(Why) are there no new ideas in trance?

[Hot Tuna]

Did I miss anything

Well, yes, everything before 2012. Tony from A&B coined the phrase "Trance 2.0" in around 2008 I believe. Matthew Dekay released a compilation called "Trousy" in 2005.

Many, many trends occurred before this (Deadmau5, mnml, PLUR, mcprog, hardhouse/hardtrance, commercial, the list goes on), but I don't have the desire to write about it.

 

[TwinSilo]

Even what is being called "Steroid" Trance in this forum has existed wayyyyy before, at least 2009. I just considered it to be (bad) Uplifting, but in recent years it got even more badly produced and now after nearly 15 years of it, it became so much we decided to call it something more derogatory. Check these for example. Isn't this the same style as whats being called Steroid now?

Neal Scarborough - Wiretap (2009)
Paul Miller - Chieftec (2009)
Simon Patterson - Thump (2009)
JOC - Dont Look Back (John Askew Remix) (2009)

We could find hundreds probably

Trance stopped being cool, but due its undeniable allure, producers found a hack where they just take pieces of the genre and add it to their house and techno tracks, thus maintaining their edgey disposition whilst also summoning the unicorns from within. I'm just happy to have enjoyable music outside of Activa in all honesty.

Haha true.

 

[TRANCEBLASTER]

Revival (2020 - Today)
Labels: Bandcamp and Soundcloud minnows

Great post man!!.)

I just want to add that those revival releases are everywhere to find, in every decent record store in a bigger city, I see them from Budapest to Berlin.. its not only a virtual scene.

 

[Perpetuous dreamer]

Well, yes, everything before 2012.

I just focused on the last 10 years, I think there were plenty of good new ideas in the 00's, that was the best period in many ways for experimentation with the genre. I got the impression OP was talking more recent in terms of lack of ideas.

But you guys make good observation. The Trance 2.0 sounds and steroid sounds happened before 2010. Poppy commercial Trance was also probably before 2010 too. So really the OP is correct we don't have many new ideas (even bad ones) in this last decade.

Accurate. I would reduce the rating of "underground" to 5. It's only slightly better than the other genres.

Hold up, is this serious? The Wasteland and Tigris being compared in the same light as Trouse or Steroid abominations? What's worse is that I see you above state Vini Vici as "a breath of fresh air". In the most respectful way possible I will knight you musically retarded. Is it Gen-Z Californian here? Listen to those tracks I mentioned and then come back with your written apology.

 

[dmgtz96]

I just focused on the last 10 years, I think there were plenty of good new ideas in the 00's, that was the best period in many ways for experimentation with the genre. I got the impression OP was talking more recent in terms of lack of ideas.

But you guys make good observation. The Trance 2.0 sounds and steroid sounds happened before 2010. Poppy commercial Trance was also probably before 2010 too. So really the OP is correct we don't have many new ideas (even bad ones) in this last decade.



Hold up, is this serious? The Wasteland and Tigris being compared in the same light as Trouse or Steroid abominations? What's worse is that I see you above state Vini Vici as "a breath of fresh air". In the most respectful way possible I will knight you musically retarded. Is it Gen-Z Californian here? Listen to those tracks I mentioned and then come back with your written apology.

nah, I think they all suck
Vini Vici was "a breath of fresh air" relative to what was going on in mainstream trance at the time. But it still sucks. In the same paragraph I mentioned that Vini Vici's style is just watered-down, ultra-commercialized psytrance apt for the masses which had nothing to do with the roots of psy.

I'm starting to sound like trancedanne...

 

[TRANCEBLASTER]

I really am losing all the respect for musicians who absolutely do not want, or have it in them, to create something new or develop their identity. In 2000 people thought trance was dying, probably because they no longer identified with the sounds and ideas that were taking over the scene, but in 2022 I have to say I really do not see any new ideas coming at all. It's either what's already been here for years, or a mimicry of what once was.

(Sorry for bringing this thread up again). Im just reading an old Oliver Lieb interview from 1999:

- how do you feel about the way trance is developing in general the last years?
It gotten too commercial…like everything that becomes big…nothing new is getting big since the people are focused on just one sound…nobody is pushing or supporting new sounds. To me Robert Miles”Children” was the beginning of the end of trance as it was known as something good and inspiring. I like to think of
more Techno orientated “Trance” which is lately developing and once again is not something completely new, but a good mix of styles that I like…far away from the
Pop-Trance!

 

[Daysleeper]

I also don't think theres any classic or nostalgic elements its riding off (no revival).

Quite the opposite isnt it? Isnt every single element riding off of classic styles from analogue era 96-02? And def earlier prog house from early/mid 90s.

I have 0% of house feeling from the track,

Really? The bassline is def a "house" bassline, just right of the bat I hear it. Even if its too fast its not made up of "typical" trance elements. Id say its retrofuturistic "proggy" trancey house.

 

[Bobby Summa]

There is one 'issue' with today's mainstream Trance that I have recognized: most of the popular and followed Trance artist are now 45+ years old guys (Above&Beyond, Armin, MIKE, PvD, K&A etc. etc.) and they are too old to bring something new to the genre, somehow it is not possible to be creative when you are older.. sadly these guys still have the biggest influence on the scene.

Today's youngsters are making Techno or UK styled House atm, I see there some wide creativity.. only young talent will help.

Got to disagree. If i felt it wasn’t possible to bring a new sound or feel to a genre if you are over 45, i would give up writing music. Maybe its an advantage i had a 22 year break from it and returned to it 3 years ago. Im 46 now. Im not any kind of established artist by any measurement, just have an ambient track with one label. But my interest in composing music is primarily about the concept that sound and music is ‘almost’ unlimited. A little like the Universe. Hence the ‘Summa’ in my artist name. Not that ive done it, but this can be applied to trance. As @Gagi has asked. Why not involve ethnic sounds and sounds from many different cultures. Theres bound to be people who have but they haven’t released it or aren’t with a label. Off course. Its now on my list of things to try with trance music. @jetflag maybe when we make Synesthesia we can involve ethnic instruments and from other cultures. Natural instruments look more pure in a sense when i hear them.

