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Help me understand what happened to Trance...

Hello all, I am trying to understand something here and I would like the help of anyone who is willing to offer it. I first started getting into Trance about 8 months ago. As you would expect, I started off listening to the 'classics' (Silence, Adagio etc.) and absolutely fell in love with this Trance sound. I then discovered this website and its 'livesets' section. The first two sets I downloaded were "Nu-Nrg: Live at Orgasmatron" and "Paul Van Dyk: Live at Energy 2003". Needless to say I was absolutely blown away by both sets, and at this point (about 3 months ago) I got really excited about actually seeing sets like these for myself. So, when I heard Armin Van Buuren and Markus Schulz were coming to town I grabbed my ticket and headed to the event. I was so excited because I thought I would be hearing tracks similar to "Three Drives - Carerra 2" (PVD: Energy 2003) and "Second Sun - Empire" (Nu-NRG: Orgasmatron). Why? Because they have so much energy in them, because to me they have been constructed beautifully and perfectly with one aim in mind - to send the dancefloor absolutely crazy with gigantic (but not cliched) breakdowns and buildups.

But this was not to be. Armin played trakcs like Summerdream, Tracking Trasure Down and Without You Near. Now don't get me wrong, I think these are nice tracks, and I would love to listen to them whilst chilling out at home, but not amongst thousands of people at a massive dance event. Where is the euphoria, the intensity, the epic breakdown and buildup before the mind-blowing beat-drop?

The reason I write this is because I am seeing Paul Van Dyk this friday night at my favourite club. There will be over 2000 people there and the setup of this club is incredible. Perfect design, amazing lighting show and the most unbelievable sound system. But... I have this sinking feeling in my stomach that the set will be nothing like "Live at Energy 2003".

So I guess my question is this. Am I right in saying that the gigantic, epic, euphoric, orgasmic (IMO), and downright crazy breakdowns and buildups are a thing of the past in Trance, and we are simply left with dreamy (IMO energy-lacking) tracks that I experienced when Armin came to town.

I guess I could have waited until after I see PVD this friday before I wrote this, but I guess I just wanted to get it off my chest, and see whether this is legitimately what has happened or whether I just don't know what I'm talking about. If you have seen PVD recently can you let me know if he's playing epic sets, or sets filled with energy-less, housey, flat crap.

I'm perfectly willing to admit that I could be wrong in all this, and if that's the case, could you let me know that nicely and explain to me why I'm wrong.

Thanx

Re: Help me understand what happened to Trance...

quote:

Originally posted by peking_duck So I guess my question is this. Am I right in saying that the gigantic, epic, euphoric, orgasmic (IMO), and downright crazy breakdowns and buildups are a thing of the past in Trance, and we are simply left with dreamy (IMO energy-lacking) tracks that I experienced when Armin came to town.

Yeah, you would be right. It's not a naive conclusion at all. Trance pretty much sucks right now; this has very little to do with taste, and much more do with the poor quality of trance today. In other words, it isn't that people have suddenly gotten tired of trance, it's that trance has a really low bar in the current market. Quality producers have either moved into other sounds, or lost their compass (Paul van Dyk, for example, who seems content with a shadow of his past ability).

House has decisively taken back the mainfloors of the world, and that's where all the industry movement is right now. Sadly, I think it's going to be a while until some solid trance makes a return.

I'd still go to see that Paul van Dyk show, but don't hold expectations you might get from 2000-02 livesets.

i just saw PVD here at ultra in miami, umm i used to be a hardcore trance fan. but like he said^^ house is where its at right now. i spent more than half my time in the house tent at Ultra. trance has gotten really progressive i guess, dosent mean i dont like it anymore but the sound has evolved

quote:

Originally posted by hiram i just saw PVD here at ultra in miami, umm i used to be a hardcore trance fan. but like he said^^ house is where its at right now. i spent more than half my time in the house tent at Ultra. trance has gotten really progressive i guess, dosent mean i dont like it anymore but the sound has evolved

I agree. I saw him at Ultra last night too and he just didn't even compare to what he was last year at Ultra. I was bored out of my mind. Last weekend was Global Gathering and I saw Armin and Ferry; and while they were good they just didn't have that EPIC feeling like they used to back in the day.

On my way home from Miami I listened to Paul Oakenfold - Tranceport and thought to myself, what happened to TRANCE sets? I even listened to some new trance and thought, why not play these at a show?

Thanx very much for the responses people. It's a shame, because I listen to those older PVD and Nu NRG sets, and I would pay almost anything to experience a set like that in person. At least I can go to PVD this Friday now and just have a good time because its such a big occasion, and hopefully he drops one or two epic tracks. Or maybe I'll open my own club and just play only the older euphoric sets, eh? They say if you want something done you have to do it yourself haha. :P

Anyways, thanx again for the responses, and if anyone knows of any DJs who are defying the trend and still playing plenty of euphoric stuff let me know at [email protected] so if they ever come downunder I'll know to catch them.

Thanx again.

quote:

Originally posted by peking_duck I first started getting into Trance about 8 months ago.

I give you one more month.

quote:

Originally posted by Ishkur the mind. it boggles.

My mind always boggles at the world boggle. What a strange word. It also makes me laugh occasionally. Just say it out loud... "Boggle"

Whoever created that word is a genius and an idiot, I love the word and I hate it.

