and not for the site I work for. This is a personal expression of dissapointment on a matter I think trance fans should have brought to their attention.

You've probably seen a lot of trance sites interview Paul Van Dyk over the years. Despite that, I was really pleased when he agreed to an interview with the site I work for: TranceCritic.com. PVD told us to send some questions to his manager and that he would answer them in due time. We're a small, but growing site and an interview with PVD would be a great boost. We also decided as a community that we wanted to ask challenging, genuinely interesting questions for the man, rather than the likes of "what inspires you?" Anyway, we put together some great questions and sent them off. My boss, DreamTitan decided that it would be good to have a review of the Politics of Dancing 2 put up alongside the interview, and I was given the job of reviewing it. Anyway, having listened to it several times, I was more than a little dissapointed with it. I reviewed it thoroughly (you can read it HERE if you're interested) and awarded it 6/10. A slightly above average mark. Some people agreed with this score, some people felt I had under-rated the album, but everyone agreed that as the reviewer, it was my decision.

The original plan was to put the review up at the same time as the interview, but Paul took a long time to answer, so we decided to go ahead with the review anyway, as POD 2 is a big release and we needed to have it covered. Anyway, there was a long period of silence and eventually, PVD's webteam contacted us today, saying that they had decided that the interview would not be completed. Their reason? They sent us a link of our POD 2 review. This was hugely dissapointing, as PVD had agreed without any conditions for the interview, and then had pulled out at a later date because he felt that we hadn't rated his album highly enough.

We looked into it further, and got the same response. PVD's team were unwilling to provide content for a site which had marked down a compilation that "all the critics and fans were raving about". Now, before anyone accuses us of bashing for attention, I'll point out that the original Politics of Dancing was given 8/10 by another reviewer, and I myself gave his album Seven Ways a perfect 10/10 mark. The site has always been very pro-PVD because we enjoy his productions. But the message was clear: no glowing review, no interview.

Now everyone at TC has expressed their dissapointment there, but I, as the reviewer and as a PVD fan, was really let down by this. I gave the album an honest reflection of what I thought it deserved. But now, apparently personal opinions are not good for music journalists. You see a lot of sites out there raving about POD 2, and also delivering interviews with Paul himself. I take pride that I don't sacrafice the integrity of my reviews or the TranceCritic name by sucking up on big releases. As a review site, we should be honest, because our reviews are what can decide whether people spend £15 on a record. It's a sad state of affairs where the world's most popular DJ cannot respect objective criticism of his work, even by his fans.

I thought I'd bring this to your attention because people deserve to know this kind of thing. This is not a pro or anti Paul Van Dyk sentiment, because I love his productions and he is a better DJ than most of his competition. However, I felt really let down by his attitude over my criticism. People all over the world want to read PVD interviews, fans and casual observers alike. I don't think that a site should have to barter with someone who has freely agreed to do an interview, especially not for a reason like this.

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Mixes:
> Maximum Elevation [Progressive House]
> DI.FM 26th Anniversary Guest Mix [Progressive House]
> Live @ Dance:Love:Hub London, 11.10.2025
> Higher Peaks [Progressive House]
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24

Like these sets? Come see me play live at Kibosh in Manchester: https://www.instagram.com/kibosh.mcr/

That doesn't really surprise me, and I knew what was going to happen as soon as you said you gave it a 6/10. Sadly, that's the case in today's pop-culture. People put their ego and popularity first and foremost before personal opinion. Many people forget what appeals to some does not appeal to others.

Did this surprise me? No. Is it still sad to see people stroking their egos and not letting everyone have their own opinion? Yes.

-10 for PvD

Weak. Hopefully it was more a decision based by the webteam than it was by PvD himself.

So childish by Paul van Dyk or if it was his webteam that called off the interview. I think he's got to be professional and take this kind of criticism, Come on, It's not the end of the world if you review it honestly and comment the compilation.

Welcome to "the industry".

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quote:

Addy fo SHADDY ! hiccup, KA pladdy.

hey, if you were bashing my cd, i wouldn't want to talk to you either.

from my experience with pvd this doesn't surprise me at all but it is still sad to hear and good for you for giving your honest opinion on the album. we need more reviewers to be honest than to just think about the perks of giving a good review.

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So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skys from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

quote:

Originally posted by Omega_Blue hey, if you were bashing my cd, i wouldn't want to talk to you either.

6/10 is not bashing.

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TranceCritic ftw!

I could have told you first hand that that would probably happen.

Don't say anything bad about PvD or his management will try to blackball you. Their...umm...ego...is well known throughout the industry.

Dave

PS. This statement was said on my own behalf and not reflective of anyone associated around me. So for god's sake, hold me responsible for what I said and don't take it as saying it for a bigger purpose.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Cinos 6/10 is not bashing.

you're right, considering that there are pretty much no 10/10
and I do mean professionally reviewed and scored
none of that OMFG I DIE !!!!! 11/10 crap

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Summary of an ASOT episode:

- The newest tunes selected!!!! the hottest tracks in a row!!!! here is your host arrrrrmin van buuuuuuuuhreeennnnnhnnhhn
- hello and welcome glad u cud join us this is a state of trance episode blah blah blah
- waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaaaaah whineeeeeeeeeeeee blah blaaaaaaaaah
- that was the newest track by blah bla and before that was blaaaaaaah
- waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....the end
Vomit-inducing trifecta tunage: Zocalo | Summer Dream | Shivers

what a cock i say. cant take critisism.

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quote:

Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On OOKA-OOKA ME NACHOS ME PRESS KEYS ON COMPUTER GOOD

quote:

Originally posted by DaveT Don't say anything bad about PvD or his management will try to blackball you. Fortunately, him and his management's...umm...ego...is well known throughout the industry.

This is why I wanted to bring this to a wider audience. All kinds of things like this can go off behind the scenes, and all we ever see is positive reviews and smiley interviews.

___________________
Mixes:
> Maximum Elevation [Progressive House]
> DI.FM 26th Anniversary Guest Mix [Progressive House]
> Live @ Dance:Love:Hub London, 11.10.2025
> Higher Peaks [Progressive House]
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24

Like these sets? Come see me play live at Kibosh in Manchester: https://www.instagram.com/kibosh.mcr/