Is Trance becoming a dirty word?

Ddisco

Seems to me that Trance has lost/is losing its credability with a lot of Dj's - any opionion's on this?

L1011

Lost its credibility with a lot of DJs who either never played it, or have moved on.

People move on, there are new people replacing them all the time.

gsparx

it became a dirty word around 1999. people started sporting "trance sucks" t-shirts and the big names (oakenfold, sasha at al) started moving away from it.
it seemed to survive all that and the..."WORLD'S BEST DJ'S"....seem to spin trance. i suppose, because it can be the most accessible genre of dance music.
has it come full circle?

FruitLover

Ddisco wrote: »

Seems to me that Trance has lost/is losing its credability with a lot of Dj's - any opionion's on this?

I did about ten years ago, when trance started getting sh1t. I'll have to try to remember what they were now.

Executive Steve

jaysus, have you been in a coma since 1996?

Jay D

People will listen to mainstream ****e and that is and always has been dirty but there are still some very decent trance albums floating around if you are willing to look.

pallepille

gsparx wrote: »

it became a dirty word around 1999. people started sporting "trance sucks" t-shirts and the big names (oakenfold, sasha at al) started moving away from it.
it seemed to survive all that and the..."WORLD'S BEST DJ'S"....seem to spin trance. i suppose, because it can be the most accessible genre of dance music.
has it come full circle?

dont know about that tbh, oakenfold still drops some nasty trance bombs to this day, fcukin pants he is anyway. I do agree though, I think a lot of people initially get into the music through trance and then move away the more experienced/matured their taste gets. For me it started to sound samey quite quickly. All those 12 minute (well u know what mean) epics with their generic 4 minute breaks do feel quite monotonous after a period of time (did to me anyway).............Having said that though its still a thriving business and probably always will be (just as long as their is 16 year olds haha), as someone else said more people will always jump in where others left off. Personally i couldnt sit and listen to a full 80 minute trance mix with only like 11 tracks on it though.

pallepille

sorry bout the sh*tty quoting, dunno whats goin there

joker77

FruitLover wrote: »

I did about ten years ago, when trance started getting sh1t. I'll have to try to remember what they were now.

+1

[cm]tyranny wrote: »

jaysus, have you been in a coma since 1996?

+1


I used to love trance music, stuff on Platipus records from the UK (Union Jack - 2 Full Moons and a Trout And Art of Trance - Gloria), Eye-Q records from Germany (Cygnus X, Earth Nation, Odyssee Of Noises), Visions of Shiva, some of the Reactivate albums, all that stuff.

Such a shame that it was hi-jacked into the sh*te that followed

hottstuff

Agreed , i stopped playing trance back in 98.
Most Clubbers hate trance IMO.

Jay D

are people here saying that there is no good trance around now?

joker77

Jay D wrote: »

are people here saying that there is no good trance around now?

I stopped listening to it a long time ago, so wouldn't know.

Are you saying there is? Post up a youtube clip of something if you are

pallepille

Jay D wrote: »

are people here saying that there is no good trance around now?

i personally dont thinks its just as simple as that, what i mean is trance like a lot of other genre's isnt just black and white, there are sub-genre's of sub-genre's if you know what i mean. If your talkin about epic stadium trance then for me absolutely not the next one is as bad as the last, however i do know there is some more techier edged stuff out there now and even some more proggy stuff that wouldnt be quite as blatantly obvious and could grab my attention a lil bit more (doubt id ever play it tho), hell even deadmau5's stuff was being classed as electro-trance at one stage i think. So to just say no there is no good trance at all whatsoever is a pretty broad statement to make if ya get me, just my opinion tho.

Ddisco

[cm]tyranny wrote: »

jaysus, have you been in a coma since 1996?

Lol - one up for you!!

The missus might agree with you! I would agree that its popularity comes and go's - and has come full circle again to complete rubbish.

seannash

Ddisco wrote: »

Lol - one up for you!!