I used to listen to maya alot by banco de gaiya. Back in the day, early 90s. Thats when all sorts of instruments got sampled and used in electronica. Check out amorphous androgynous - tales of ephidrena. Lots of different instruments beautifully blenden in tracks with electronic sounds and obscure beats or samples.

This

 

[trancedanne]

Lack of ideas is not the problem, just ressurrect what worked back then when trance was at its peak. The type of trance that has been resurrected so far is mostly the cheese supersaw type (Transa, Airscape, Ferry Corsten style). Still waiting for someone to nail the classic Push, Oliver Lieb, Incolumis, James Holden & so on type of stuff. Once in a while we get someone who nails the classic mcprog style but its not very often.

 

[Hensmon]

Quite the opposite isnt it? Isnt every single element riding off of classic styles from analogue era 96-02? And def earlier prog house from early/mid 90s.

Hmmm, its probably more than I judged yeah, especially now I listened to more 95-97 trance this year, which gets a nice blend of the house/techno vibes. Dont think it's every element though. Your 'Retro-futuristic Trancey House' best description of these styles so far honestly. I think it borrows from past but still not replicating, I see it as a step forward.

Lack of ideas is not the problem, just ressurrect what worked back then when trance was at its peak. The type of trance that has been resurrected so far is mostly the cheese supersaw type (Transa, Airscape, Ferry Corsten style). Still waiting for someone to nail the classic Push, Oliver Lieb, Incolumis, James Holden & so on type of stuff. Once in a while we get someone who nails the classic mcprog style but its not very often.

Agreed with all this. I'd say the other old style thats been resurrected is the speedier euro styles, at least to some extent. UTE has a few of those with each release usually. Would love to see those styles you described come back, anything from 95-2005 honestly.

 

[Bobby Summa]

Was searching through my past WIP’s to see if ive ever started any trance thatya little bit different. Found this track. I remember when i played it to a few pals during covid times. Beach beers. A chap there id never met is a real good musician and it was one of those moments of great encouragement when he said i can hear this being played in a massive club and the crowd loving it.

It does sound a bit different. Has a few natural sounds. But i may be wrong. There could be lots of trance like it.

Slight issue is i cant find this exact mix in my DAW . ( it was created back when id not yet learned how to refine use of reverb. 75% finished.

I actually have a few more interesting WIP’s that are a bit different.

https://soundcloud.com/robert-george-969154201%2Fliquid-light-wip-75-complete

 

[Jetflag]

https://soundcloud.com/robert-george-969154201%2Fliquid-light-wip-75-complete

this is actually pretty sexy stuff, nice job

 

[LostLegend]

Lack of ideas is not the problem, just ressurrect what worked back then when trance was at its peak. The type of trance that has been resurrected so far is mostly the cheese supersaw type (Transa, Airscape, Ferry Corsten style). Still waiting for someone to nail the classic Push, Oliver Lieb, Incolumis, James Holden & so on type of stuff. Once in a while we get someone who nails the classic mcprog style but its not very often.

This has occurred to me as well recently.
That ‘Global Underground’ style of prog that was big during the classic era is something I started to appreciate more in retrospect as I got older. Focussing on atmosphere and groove rather than pure melody. That I could get behind!


I stumbled back across this recently, what a tune!

 

[Motion]

hat ‘Global Underground’ style of prog that was big during the classic era is something I started to appreciate more in retrospect as I got older. Focussing on atmosphere and groove rather than pure melody.

The same thing happened to myself. The older I’ve become the more I long for the atmospheric, deeper or rhythmic styles and the analogue sounds feel nicer in every way.

As touched upon in previous posts here there is a wide range of Trance styles to take inspiration from and we’d be happy to see them reborn. We experiencing a narrowness which is particularly hard to swallow when we know what could be. It’s not about creating something new but having a scene with more diversity.

 

[Hoahoa]

New ideas with old sounds. That’s my ideal outcome. I know many of you would apply that description to the tracks in the oldschool thread, but only 20% sounds like Trance to me, which is the genre I prefer over synthy house, breaks and techno. The bulls of heaven track I do like but I don’t feel the connection to Trance as strong as you some of you. So for me the positives and resurrection of the scene is not as obvious or felt. I’m still waiting for Trance to bring back the old feelings.

 

[Bobby Summa]

This has occurred to me as well recently.
That ‘Global Underground’ style of prog that was big during the classic era is something I started to appreciate more in retrospect as I got older. Focussing on atmosphere and groove rather than pure melody. That I could get behind!


I stumbled back across this recently, what a tune!

Love The Platipus label.

Ha. Just found this.

Scene Viewer

arvr.google.com

 

[Bobby Summa]

this is actually pretty sexy stuff, nice job

Why thank you Jetflag.
Are we talking Jenny Agutter sexy?

 

[LostLegend]

this is actually pretty sexy stuff, nice job

I agree. You are a much better producer than you give yourself credit for @Bobby Summa !

 

[Bobby Summa]

This is a rather incredible piece to compare in structure emotion and many other ways to many genres of Trance music. Thought it was very powerful and strange yet mesmerising as a kid when i saw part of the film. Theres Just ( probably) nothing like that film.

Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi. (1982)

 

[Bobby Summa]

I agree. You are a much better producer than you give yourself credit for @Bobby Summa !

Thank you matey. These positive words from you peeps really helps!