If you're on this forum, you already went out of your way to find a community that shares your interest in trance music. Maybe you're here as a lurker after listening to the latest ASOT set, or maybe you've been on trance forums for the past 20 years and just migrated here from the old trancefix forum. In any case, I think it's worth looking back at an era of the genre that doesn't really get that much attention: trance before 1995.
But that's more than 25 years ago! Why should I care?
Yeah, that's a while back. It's even from before when I existed.
Trance then was still in its infancy. It was evolving gradually from its 'melodic techno' roots, and the early producers were searching for the characteristics to develop this new genre. This means a lot of experimentation and innovation happened during these early years. There was no template to create a trance track. "Progressive trance," "anthem trance" did not exist; in fact, sub-genres in general likely didn't exist. There were few external influences on the genre except for maybe those from India and Israel. Trance didn't have a team of dutch superstars dominating the genre. Staple elements of the genre like supersaws and pluck melodies had not been invented or discovered.
Stripped away from many of things that now characterize it, trance then was just... trance. It was a very raw form of trance, but it laid the foundations for everything that came after it.
If you are unfamiliar with this era, or don't know where to start, here are a few good pointers:
The Age of Love (Jam & Spoon Mix) from 1992 is considered one of the first trance tracks ever. If you play close attention, this track contains a trance gate effect similar to what appeared in many, many trance productions later.
Love Stimulation (PvD's Love Club Mix) from 1993 is, in my opinion, the point where producers could finally say they found common characteristics that define the genre. The combination of elements in this track embody the departure from "melodic techno" to trance.
Cafe del Mar (Kid Paul mix) was one of the first iterations of the renown Cafe del Mar, which became a smash hit with the Three 'N' One remix released several years later.
Hearts from L.S.G. (Oliver Lieb) showcases that trance can be both uplifting while melancholic, and that electronic music can be incredibly emotional.
No Fate ('93 No Fate Mix) from Zyon was perhaps one of the trance tracks that best used piano as an instrument
Dreams from Quench gave way to Lost Tribe's Gamemaster, a commercially successful trance track from the late 1990s.
Eternal Spirit from 4 Voice also gave way to another commercially successful late 1990s trance track, Kaycee - Escape
And of course, Paul Oakenfold's legendary Essential Mix was broadcast just weeks before 1995 started.
Interesting labels to check out:
Platipus
Eye Q
Superstition
12 May 2021 edit: fixed links
But that's more than 25 years ago! Why should I care?
Yeah, that's a while back. It's even from before when I existed.
Trance then was still in its infancy. It was evolving gradually from its 'melodic techno' roots, and the early producers were searching for the characteristics to develop this new genre. This means a lot of experimentation and innovation happened during these early years. There was no template to create a trance track. "Progressive trance," "anthem trance" did not exist; in fact, sub-genres in general likely didn't exist. There were few external influences on the genre except for maybe those from India and Israel. Trance didn't have a team of dutch superstars dominating the genre. Staple elements of the genre like supersaws and pluck melodies had not been invented or discovered.
Stripped away from many of things that now characterize it, trance then was just... trance. It was a very raw form of trance, but it laid the foundations for everything that came after it.
If you are unfamiliar with this era, or don't know where to start, here are a few good pointers:
The Age of Love (Jam & Spoon Mix) from 1992 is considered one of the first trance tracks ever. If you play close attention, this track contains a trance gate effect similar to what appeared in many, many trance productions later.
Love Stimulation (PvD's Love Club Mix) from 1993 is, in my opinion, the point where producers could finally say they found common characteristics that define the genre. The combination of elements in this track embody the departure from "melodic techno" to trance.
Cafe del Mar (Kid Paul mix) was one of the first iterations of the renown Cafe del Mar, which became a smash hit with the Three 'N' One remix released several years later.
Hearts from L.S.G. (Oliver Lieb) showcases that trance can be both uplifting while melancholic, and that electronic music can be incredibly emotional.
No Fate ('93 No Fate Mix) from Zyon was perhaps one of the trance tracks that best used piano as an instrument
Dreams from Quench gave way to Lost Tribe's Gamemaster, a commercially successful trance track from the late 1990s.
Eternal Spirit from 4 Voice also gave way to another commercially successful late 1990s trance track, Kaycee - Escape
And of course, Paul Oakenfold's legendary Essential Mix was broadcast just weeks before 1995 started.
Interesting labels to check out:
Platipus
Eye Q
Superstition
12 May 2021 edit: fixed links
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