Paul van Dyk ‎– Forbidden Fruit

This is, for me, Paul Van Dyk's best single by a long shot (taken from his best album by a long shot), and one of the very finest examples from the golden mid-90s era of progressive trance, just after the genre had developed from its classic German roots and just before it became overblown Euro-tosh.

The original version of Forbidden Fruit found on Seven Ways is a very nice trance record from the Cosmic Baby school of intertwining pretty melodies but this single release a year later really steps up the production side of things with three superb new mixes.

Of PVD's two new versions, the "Fruit Of Love" mix retains most of the original's melodies and uplifting mood, but boasts considerably more sophisticated percussion and synth programming. The "Forbidden Future" mix, in keeping with its name, takes the track in a darker and more futuristic direction with a pumping, synth-driven sound.

While these two versions are excellent in their own right, the collaboration with BT for the "Food Of Love" mix is the real highlight. Comparisons with the other big BT & PVD collaboration of 1997- Flaming June- are inevitable, but this is darker, harder and altogether more ferocious than that summery anthem. From the punchy breakbeat intro to BT's trademark classy piano chords in the breakdown via hair-rising acid riffs and devastatingly clear production, this is an absolute monster of a track.

This is a practically unrecognisable PVD from the one putting out pap such as White Lies today, and if you ever want to convince someone that he was once a great producer, these three mixes will speak volumes.

The 'BT & PVD's Food Of Love Mix' is essentially a sister record to 'Flaming June' by BT, and as such mix together harmoniously.

The original album version was very much in the older Paul Van Dyk style, i.e. in terms of sounds probably more interesting, but somewhat 'twee'. Here though the pair reinvent the track as a sure fire dance floor destroyer. A breaky intro gives way to whooshing gasses and then the meaty beat kick in. The real triumph though is on the enormous break down and teasing build up that surely must have caught many a raver and even DJ out. In particular, listen out for the warped sound fx that heralds the tracks escape from the break down and back into the pumping groove - it can only be described as similar to that which was used by 808 State back in the early 1990's.

To witness this track on the dancefloor is one of life's little marvels.