The missus might agree with you! I would agree that its popularity comes and go's - and has come full circle again to complete rubbish.

seems like the perfect time to swoop in with a link ha ha ha ha


http://www.zshare.net/audio/5273774517bb528a/


now i dont particularly like trance anymore but i did this for a friend of mine,
not proud of it but he liked it:D

L1011

hottstuff wrote: »

Agreed , i stopped playing trance back in 98.
Most Clubbers hate trance IMO.

You think "most clubbers hate trance" because people you associate with hate trance. I'd suspect if you added up the attendences at trance events in Dublin this year they'd outnumber any individual other genre. Nationwide you'd have two mostly trance festivals - PLSS and Reincarnation - to factor in too.

If I take the same approach, "most clubbers despise house", because people I associate with usually can't stand it.

SteveDon

All the old classics have some charm, reminds me of ibiza uncovered on sky one, never played trance as a dj tho, in my opinion its a very one dimensional genre and in comparison to all the techno/minimal/house songs out there now the production of trance music is very lackluster and univentive when compared to these genres. Also playing trance limits you to only trance really considering most of the songs (well atleast they used to be) where produced at about 140 bpm or so, so it doesnt really work in a mix if you are crossing genres. The circles i hang around with depise trance and it is indeed a dirty word, I remember going to play a set one night and the promotor asked me what kind of tunes ill be playing, i jokingly said trance and his face went as white as a ghost only for him to wipe his brow in relief when i told him i was messing! I was just looking through the beatport top ten of trance there to see if i was wrong, but it has only reaffirmed my opinion that trance is a dead end genre, really utter ****e being released these days...

kilmovee

And the promoters face lit up when you told him you were playing Hi Nrg disco

pallepille

kilmovee wrote: »

And the promoters face lit up when you told him you were playing Hi Nrg disco

hahaha,, nah r&b followed by scousehouse, get in there hehehe

DarkJager

I don't agree that Trance is a dead genre, in fact far from it. It has unfortunately been taken on as a genre for the scumbag subset in this country which has tarnished its name. However, people who subscribe to the school of thought that "it must be **** if the scummers like it", are seriously missing out on what real trance is.

Real trance isn't about what tune tiesto is putting out next, its not about the sped up **** that parades itself as trance when it couldn't be further away, its not about the people who listen to it and what they do. Real trance is that track that hypnotizes you for 5-6 minutes, taking you somewhere different if only for a short length of time and leaving you feeling something. That sort of feeling has not been produced by anything the usual turdmeisters of commericalism have released...

If I was to point to one label today that I could say is the definition of how trance should be, it would have to be Anjunabeats. The variety of styles & talent of the producers (Super8 & DJ Tab, Daniel Kandi, Boom Jinx, etc) on their label have resulted in some of the most consistently brilliant trance releases over the past few years. See example below - thats trance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0JBVaHgfEc

So yeah lads, if the first act that springs to mind when you think of trance is Tiesto ,then you have already made up your mind of what trance is and probably won't give the due attention to the genre. But as I've said above, Tiesto is not the true side of trance, and if you just look a little deeper in the genre, I'll guarantee you will find a few tracks that will just grab you and won't let go.

In Trance We Trust

joker77

Had a listen to that track, and it confirmed what I thought.

The 'trance' of today is nothing like what it was mid-90s. It's an almost completely different genre if you ask me.

If I had to label that, I'd call it some kind of Euro-dance. Not my bag. I hate that sound - big breakdown, hi-pitched keys + crescendo drumroll, girl singing over it. It's pretty formulaic and not hard to knock out ten-a-penny - that's why there's so much bad stuff out there and why a lot of house / techno people would steer well clear of modern day 'trance' (or as I say Euro-dance to me).

To me, that sounds nothing like the trance music that I was into years ago.

So to finish - if the OP is asking is trance a dirty word - if it's anything like that track just posted then a big YES from me.

DarkJager

joker77 wrote: »

Had a listen to that track, and it confirmed what I thought.

The 'trance' of today is nothing like what it was mid-90s. It's an almost completely different genre if you ask me.

If I had to label that, I'd call it some kind of Euro-dance. Not my bag. I hate that sound - big breakdown, hi-pitched keys + crescendo drumroll, girl singing over it. It's pretty formulaic and not hard to knock out ten-a-penny - that's why there's so much bad stuff out there and why a lot of house / techno people would steer well clear of modern day 'trance' (or as I say Euro-dance to me).

