Why Trance isn't memorable these days?

[Hensmon]

I stumble upon quite a lot of nice memorable techno lately.

Just talking generally really, as by nature Techno is very stripped back and void of melody, hooks, vocals, chorus etc.

[DPProject]

Sure.

What is the original source of the data? Was it an official Beatport news release? Is there a link to that?

Problem with this is that Beatport on reflects a small reality (especially if you think about how u need 100 or so sells to make the list). Also it's labeling is a mess, and therefore you get mass of Deep House, Prog-House or whatever is most likely to sell.

My opinion is that Psy-Trance scene is still the reigning genre if you look at size of festivals and locations across the world. It is literally a global scene with every continent pulling massive numbers. This is why after nearly 40 years it is still going. The only one to rival it is Techno (again a old global genre), but generally speaking, not these smaller sub-genres like Deep-house and Tech-house.

The irony is that Psy-Trance and Techno are probably the least memorable of all the genres! What does this say?

You beat me to it, but I will expand on this when I get some more info out of djavery.

[Nemezijus]

Just talking generally really, as by nature Techno is very stripped back and void of melody, hooks, vocals, chorus etc.

But that is the nature of the genre. Minimal also has its niche close to techno.

This is a bit like saying there is just too much saxophone in jazz music.

On this note I will agree that in genres like techno and minimal it is even harder to stay original and unique.

[Nemezijus]

Don't forget to include plugin presets. It's also more or less the same with that, with recognizable presets from Freshly Squeezed Samples - Definitive Collection for Sylenth 1 that I've been noticing in some of the tracks for some years. Not going to be a hypocrite and say I don't do all of that stuff, but I have no releases and am still learning. My point is - everything is preset- and sample-oriented, as you said. With increase in software specifically made for music production, a whole market has arisen. Selling audio samples, VST presets, MIDI packs, and even project files of WHOLE tracks! It's good if it's used for learning, but some take it as shortcuts. And it can be a good and fast money for producers and other people who sell them (who took the samples out of their tracks or maybe created new ones). Airwave's Dance Breaks samples pack is around 40 euros. That's a decent amount of money (though I don't doubt its quality).

If a sample pack or presets are in creative hands then that is no problem. Like my review from some months ago on Dylan Stark - Heartland points out, a man can make great stuff from sampling and resampling. Indeed if the sample packs were used the way to learn something from or just borrow a single motive - we wouldn't be flooded with generic trance so much (IMO).

[Hensmon]

But that is the nature of the genre.

I think maybe I was not clear, it was just an observation that the two biggest and long lasting genres Psy and Techno are (generally speaking) the two which are less memorable by nature. Just interesting when you think about this compared to lifespan...

[Nemezijus]

I think maybe I was not clear, it was just an observation that the two biggest and long lasting genres Psy and Techno are (generally speaking) the two which are less memorable by nature. Just interesting when you think about this compared to lifespan...

I am gonna speak about techno since Psy is not my cup of tea.
Techno has very old roots reaching almost the birth of electronic music and I think (and that is a personal opinion) techno was not aimed to be a memorable in the first place. It was meant to be danced to without having vocals or some uplifting melodieson the dancefloor . So while I do understand your point, and I agree with the statement, that does not really surprise me - these days it still does the job pretty much just as good and is as repetitive as it has to be.

[Hensmon]

So while I do understand your point, and I agree with the statement, that does not really surprise me

It does not surprise you that these characteristics we are talking about are perhaps directly linked to the longevity and global popularity of a genre? Cause this is what my point is...

[Nemezijus]

It does not surprise you that these characteristics we are talking about are perhaps directly linked to the longevity and global popularity of a genre? Cause this is what my point is...

Maybe we are still on different wavelengths. My point is that techno was born to be repetitive and exclusively for dancefloors. It still is, so you can't/shouldn't really blame it for being so. Trance was born with an idea to bring melody and energetic rhythm in electronic music and even to keep focus on these aspects. I don't really know the history of music but I would guess that even if initially trance was meant for dancefloors, we can't deny that it became also home music. I mean all the current (relatively) orchestral trance works are of that kind. So trance becoming more generic and repetitive is a problem since it is initially was not meant for that.

I might be completely wrong, it is just my perceptive of the two genres.

[Fredjan]

I don't think the samples themselves are that bad, though a change from the loud stomping kick would indeed be nice.
Most melodies are just simply too boring. That's why a lot of trance is unremarkable.

[Fredjan]

They aren't. Meridian Bay has a more standout melody than blockbuster which imo is a good track compared to alot of other stuff from today but its not that memorable to be honest. But they're not even close to Ayla - Vegas or Ppk - Ressurection for example. Its not enough to just have a decent mainriff, the whole track must be recognizable and good. Old trance had several/layered melodies and notes both in the buildup, main part and climax.

I was thinking more among the lines of Alphazone, Fictivision, 2003-era highly melodic, highly energetic trance.

[amirhussain]

hm.. i can remmber yahel Butterfly, track its memorable but u should feel it first...

Like a butterfly

[djavery]

What is the original source of the data? Was it an official Beatport news release? Is there a link to that?

Straight from the beatport's mouth for 2014 (2015 wouldn't be available until 2016). I think the other chart was for 2013. Anyway, the top genres are 1) deep house, 2) tech house, 3) techno, 4) house, 5) eletro house, 6) progressive house, 7) indie dance/nu disco, 8) dnb, 9) trance, 10) minimal. I guess dubstep fell off completely.

[tep]

Straight from the beatport's mouth for 2014 (2015 wouldn't be available until 2016). I think the other chart was for 2013. Anyway, the top genres are 1) deep house, 2) tech house, 3) techno, 4) house, 5) eletro house, 6) progressive house, 7) indie dance/nu disco, 8) dnb, 9) trance, 10) minimal. I guess dubstep fell off completely.

I think BP charts dont really matter that much, they only show what type of music people buy. Id rather follow the trends by checking out spotify charts or youtube views or other stuff like that. I am pretty sure people buying music is a huge minority.

[Qwertz]

Just talking generally really, as by nature Techno is very stripped back and void of melody, hooks, vocals, chorus etc.

Aka the elements that make many other genres sound cheesy and generic, leaving more space to add creative sounds to the track.

My point is that techno was born to be repetitive and exclusively for dancefloors. It still is, so you can't/shouldn't really blame it for being so.

Don't think you can say it like this, i listen to a lot of techno at home. It totally depends on the track. There's a lot of slower more atmospheric (rather than agressive) sounding techno out there actually, perfect to chill at home.

I was thinking more among the lines of Alphazone, Fictivision, 2003-era highly melodic, highly energetic trance.

And highly generic trance. Don't get me wrong i used to be the biggest fan of epic hard hitting anthemish trance, but it's a generic formular that has been overused a lot and it gets boring once you've listened to it too much. Don't think you can make a "memorable track" that way anymore.

[erickUO]

If today's trance were released in the classic era, would it be memorable?