Trance Music ?????

[DJ Pete]

I have been reading this forum for a wile now and I have seen that most of you produce old music, well I'm here asking if any of you like the modern music styles like Trance. Do you know what Trance is, post what you don't or do like about, and do you like where this type of music is headed?

 

[EndlessCoda]

Trance audio art....

Let me start with a few adjectives:
Dry, cold, souless, empty, vacant, robotic, emotionless

Also, I have difficulty calling this music, audio art seems to be more fitting to me. Because 'art' is a looser term and it doesn't imply that there are any actual musicians involved.

Summary: It is my least favorite of all modern music, and I am truly saddened by it's growing popularity. As for it's future, I'm hesitant to speculate. I suspect that it is still on an upswing though, and will continue to grow more popular until it eventually becomes over-exposed and burns itself out.

Best case scenario for me is that scientist's find some sort of use for it, like maybe for high speed data transmission.....you know, now that I think about it some of it does sound like modem noise (beepp. hhhssssshh. .beepbeepbeep. ..hsshhh) run through a quantizer. Hmmm I might be onto something here.....

<-peace->

 

[Henri Devill]

To say that "trance" is a new form completely ..hummm I don't know.To me its a modern different version of the music called "new age"that is used to create a feeling of relaxation/meditaion.Same with "trance" its a mood music...
So nothing new is really new.You could go back to "chanting"
to find the roots to those types of musics...Where its heading?
Who knows?


Don

 

[DJ Pete]

Re: Trance audio art....

Let me start with a few adjectives:
Dry, cold, souless, empty, vacant, robotic, emotionless

Also, I have difficulty calling this music, audio art seems to be more fitting to me. Because 'art' is a looser term and it doesn't imply that there are any actual musicians involved.

• Well EndlessCoda do you know what Trance music is and don't tell me Darude - Sandstorm, cause thats not even close. What type of music or artists do you listen to EndlessCoda?. The point that you have made, all of them, are far from the truth.

• Trance music has the most Emotion of any music produce on this planet and it sure not Dry, cold or souless. Trance music has some real life about, everything you here in the song has reason why its there, it tells a story with out words which sux in most songs anyway. Who wants to here stuff like I love you, my boy friend left me and shit like that, its all the same in every song.

• You say that its not music cause your not playing anything, so then you must think most of the music that you hear in the movies is not real then to. Movie producers use Synths and soundfronts to produce theme songs and sound FXs so I think your way off on that call... Here is a song on myplay (Extreme Trax / Final Fantasy) that will back up all of what I have said, and for all of you that have never heard Trance please have a listen and tell us what you think

http://www.myplay.com/

• andy: djpeter11p@optusnet.com.au

• pass: trance

 

[DJ Pete]

To say that "trance" is a new form completely ..hummm I don't know.To me its a modern different version of the music called "new age"that is used to create a feeling of relaxation/meditaion.Same with "trance" its a mood music...
So nothing new is really new.You could go back to "chanting"
to find the roots to those types of musics...Where its heading?
Who knows?


Don

yes you are quite right in one way, Trance is really Classical and tribal music together with todays Synths. Classical music is the cords and Melodies and Tribal is the rythum

 

[Scriabin]

i dont agree that trance is not music for it has sound. some argue that music is defined as a combination of melody, harmony and rhythm. well i agree with that to a point but i believe that the greatest music is the sound of everyday life, after all this is the soundtrack of our lives. anyhow, trance is nice but too much rots the brain.

 

[EndlessCoda]

Re: Re: Trance audio art....

• Well EndlessCoda do you know what Trance music is and don't tell me Darude - Sandstorm, cause thats not even close. What type of music or artists do you listen to EndlessCoda?. The point that you have made, all of them, are far from the truth.

• Trance music has the most Emotion of any music produce on this planet and it sure not Dry, cold or souless. Trance music has some real life about, everything you here in the song has reason why its there, it tells a story with out words which sux in most songs anyway. Who wants to here stuff like I love you, my boy friend left me and shit like that, its all the same in every song.