To me, that sounds nothing like the trance music that I was into years ago.

So to finish - if the OP is asking is trance a dirty word - if it's anything like that track just posted then a big YES from me.

Thats exactly the flaw in your agruement. You are looking for todays trance to sound like it did back whenever you were listening to it. If you understand music, you understand it evolves?

As for knocking that track, it might not be your cup of tea but it certainly is not "bad". What genre exactly do you listen to? And sorry to piss on your parade buddy, but that is no way shape or form "Euro Dance". Nowhere near it and never will be in a million years.

Jev/N

For the record, I don't play trance anymore but I used to for a good few years....
I love the way everyone here thinks they're the height of coolness because they realised trance wasn't cool 10 years ago or 15 years ago...musical snobbery is hilarious like that, people think they're the **** for having not liked something before that was the general consensus. There were people who were laughing at you when you listened to trance because they never liked trance and always thought it was **** :rolleyes:

DarkJager

And funnily enough, its always the techno & house fans that I hear ripping into Trance - shame really that they can't see their own genres have their fair share of insufferable ****. Ah well, musical nazis will always be musical nazis- the rest of us can just enjoy what they miss out on.

joker77

DarkJager wrote: »

Thats exactly the flaw in your agruement. You are looking for todays trance to sound like it did back whenever you were listening to it. If you understand music, you understand it evolves?

As for knocking that track, it might not be your cup of tea but it certainly is not "bad". What genre exactly do you listen to? And sorry to piss on your parade buddy, but that is no way shape or form "Euro Dance". Nowhere near it and never will be in a million years.

ha ha ha - jaysus keep your shirt on there chief!

You're right - music evolves, and in general most genres that come under the terms Dance & Electronic have evolved. But in my opinion 'trance' has not - if anything it's become more formulaic, and more stagnant.

When you say it's certainly not "bad", I never actually said it was bad, I said it wasn't my bag and I hate that overall sound. Given that I listed the reasons why I didn't like it and you could not come back with anything to the contrary, ok, I'll go so far as to say I think that it's bad. Poor quality music and forumlaic. Ok? (yes in respect to trance - formulaic is my word of the day :cool:)

P*ssing on my parade? Hardly - I'm open-minded enough to have actually listened to the track. And yes, in my opinion it's not trance, I don't know how to label it exactly but it would definitely be prepended with the word 'Euro'!

What genre do I listen to? Anything except trance!
Nah seriously, I'll give anything a listen, but in terms of electronic music I'd mostly listen to tech-house, techno, minimal, house, deep house, a little bit of progressive (used to listen to it a lot more), etc etc.
Those pidgeon holes of a particular genre don't fit me

joker77

Jev/N wrote: »

For the record, I don't play trance anymore but I used to for a good few years....
I love the way everyone here thinks they're the height of coolness because they realised trance wasn't cool 10 years ago or 15 years ago...musical snobbery is hilarious like that, people think they're the **** for having not liked something before that was the general consensus. There were people who were laughing at you when you listened to trance because they never liked trance and always thought it was **** :rolleyes:

I don't care if what I like is cool or not. I like what I like, and if I think something is sh*te I'll say it

DarkJager wrote: »

And funnily enough, its always the techno & house fans that I hear ripping into Trance - shame really that they can't see their own genres have their fair share of insufferable ****. Ah well, musical nazis will always be musical nazis- the rest of us can just enjoy what they miss out on.

Why are you getting so upset? Chill out

Musical nazis? You do realise most people would listen to many genres, but you are the one eulogising about 1 particular thing... That's pretty ironic when you bring up nazis

DarkJager

joker77 wrote: »

ha ha ha - jaysus keep your shirt on there chief!

You're right - music evolves, and in general most genres that come under the terms Dance & Electronic have evolved. But in my opinion 'trance' has not - if anything it's become more formulaic, and more stagnant.

