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Trance music

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Trance
Stylistic originsTechno, Industrial, Synth pop
Cultural originsEarly 1990s, Europe, particularly Germany, The Netherlands ,Belgium and India (Psychedelic trance)
Typical instrumentsSynthesizer - Keyboard - Drum machine - Sequencer - Sampler
Subgenres
Goa - Progressive - Psychedelic - Hardcore - Euro - Hard - Hardstyle - Vocal - Anthem - Acid
(complete list)
Fusion genres
Trancestep - Deep - Tech
Other topics
Notable artists and DJs - Raves

Trance music is electronic dance music (EDM) that developed in the 1990s. Trance could be described as a melodic, more-or-less freeform style of music characterized by steady beat between 130 and 158 bpm and repeating melodic patterns. The genre is arguably derived from a combination of largely techno and house. Trance got its name from repeating and morphing beats and melodies which would presumably put the listener into a trance.

later that day he fell down the stairs and found himself sleeping.

The sound of modern (progressive) trance

By the mid-1990s, trance, specifically progressive trance, had emerged commercially as one of the dominant genres of EDM. Progressive trance set in stone the basic formula of modern trance by becoming even more focused on the anthemic basslines and lead melodies, moving away from hypnotic, repetitive, arpeggiated analog synth patterns and spacey pads. Popular elements and anthemic pads became more widespread. Compositions leaned towards incremental changes (aka progressive structures), sometimes composed in thirds (as BT frequently does). Buildups and breakdowns became longer and more exaggerated. The sound became more and more excessive and overblown. This sound came to be known as anthem trance.

Immensely popular, trance found itself filling a niche as edgier than house, more soothing than drum and bass, and more melodic than techno. It became more accessible to more people. Artists like Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, and Armin van Buuren came to the forefront as premier producers and remixers, bringing with them the emotional, "epic" feel of the style. Meanwhile, DJs like Paul Oakenfold, DJ Tiësto, and DJ Jean were championing the sound in the clubs and through the sale of pre-recorded mixes. By the end of the 1990s, trance remained commercially huge, but had fractured into an extremely diverse genre. Some of the artists that had helped create the trance sound in the early and mid-1990s had, by the end of the decade, abandoned trance completely (artists of particular note here are Pascal F.E.O.S. and Oliver Lieb). Perhaps as a consequence, similar things were happening with the DJs as well. For example, Sasha and Digweed, who together had helped bring the progressive sound to the forefront, all but abandoned it by 2000, instead spinning a darker mix of the rising "deep trance" and "tech-trance" style pioneered by producers and DJ's like Slacker, Breeder, and the duo of Sasha and Digweed (as marked by the duo's 2000 release, "Communicate"). However, Sasha and John Digweed (two completely different people who now DJ less often together) might argue that "Communicate" not be called trance.

At present, trance is as much about who plays the music as it is about what it sounds like. Trance has transcended the underground scene to become the most popular form of electronic dance music, and a figure in the realm of popular music.

However, the fact that trance has entered the mainstream has alienated many of trances original fans. As the Industry became bigger, companies and Dj's began to alter their sound to that of a more pop based one, so as to make the sound more accessible to an even wider, and younger, audience. Vocals in particular are now extremely common in mainstream trance, adding to their poppy sound.

Companies such as Ministry of Sound, once one of the most respected authorities on dance, have also seen a big loss in their cult following as they have repositioned themselves into a younger mainstay market.

For more concrete examples, check out any number of purported trance compilations; perhaps the most highly recommendable source would be the Global Underground series, including its "Nubreed" sub-series, because it captures the diversity of the genre as expressed through many of its brightest DJ talents. Also recommended as source material would be the Tranceport/Perfecto Presents... series, any of Sasha and Digweed's Northern Exposure mixes, and any of the mixes in the Renaissance series. The Labels to reference would include 3Beat, Bedrock, Devolution, Fluid, Fragrant, Hooj Choons, Hook, Perfecto records, Vandit, Armada, Black Hole, Intuition, Positiva, Harthouse, Eye Q, MFS, Platipus, NOOM, R&S, Anjunabeats, Anjunadeep, Yoshitoshi rec, and ATCR Trance Music.

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Classic (genre-defining/-representing) trance records

1989

An early production of Oliver Lieb and arguably one of the very first trance tracks

1990

A classic anthem from the Madchester scene.
Many DJs and fans of the time as well as trance historians consider this record a trance classic, even before trance became a genre of its own. The ethereal sound of this record is the foundation of the trance sound.

1991

Moby's most famous track before he found fame from his album Play.
The first successful trance release on Eye Q. One of the most renowned tracks of the label.
The classic trance record which very probably officially gave a name to the genre in Germany, where the sound was first emulated and produced by subsequent German artists, and played in underground clubs and raves; never alone, but always with another genre of electronic music, as the DJ's back then never played only one style of music.

1992

A classic Balearic trance track.