• You say that its not music cause your not playing anything, so then you must think most of the music that you hear in the movies is not real then to. Movie producers use Synths and soundfronts to produce theme songs and sound FXs so I think your way off on that call... Here is a song on myplay (Extreme Trax / Final Fantasy) that will back up all of what I have said, and for all of you that have never heard Trance please have a listen and tell us what you think

http://www.myplay.com/

• andy: djpeter11p@optusnet.com.au

• pass: trance

DJ Pete,
I really can't cite names of trance artists and their songs. My exposure to Trance has been through people getting me to listen to their collection and sometimes friends sending me MP3's. The only one I can find on my hard drive right now is Powerline - Double Journey...not sure where they rank on the scale of popular Trance though. I've probably spent maybe an accumulated total of 4 hours listening to Trance in my life. So I am quite certain that my knowledge of Trance is lacking, when it comes to saying who is good or bad. But how long should be spent listening to something, after it's been decided that you don't like it? I dunno.
Perhaps, I made a mistake by posting without being an avid listener of Trance. But you were looking for opinions right?

Anyway, I listened to your link, and unfortunately it hasn't change my opinion of Trance at all. Though, I thought it was a good representation of this style of music, more dynamic than anything I've heard yet. Truthfully, I'm starting to feel like I am incapable of feeling the emotion or "mood" that lots of people say it conveys so well. It's all very empty and sterile to me.

About the 'audio art' comment, not that this is really worth discussing any further, but I didn't mean that as an insult at all. 'Art' is a good thing. I do want to point out that you misunderstood me though, I didn't say that is wasn't music because there aren't actual instruments. Anyway, I don't want to go any further down this road, because it involves personal definitions of what "music" and "musicians" are. These things mean different things to me, than they do you. I, honestly think that is a great thing. As Scriabin said, to him, the greatest music is the sound of everyday life. That's a very cool way to look at it.

<-peace->

 

[barefoot]

My wife, baby and I just went to the Fusion Festival the weekend before last. Mostly Psychedelic Trance. We had a great time, the people were outstanding, though I can't say I liked most of the music.

Trance has it's moments, but it's generally too static for my taste. But, I guess this is the point. You set up a fast, very redundant beat, to help zone out the listener's mind (same basic principle as the music used in many tribal 'transcendence' rituals) - really great if you're already on A or E!

I like moving bass lines, syncopated rhythms - GROOVES! You almost never get that from trance, techno or acid house.

Of course there is also some bad ambient, breakbeat, triphop and d&b out there, but give me FSOL, Fila Brazilia, Massive Attack or LTJ Bukem over Paul Okenfold, Carl Cox, Atmos or Infinity Project any day.

exception: Saafi Brothers do downtempo trance... and they f#%king rock!


barefoot

 

[someone else]

Trance,........
Elevator music of the future


Give me a real musician, and a real instrument, I like all types, as long as it is done well.....

Classical,... celtic,......some country,.... rythm and blues,.... rock,.... new age,(some),.... oldies,.... jazz,.....


All these, acording to what you are saying, are garbage....????


comeon man,... I know some folks have points to make about their 'kind' of music, but the best of each class, has a little bit of creativity to it, and it is done by someone sitting at a real keyboard, or strumming a real guitar, and using their own vocal chords to sing words from their own mind,......

thru the ages, music has evolved, to express the times, and every era has it's classics.

Trance,...????
I don't think so dude.... it has its place, and being a 'classic' from now, isn't one of em.....

Sorry, thats my honest opinion.....

Upstate

 

[barefoot]

In his latter years Beethoven wrote music with pen and paper without being able to hear a note. So, I guess we shouldn’t classify him as a “real’ musician when he wrote his 9th Symphony?

Electronic composers write music with computers which “real” musicians in many cases could not even physically play. It’s a different medium, no more or less valid than any other. As with any music it has it’s rarer brilliance as well as its vulgarity. If you don’t care to take the effort to discover those gems, it’s your loss.

barefoot

 

[someone else]

Barefoot,

I do understand that it is just another medium, and that for those who understand how to use it, their creativity flows, but to compare the results to a composer like Beethoven is like saying that George Washington could compete with the political world of today,.......... not possible.

