Mirage

Mirage won't please those who have been dismayed with Armin van Buuren's move toward commercial dance-pop. The songs on the producer's fourth studio album are among his most succinct and straightforward. The productions are, unsurprisingly, immaculate, led by the Sophie Ellis-Bextor collaboration "Not Giving Up on Love" -- the most euphoric of the lot, amidst vocal contributions from Nadia Ali (iiO), Christian Burns (Bleach Works), Adam Young (Owl City), and a few others. ~ Andy Kellman