When you say it's certainly not "bad", I never actually said it was bad, I said it wasn't my bag and I hate that overall sound. Given that I listed the reasons why I didn't like it and you could not come back with anything to the contrary, ok, I'll go so far as to say I think that it's bad. Poor quality music and forumlaic. Ok? (yes in respect to trance - formulaic is my word of the day :cool:)

I don't agree with you there either. Trance has certainly not become stagnant, if only for the simple fact that as a genre, its mainly based around the quality of the central melody and the breakdown - Trance Dj's are continually experimenting with both and the results will always be interesting. I posted one track, which you disliked, but there could be one out there which grabs you. Now judging by your tastes in music, you like music which flows in a much different way to Trance - so I fully understand why you don't like it. there's not much point to me arguing a defence of the genre to you as you've already dismissed the core elements of a trance track as being not to your taste.

P*ssing on my parade? Hardly - I'm open-minded enough to have actually listened to the track. And yes, in my opinion it's not trance, I don't know how to label it exactly but it would definitely be prepended with the word 'Euro'!

Its "Euphoric Trance" if you want to label it something, but certainly not Euro Dance in any shape or form.

joker77

DarkJager wrote: »

I don't agree with you there either. Trance has certainly not become stagnant, if only for the simple fact that as a genre, its mainly based around the quality of the central melody and the breakdown - Trance Dj's are continually experimenting with both and the results will always be interesting. I posted one track, which you disliked, but there could be one out there which grabs you. Now judging by your tastes in music, you like music which flows in a much different way to Trance - so I fully understand why you don't like it. there's not much point to me arguing a defence of the genre to you as you've already dismissed the core elements of a trance track as being not to your taste.



Its "Euphoric Trance" if you want to label it something, but certainly not Euro Dance in any shape or form.

Ok I've a question for you - how long have you been listening to trance music in it's current form?

The reason I'm asking is that you agree that I've identified the core elements of a trance track. Now ok, people can mess around with it a little bit and do something slightly different with the breakdown, but the core is the same - buildup, breakdown, crescendo with drum rolls, hi-pitched keys with female vocal, end of crescendo + repeat, track over.
That to me is stagnation. And after a while listening to it, it becomes boring to the vast majority of people.

As you say - I'm sure there are some trance tracks that would grab me, I like electronic music so it's highly likely - and I was asking above in this thread for someone to post up something recent. But as a genre, no I don't think it's something I'd listen to.

DarkJager

joker77 wrote: »

Ok I've a question for you - how long have you been listening to trance music in it's current form?

The reason I'm asking is that you agree that I've identified the core elements of a trance track. Now ok, people can mess around with it a little bit and do something slightly different with the breakdown, but the core is the same - buildup, breakdown, crescendo with drum rolls, hi-pitched keys with female vocal, end of crescendo + repeat, track over.
That to me is stagnation. And after a while listening to it, it becomes boring to the vast majority of people.

As you say - I'm sure there are some trance tracks that would grab me, I like electronic music so it's highly likely - and I was asking above in this thread for someone to post up something recent. But as a genre, no I don't think it's something I'd listen to.

A good solid 4-5 years now at least. I listened to a lot of house, hard house (shame ) & of course old school trance before I ventured out looking for something new to interest me.

As for the "formula", you are nearly right in your description of it apart from the female vocals! The ****ty thing about trance is that it has so many of these stupid "sub genres". Trance with female vocals is called (surprise surprise, Vocal Trance) and its one sub genre that I actually don't like at all (Suru, the track above doesn't actually have any vocals only female "sounds" ). I feel adding lyrics to a trance track cheapens it. Sure it can be great when its done right, but why do you need lyrics in trance, when its the actual melody and track itself that is supposed to make you feel something?

As for another example of Trance, I'll post this one - you might like it?! :P:D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RRCCGv4JMI

petrochemical

It's a good idea to have more music than sense because tastes change- stuff you hate today you'll like tomorrow, and vice versa. All genres have good and bad. I quite often don't trust my own taste because of the Emperors New Clothes factor, and peer pressure. People are acutely aware of what's "cool" and if admitting to liking a song in public would result in massive humiliating slaggings and loss of face within the oh-so-la-de-da-uber-cool community of dance musique connoisseurs. This means that secretly liking cheesy trance is a great shame which must stay hidden until the day you die...:pac:

Ddisco

Well at least my original post brought about some decent debate/opinion - even if i have been in a coma since 1996!! Fair play lads

Seanie M

joker77 wrote: »

...some of the Reactivate albums, all that stuff.