1993

The Paul van Dyk Lovemix is easily considered a defining moment in art of remixing, giving an otherwise plain tune "classic" status.
Outface is in the middle of the road between techno and trance and serves as a perfect guide in order to understand the evolution from one genre to the other.
One of the very first Goa trance artist albums. This album set a standard for future releases in this genre.
Has become one of the most well known trance tunes of all time. Remains one of the most popular and energetic trance records to this day sprouting off numerous remixes.
Perhaps the first hard trance track, at least the first well known one, with a very deep bassdrum and possibly one of the most recognisable melody lines in trance music.
A huge hit back in the day, this track has become a cornerstone of trance music.

1994

An early trance classic it defined a style and a sound that continued for a decade. Paul van Dyk continues to play it.
This Cygnus X (aka A.C.Boutsen) classic continues to be played even today and has been remixed countless times. It is notable for the number of scales the main theme is played.

1995

One of the last major classic-style trance tracks before the progressive sound emerged.
Considered to be one of the most original and innovative psychedelic goa trance albums. Completely representative of psychedelic goa trance at that time (Astral Projection and X-Dream are typical of a slightly later sound(1996 onwards)), and some claim that it defines the sound of psychedelic trance music, it has been highly influential. This was one of the first Goa Trance albums to sell over 50,000 copies.
This is considered by many the greatest ever goa trance track. Mahadeva catapulted Astral Projection to the top of the genre and brought to prominence the Israeli psy-trance scene.
A powerful dream trance/house hit that has received acclaim from critics both inside and outside trance. This is a song which has introduced many music lovers into the world of dream trance and is widely considered one of the greatest trance songs of all time.

1996

A widely-accepted classic. Example of progressive trance. Composed in thirds, the structure of this tune represents the evolving, progressive structure of mid-1990s progressive trance.

1997 No Access by Hondy

The Salone Margherita mix, at this time played often by Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1 is a key example of trance at its peak demonstrating its amazing symphonic and anthemic qualities.
One of the most popular dance tunes of all time. Written by Brian Thomas Higgins/Stuart McLennan/Timothy Powell/Matt Gray, it is one of the most defining and commercial trance songs of all time, peaking at #4 in the UK, being Dannii's most successful single there.

1998

An epic trance monster that took Binary Finary (producers Matt Laws and Stuart Matheson) worldwide within a year and became an all time classic overnight. Famously influenced by goa and psytrance.
The famous trance track popularized by Oakenfold's album "Tranceport". A genre-defining tune of epic trance.
Massive epic trance club hit, which heralded in the use of female vocals and vocal trance which would soon come to dominate the mainstream aspect of the genre. Initially popularized on Paul Oakenfold's seminal Tranceport mix CD, which featured the superior "Slacker's Rolling mix" of the track.
Another widely accepted classic of Paul Van Dyk's. Considered by many to be a stronger track than even his ultimate classic "For an Angel."
This track from the Platipus label was composed by Simon Berry and has been remixed several times since its first release.
  • Purple (Sasha vs. The Light mix) by Gus Gus
One of the first breaktrance tracks ever released, and still a highlight of the genre for its distinctive layered melodies. Also famous as the track to popularize "cut-up" vocals in the genre.
Widely considered to be one of the greatest anthems of progressive trance, as well as a perennial favorite in Ibiza. Still played by many DJs to this day.

1999

  • Sandstorm/Feel The Beat/Out Of Control by Darude
This track blew up on the Finnish, UK and US club scene and helped bring recognition to Hard Trance. As well, reletively unknown musically, Finland also became prominent on the Dance music scene with JS16 producing this track and the subsequent album in 2000, Before The Storm.
An amazing and awe-inspiring journey through the mind and beats by one of the true pioneers of the genre.
  • Universal Nation by Push
Belgian immortal trance and club classic by Push aka M.I.K.E.
This driving epic trance track was produced by Vincent de Moor & Ferry Corsten and is regarded as one of the tracks that defines epic trance.
This track has become a huge success, giving trance a big popularity boost.
This uplifting, epic track was produced by the British DJ Nick Bracegirdle and is widely regarded as one of the greatest trance singles ever.
  • Ayla (Veracocha mix) by Ayla
A high energy trance classic remixed by Veracocha.
  • Barber's Adagio for Strings (Ferry Corsten Remix) by William Orbit
This Ferry Corsten treatment of William Orbit's rendition of the Adagio For Strings by Samuel Barber, has been one of the most successful marriages to date of classical music and trance.
This track is probably the highlight of Global Underground 13: Ibiza, arguably the best GU album that was released at the height of popularity of progressive trance.

2001

This is a widely regarded classic released by Dutch DJ Tiesto at the height of his career.

2002

A relatively recent track that has been an important addition with its euphoric and emotional melody to any dj's sonic arsenal.

2003

Finnish Trance artist Darude does it again with his new album Rush in which his two most popular singles, Music and Next To You brought about the same popularity of his 1999/2000 offerings Sandstorm, Feel The Beat and Out Of Control. It is widely stated that the Bostik Radio Edit version of Music from the Rush album is considered to be the best version, even over the original album version.

Notable Internet Radio Stations

Additional Radio:


Trance News Portals

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