For An Angel (PvD's E-Werk Club Mix)

Paul van Dyk's "For An Angel (PvD's E-Werk Club Mix)" and Its Place in the Late '90s Trance Golden Age.

In the euphoric haze of the late 1990s, electronic dance music (EDM) was exploding from underground raves into a global phenomenon, with trance emerging as its most emotionally charged vanguard. This era—often hailed as trance's "golden age" (roughly 1997–2002)—saw the genre evolve from its gritty techno and house roots in early '90s Germany and the UK's rave scene into a melodic, uplifting force that dominated European superclubs and festivals. Powered by synthesizers like the Roland JP-8000's "supersaw" waves and labels such as Harthouse and Eye Q, trance tracks built hypnotic tension through soaring arpeggios, ethereal breakdowns, and pounding 130–140 BPM rhythms, capturing the post-Cold War optimism of reunified Berlin and the hedonistic energy of events like the Love Parade. It was a time when trance infiltrated mainstream consciousness, influencing pop crossovers (e.g., Madonna's Ray of Light in 1998) and soundtracking the rise of mega-clubs, all while prefiguring the broader EDM commercialization of the 2000s.

Enter Paul van Dyk's "For An Angel (PvD's E-Werk Club Mix)," a 1998 remix that epitomized this trance renaissance. Originally a raw 1994 debut on Berlin's MFS label—crafted with humble Roland gear like the Juno-60 and TR-808—the E-Werk version paid homage to the iconic Berlin nightclub where van Dyk honed his craft as resident DJ. Clocking in at over eight minutes of pure propulsion, the track layers cascading piano motifs and shimmering synth leads over a relentless four-on-the-floor beat, creating an angelic ascent that feels both intimate and infinite. Released amid trance's commercial surge, it became van Dyk's signature anthem, a staple in DJ sets from Cream in Liverpool to global compilations, embodying the genre's knack for blending minor-key melancholy with euphoric release. Its enduring legacy? Sampling in modern hits like Topic's 2022 "In Your Arms" and a 30th-anniversary edition, proving trance's timeless pull even as EDM shifted toward festival drops.

Paul van Dyk, the East Berlin-born pioneer (real name Matthias Paul), has since cemented his status as trance's architect, twice topping DJ Mag's charts (2005–2006) and earning a Grammy nod for Best Dance/Electronic Album with 2003's Reflections. Other notable works include his seminal 1993 remix of Humate's "Love Stimulation," which helped define progressive trance; the vocal-driven UK Top 10 hit "Tell Me Why (The Riddle)" (2000) featuring Saint Etienne; albums like Out There and Back (2000) and In Between (2007); and mix series The Politics of Dancing (2001 onward), blending his productions with global talents. High-profile remixes for Britney Spears and soundtracks for Mirror's Edge and the Oscar-winning film Zurdo (2003) further showcase his boundary-pushing influence, from underground euphoria to cinematic scope.