Now THERE'S a few memories! React Records had a class amount of Hardcore, Trance and Psi (Goa?) in the mid-90's. I only started collecting the Reactivates from 10 onwards (remember the funky marine animals on the covers?) and 10 was by far the best, and in my opinion, ahead of its time.

I don't know myself if 'Trance' is a dirty genre. I still play Old School Trance and House in my gigs regularly with positive results for the most part. It's a preference thing too - I don't like much of the mish-mash of rehashed re-resampled dance music of today. Of course I will play it as that is what people want to hear. If it ain't broke, then why the hell did they try fixing it? I'd love to hear some of my earlier influences at their gigs (Mauro Picotto, Van Dyk, Tall Paul, Verocacha, Westbam remixes, Matt Darey, and more), however, they have also moved on to the whole funky/acid house of the past 5 years or so, which makes me a little sad (apart from Matt Darey).

Back on topic, no, I don't think 'Trance' is a dirty word, and when I think back about the amount of requests to play/not to play, the positives work out in my favour.

Seanie.

L1011

Seanie M wrote: »

? I'd love to hear some of my earlier influences at their gigs (Mauro Picotto, Van Dyk, Tall Paul, Verocacha, Westbam remixes, Matt Darey, and more), however, they have also moved on to the whole funky/acid house of the past 5 years or so, which makes me a little sad (apart from Matt Darey).

Van Dyk hasn't gone anywhere close to house... Veracocha did one track and the more famous constituent part (Corsten) also hasn't gone anywhere close to house. So its them and Darey that are still at the old stuff.

All three have played with less-trancey stuff (Van Dyk's last album; Corsten's L.E.F. album, Darey's recent track "Animal"; but are still mostly trance artists.

And Picotto hasn't gone house either, but he sure as hell isn't playing what he used to.....

RaverRo808

To me trance was good in the early nineties,in regards the asylum hard trance stuff,rob-D and DMB and the like,but nowadays its pure muck,real cheesey crap that seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator,again you cant beat the oldskool

Jay D

RaverRo808 wrote: »

To me trance was good in the early nineties,in regards the asylum hard trance stuff,rob-D and DMB and the like,but nowadays its pure muck,real cheesey crap that seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator,again you cant beat the oldskool

Sorry Ro but you´re the first post I am quoting cause I could not be arsed sifting through all this ****.

People have to realise that the sort of sounds that made Platipus, Eye Q among others, are no longer being made and just because the only time they may hear trance is on MTV or some fcukwank station, it does not mean that there is no good stuff being produced.

Anyone listen to the likes of John Digweed for instance? People class him as a ´house´dj when in reality there´s no way you could put him down as one genre at this day. His sets are powerful, amazingly built and I´d like to hear anyone over 21 and a half say they are not good

Oh btw RaverRo808, if that IS your REAL name, you weren´t that disappointed with trance in my apt last year if my memory serves me correctly, although I will admit I was fooked

Scubadevils

Jay D wrote: »

Sorry Ro but you´re the first post I am quoting cause I could not be arsed sifting through all this ****.

People have to realise that the sort of sounds that made Platipus, Eye Q among others, are no longer being made and just because the only time they may hear trance is on MTV or some fcukwank station, it does not mean that there is no good stuff being produced.

Anyone listen to the likes of John Digweed for instance? People class him as a ´house´dj when in reality there´s no way you could put him down as one genre at this day. His sets are powerful, amazingly built and I´d like to hear anyone over 21 and a half say they are not good

Oh btw RaverRo808, if that IS your REAL name, you weren´t that disappointed with trance in my apt last year if my memory serves me correctly, although I will admit I was fooked

Yes, that's his real name, RaverRo808 O'Brien... he was a child of the ravers generation.

