It’s looking like a big year for Dutch DJ Armin Van Buuren. His weekly radio show “A State of Trance” is about to reach its six hundredth episode aired to almost 20 million listeners, and to celebrate, he’s going on a world tour called “The Expedition”. That sounds big, but it pales to his other accomplishments as the reigning king of trance music and the number one DJ in the world.

So, as a preview, he brings out his yearly mixtape, A State of Trance 2013, a showcase of the best trance artists today, including new material from Armin himself. Trance music is characterized by repeating melodic and anthemic qualities mixed with powerful four to the floor beats, and often uses female singers. Not to mention those killer build ups and drops.

Split into two sides, this can be enjoyed track by track or as full mixes done by Armin himself. And either way the results are mostly stunning, with instrumental brilliance (“Nehalennia”, “Grotesque”, “Musa”), or full fledged songs with infectious sing along power (“Lights”, “Shelter Me”, “Waiting For the Night (Beat Service Remix)”)

At times, the music can feel formulaic and monotonous, especially after extended listens when everything blurs together. And the songs are all edited, which may disappoint hardcore fans wanting the full versions. But the quality of the material, along with hard stylistic twists, more than makes up for it, and I’m especially pleased with the inclusion of BT’s incredible new track “Skylarking”, who I consider the master of this genre. Armin’s new tracks are also incredible, especially “Nehalennia” and “D# Fat”.

This is a great piece of work that can simultaneously attract the uninitiated but curious listener and satisfy seasoned trance fans. So, to quote Armin, let the music take control, and turn your brain into a dance floor.