I'm not saying that it is not a valid form of expression, only that it will never attain the status of 'Classic', and for good reason.....
It has none of the qualities of becoming a Classic, which are,...
Universal appeal, understanding by the listener as to the instrument, The ability of aspiring 'musicians' to learn how to play a piece, and very important, The acceptance of the general public that listens, I can just see it now,......... A super-star accepting a Grammy, the programmer wheels out the CPU to give the acceptance speech.......

I don't think so......

Again, only my opinion...

Upstate

 

[barefoot]

Upstate,

Here were the 20001 Grammy dance music nominees:

"Who Let the Dogs Out," Baha Men
"Blue (Da Ba Dee)," Eiffel 65
"Be with You," Enrique Iglesias
"Let's Get Loud," Jennifer Lopez
"Natural Blues," Moby

Moby is an electronic musician. I'm not a big fan, but his record is CLEARLY the most sophisticated, emotional, inspiring, etc., of this bunch.... no question. Did he win? Of course not. Why? Because the Grammy's are a joke.

Please, let's not use universal appeal to the flatulent, milk fed masses as the gauge of profound art. Man, if that's the reality, then let me just slit my wrists right now.

barefoot

 

[someone else]

I agree that the Grammy thing is a joke, but then I think most of todays 'music' is also a joke,....

It used to be that music expressed true, and beautiful emotions by the average person, and when you heard a tune being played, there was a way to relate to what the words said, :IE, a story, a situation, or whatever, and usually it expressed a 'good' part of society as a whole,....
Now the CRAP that is out there is so dis-jointed from the average life in this country, just listen to some of the 'Rap' words, or 'Punk' words, or bands like Limp Bizcut(?) they all glorify the worst traits that any society can have, and in most cases, the stuff that ends up being 'popular' is what the record company thinks it should push.....That unfortunately ends up in the ears of people that are too young to really understand that the stuff they are singing about, is only a reality for a very small part of our society....
The rebel attitude has been around for a very long time, but it is only in recent times that the so called 'artists' have encouraged the concertgoers to take matters into their own hands, and get physically abusive while the music is being played,.....

The result is very much a negetive thing, as can be witnessed by seeing what happened at this past woodstock.

The riots were encouraged by the bands that played....
This, to me, is not a good thing, and is absolutely not what the Woodstock spirit is all about....

I don't mind differences in music, it is a part of what makes life interesting, but when the 'artists' are playing a key role in the destruction of things, and encouraging men to ignore a womans rights, and actually taking part in gang rapes, and other despicable forms of human repugnance, that is where I draw the line....

I've said enuf, and i'm getting all wound up.....

So, I'll quit now before I go off the deep end....

Upstate

 

[barefoot]

I couldn't agree more that we should avoid the negative when it has no obvious redemptive or cathartic value. I would include blind materialism, consumerism, and faith in the corporate power structure in that lot as well.

All the more reason for you to step into the underground electronica scene.

For the most part the people and music give off extremely good vibes (with the exception of crowds where methamphetamines have taken a stronghold - nasty drug). But it's beginning to become mainstream. We need new people with fresh, positively subversive ideas.

 

[DJ Pete]

I couldn't agree more that we should avoid the negative when it has no obvious redemptive or cathartic value. I would include blind materialism, consumerism, and faith in the corporate power structure in that lot as well.

All the more reason for you to step into the underground electronica scene.

For the most part the people and music give off extremely good vibes (with the exception of crowds where methamphetamines have taken a stronghold - nasty drug). But it's beginning to become mainstream. We need new people with fresh, positively subversive ideas.

yes thats right, the music is a bout peace and becoming as one, and because most of Trance has no words, its up to you how you precive the songs meaning.

 

[DJ Pete]

Barefoot,

I do understand that it is just another medium, and that for those who understand how to use it, their creativity flows, but to compare the results to a composer like Beethoven is like saying that George Washington could compete with the political world of today,.......... not possible.