Jay D

Felixdhc wrote: »

Yes, that's his real name, RaverRo808 O'Brien... he was a child of the ravers generation.

btw is this Dave?

Scubadevils

Jay D wrote: »

btw is this Dave?

Tis aye

Scubadevils

Jay D wrote: »

btw is this Dave?

Actually is this Jay as in Dublin Trance?

Jay D

Felixdhc wrote: »

Actually is this Jay as in Dublin Trance?

nah who´s that? But you used to live by Finglas? East close to Glasnevin and now L?

Scubadevils

Jay D wrote: »

nah who´s that? But you used to live by Finglas? East close to Glasnevin and now L?

Yeah Are you not Jay who used to live in Duleek?

Jay D

Yeah

Scubadevils

Jay D wrote: »

Yeah

Long time man, how you keeping?

Jay D

It has been alright, I'm grand, been very busy of late moving again but lovely new apt with space for my ones and twos among other things.

Anything lined up over the Christmas?

Scubadevils

Not much, just planning a few days off to catch up on family, music etc... work mad busy the last while, changed jobs a few months ago and been pretty manic.

In the midst of a kidney stone (self diagnosis!) so just holding out till pain forces me to go to casualty, nice way to start the weekend :pac:

You on NI much these days?

Jay D

Be-jeepers. I changed jobs as well in August but opposite to you the property market is slow as, so work is very quiet.
I do be on NI a little, just for randomness during work more so these days and it's quite boring at this stage.

I am however planning on getting CD decks in the coming year. Not exclusively changing or anything but they are handy to have and also I have to learn them a little just in case. NI I feel will be getting a little raped for an extended period then.


What are you playing these days?

Scubadevils

I'm still working in a similar industry - busy now with Christmas but would think it will be pretty quiet in Jan.

I am never on NI these days at all, just found it was the same old tracks stuck up without anything different... suppose that was bound to happen.

Rarely buy vinyl these days and have got bored with the decks I hate to say! Buy stupid amounts of CD's so will prob pick up CD decks soon too, much more of a desire to mix the tunes I'm listening to these days which are mainly techno and various other electronic varieties. Have a burning desire too to try my hand at some producing, just need the time to get my head around some of the software.

Jay D

Again I'm the opposite and starved of deckage I really need to get my act together. Have you recorded any sets of late? My last one on record is May 2007 :eek:

You need to see to that desire. I am going to start building up a bit better setup, think I might EVEN get a Mac, that course sold it to me really although I just hope I do get the time to get serious with it.

Just thinking you've got the whole attic space for your stuff don't ya?

Scubadevils

The last mix I did was actually a pretty heavy oldskool techno / hard trance set... that I would think was about 2004 or so! :eek: It was definitely in the peak of the NI days anyway which would have been around then for me.

Actually got a new Mac myself recently and *got* some decent production software to get my teeth into, just really need to get used to how it works which definitely requires time. You should defo do the Mac thing, beats the hell out of PC imo. That course did the same for me, although it was pretty basic in ways, it definitely gave a serious taste for what could be done with the right equipment and knowledge.

Yeah have the attic converted and somewhat sound-proofed - enough to allow me play music loud without waking the kids anyway :pac: Fckin love it, best money ever spent and my little hideaway.

Jay D

Yeah I'd say you are happy alright How did you go about soundproofing it?

The course was basic alright but like you say anyway it did the trick of luring us in to the want to do more. I haven't bothered with any software of late but am going to get myself started in the new year. I've forgotten how I used to regularly get rushes listening to my music. I need more that's for sure.

Scubadevils

The builder who did it is a friend of the family and he came up with lets say a cheaper method than a full pro job - basically he built a room-in-room in the attic with several layers in the walls and floor - made up of rock wool, acoustic sheets etc. The door does spill some sound out but not too bad, I'm sure I could do something to stop it.

I still get regular rushes from the CD's I buy... I do miss hunting for vinyl but it's just a new form of hunt! - vinyl has got too expensive, buy the odd one still though.

Still have a 12" of yours actually, spotted it only recently when flicking through some tunes... think it was a Dawntreader tune on Hook Recordings?