I'm done talking nonsense

Not everyone thinks like this, of course, but I know alot of people do, so why doesn't the DJ's realize this?
IMO the trance that is being made today (with some exceptions of course) should be listened to at home, while the style you're talking about should be used in clubs and stuff like that.

Unfortunately the energy and drive that trance had has been replaced with an easy to digest 'intelligent' form of soft proggy electro shite that works well in a commercial sense and makes people rich as they ride the worldwide popular electro wave.

Personally I think that era of driving evergetic trance was just a passing phase for the big names at the wheel to steer it towards is eventual destination. Even since the wave of dutch superstars started churning out formulaic breakdown driven tracks, everyone has tried to copy them at the expense of energetic and deep driving trance.

I'd say listen to some psytrance if your after energetic trance, but for an epic trance lover it would be like frodo taking the ring into mordor, its dark and scary and the hippies will eat you alive. Besises its not the same as big fuckoff synth driven energy trance which is a different beast entirely.

quote:

Originally posted by Axolotyl Unfortunately the energy and drive that trance had has been replaced with an easy to digest 'intelligent' form of soft proggy electro shite that works well in a commercial sense and makes people rich as they ride the worldwide popular electro wave. Personally I think that era of driving evergetic trance was just a passing phase for the big names at the wheel to steer it towards is eventual destination. Even since the wave of dutch superstars started churning out formulaic breakdown driven tracks, everyone has tried to copy them at the expense of energetic and deep driving trance. I'd say listen to some psytrance if your after energetic trance, but for an epic trance lover it would be like frodo taking the ring into mordor, its dark and scary and the hippies will eat you alive. Besises its not the same as big fuckoff synth driven energy trance which is a different beast entirely.

i'm new in the field...can you tell me some good psytrance for beginners?

one does not simply trance his way into mordor...

Problem is Trance is just too popular. Record labels sign up almost anyone lately and this blows a hit on the quality side of trance. I am a huge fun of trance - always been. I disagree with all the trance is dead crap that comes out on this forum every now and then cause trance is far but dead. It's just that trance production is a market that you can really easily get into, you dont need to produce quality, just anything sounding standard will get u a release. The result is that lots of good records get burried under a pile of sub-standard tracks whereas 5 years ago they would have been hits. There are still good tracks out there just takes more effort to find them through the pile.

You seem to be really knowledgable with having only listened to 8 months of trance, i'm a bit scepticle. Yes trance has changed over the years, it's called musical evolution. There will be something out there for you i just think you're judging too fast on what trance is nowdays, even though you maybe right.
You still need to explore a bit more in the present trance and in the past of trance. Then figure out which you like best.
A lot of people on TA will agree with your statement but it doesn't change the fact that you only started getting into trance 8 months ago, which is relatively new and may not have experienced the real trance.
.......that is if you are new?

it changes and evolves thats all their is to it. Simply put. Did you honestly expect it to to stay epic and uplifting? Be on the look out for electro trance... I already have tons.

Dont fear change embrace it. Gain the aquired taste. You feel me?

its simple...its dead, big name dj's shot it in the face

just stop listening to shit past 2001

Yeah, today's trance isn't worse, it has simply "moved on" and "evolved".

Even someone with a few months of listening can tell that's a crock, when comparing years.

quote:

Originally posted by Cobalt Yeah, today's trance isn't worse, it has simply "moved on" and "evolved".

Don't get it, is that sarcasim i hear?.......or see

quote:

Originally posted by kadomony one does not simply trance his way into mordor...

werd.

peking_duck check out the "classics" mixes in the dj promo forum. you'll enjoy them. not the same as being in a club on a mega club system but still cool, imo.

quote:

Originally posted by Axolotyl Unfortunately the energy and drive that trance had has been replaced with an easy to digest 'intelligent' form of soft proggy electro shite that works well in a commercial sense and makes people rich as they ride the worldwide popular electro wave. Personally I think that era of driving evergetic trance was just a passing phase for the big names at the wheel to steer it towards is eventual destination. Even since the wave of dutch superstars started churning out formulaic breakdown driven tracks, everyone has tried to copy them at the expense of energetic and deep driving trance. I'd say listen to some psytrance if your after energetic trance, but for an epic trance lover it would be like frodo taking the ring into mordor, its dark and scary and the hippies will eat you alive. Besises its not the same as big fuckoff synth driven energy trance which is a different beast entirely.

come on chaps, we can't always have epic trance with massive breakdowns, it's proggy trance at the moment, at some point we'll go back to epic trance,

by the way there is plenty of epic stuff out there, e.g. 3 strings "hurricane"

you cant keep all the people satisfied all the time...thats it

quote:

Originally posted by pvdclubber by the way there is plenty of epic stuff out there, e.g. 3 strings "hurricane"

If you want to convince us we still get epic stuff you could at least pick a track that's not awful.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Mystery If you want to convince us we still get epic stuff you could at least pick a track that's not awful.

It must be the missing fourth string.

quote:

Originally posted by Cobalt It must be the missing fourth string.

So that's why it sounded so hollow.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Mystery If you want to convince us we still get epic stuff you could at least pick a track that's not awful.

i said it was epic, not whether it was good or not!!!

quote:

Originally posted by pvdclubber i said it was epic, not whether it was good or not!!!

lol. is there such a thing as epic-ly sh!te?

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