Well you should think that the Trance Artist are the modern day composers, but just using a different way of creating there master pice. Also I think Trance and also Techno will be a classic, think about it 10 years time are you going to look back and think it will be pop music.??? this is the order in time in relation to the music. 60s Rock and roll, 70s Disco, 80s rock, 90s Techno, 00s Trance. Why don't you think about that for a min or two.

 

[barefoot]

Let me just be clear that I’m talking about Electronica in general as being a wellspring of creativity.

I think Trance and Techno tend to be two of the worst ‘flavors’ of Electronica, though there are a few artists who are exceptions.

barefoot

 

[ABSOULUTE]

I didn't like "electronic music" at first because all I heard was that
madonna,janet and michael jackson,hyper remix bullshit on the
radio.My friend from work introduced me to some real techno,and house music and I have been hooked ever since.I know what I like and don't like and trance I definitely don't like.The main reason is the beats are cheasy as hell,and it all sounds the same.

When I listen to dance music I want the beat to groove,some funkyass bass,and thick chords.I don't need all of the above,but at least one.Trance maybe cool if you are rollin or something,but if
you're sober as hell it gets boring real quick!

We already have some classics in my 22 year old opinion,I was going to name some but too many too little time.

My favorites:Armand Van Helden, Deep Dish,Basement Jaxx,Cassius,Swayzak,and the Chemical Brother's, to name
some popular groups.

A.B.

 

[DJ Pete]

I didn't like "electronic music" at first because all I heard was that
madonna,janet and michael jackson,hyper remix bullshit on the
radio.My friend from work introduced me to some real techno,and house music and I have been hooked ever since.I know what I like and don't like and trance I definitely don't like.The main reason is the beats are cheasy as hell,and it all sounds the same.

• You see that just it most people don't realy know what the hell they are talking about when it comes to "electronic music", just as you said there ABSOULUTE. How much real Trance have you heard? The point saying that you think Trance beats are Cheasy, is that Trance branched off Germen Techno in the early 90s and if you where to take Techno, Trance and House Drum tracks and compair them the difference it would be very little, the thing that sets these styles apart is the synth lines and how they are use together and also how the tracks build and progerss, Did you listen to the Trance Track that I posted earlyer?

• House

• House is generally acknowledged to have started in the Warehouse club in Chicago when resident Dj Frankie Knuckles mixed combinations of Disco, Europop and Soul with synthesised drum tracks, creating a simple but solid four-to-the bar pattern which was very danceable. Devotees named the music after the club and it was later shortened to House.

• The classic House rhythm is a solid four beats to the bar played at 120-130bpm, although the tempo can be slightly higher. There is usually a kick drum on all four beats with a snare and/or hand clap on beats two and four.It can have Vocals although they aren't essential and maybe a piano loop also. It has a simple bass line and melodies are generally simple too.

• Techno

• One of its main purist characteristics is its devotion to the four-to-the-floor bear, its use of heavy sounds, repetition and electronic content. It normaly runs at 125-145bpm but can go high as 160. It can be minimalist and still use vocals although tend to be widespread and are oftern samples. Techno is considered to have developed in Detroit in the early 80s

• Trance

• Trance came about in the early 90s branching off Germen Techno. Trance is named cause it's supposed to put you in a Trance like mood. It's been described as danceable Ambient. It's a Techno derivative normally played around 140bpm and it usually has a four-to-the-floor beat. There is much repetition provided by the arpeggiators and TB- style 303 bass lines. Listen for Synth effects and complex layered synth sounds. The music often builds to a Crescendo several times throughout a song. Many tracks devolve into spacey ambience with floating piano type lines at the end

Trance maybe cool if you are rollin or something,but if
you're sober as hell it gets boring real quick!

• I don't know about rollin when listen to Trance, I my self and many others that i know don't take drugs and have been Trance Fans for many years, I been listen to Trance since 94 and I'm 26

 

[hixmix]

Listening to Bach's "Goldberg Variations" played by the likes of Glenn Gould puts me in a "trance" any day of the week.