|
Correct definitions of "progressive" trance and "tech-trance"
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Dance123 |
Hi,
As far as I know you had original trance starting in early 90's which was mainly based around repetitive sequences and arpeggio's that didn't change much in chord progression and then in the mid-90's trance became more melodic, with more melodic lead lines and more chord changes etc.. like we know it today and this was called progressive trance, is that about correct?
However, what does progressive really stand for. There are 2 theories:
1/ you had "classic trance" in early 90's like I descrbibed above and then came the second wave of more melodic trance as described above, so it was "a new type" of trance different from the trance before, so to differentiate it from trance before it was called "progressive" trance, to indicate it was a new thing at that time.
2/ some say it's called progressive trance because of the build-up structure.
I believe alot of people follow the second theory, however I think the first one makes more sense. If you think about it, classic trance like "Age of love" also had a buil-up in it if I remember correctly and I still believe the term "progressive" was being used in trance to indicate "a new type of trance" that started in the mid-90's.
What do all of you think?!
Second, what would be your definition of "tech-trance". Is it a fusion between trance and electro that arised when elecro became popular (Benny Benassi etc..). Or perhaps the use of breakbeats etc..in trance, which has less flow then progressive and epic trance? What would be your definition.
PS: once we agree on good definitions for both progressive trance and tech trance, this could be added to trance music at at wikipedia.org
Thanks for all good replies! |
|
|
| SYSTEM-J |
| Tech trance is trance that sounds like techno. Or the other way round. Electro isn't an issue. |
|
|
| Dance123 |
I think the fusion of trance with techno (harder kick etc..) is "hard trance". I don't think that this is "tech-trance".
Also, would love to hear your defintions of "progressive" trance. |
|
|
| tiesto14 |
| i define prog as a tune that builds and builds to only come back to the original beat. |
|
|
| rob_sardellitti |
| how about we call it music so we can all get along :p |
|
|
| SYSTEM-J |
| quote: | Originally posted by tiesto14
i define prog as a tune that builds and builds to only come back to the original beat. |
Just about all trance does this. |
|
|
| tiesto14 |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
Just about all trance does this. |
u dont understand what i mean...well its hard for me to explain.
prog to me builds and bulds to just level off at the original beat speed i guess
while trance to me build and builds but gets harder after it peaks.
to me. |
|
|
| Dance123 |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
Just about all trance does this. |
I agree. I think classic trance also had the build-up and then build-down structure, so what does "progressive" stand for then. Since this is a trance forum, I thought people here would be capable of giving a good definition of it, same for "tech-trance". |
|
|
| stevieboy32808 |
If you have ever analyzed a bunch of trance tracks there appears to be a certain pattern present in most of that music. The layout, the melody, optional breakdown, climax, and elements that appear during regular intervals of a track. I call this a formula or a list of guidelines that most producers follow to achieve the sound we call trance. When those rules are slightly bent or broken it starts to take on another form known to many as progressive trance. If done correctly a track can sound ahead of it's time, revolutionary, or just plain great.
As far as genres are concerned, classic trance is more of a description rather than a genre which is given to any type of trance that had a major, lasting impact on the dance scene. For example compare Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar with L.S.G. - Netherworld or Matt Darey Pres. M3 - Bailamos with Jam & Spoon - Odyssey To Anyoona or Push - Universal Nation. Those are all examples of different genres of trance that are labeled as classic. You heard people many say "oh man that's a classic" They are simply describing the age and lasting impact of a song and not they belong in any particluar genre so to sum up, the use of the word classic when describing trance is just that -a description, not a genre.
Tech-trance is very easy to differentiate from progressive. This type of trance is usually uplifting, energetic, and dare I say party music. In terms of energy tech trance is one step above your normal trance, but one step below hard trance. I would also say that tech-trance evokes a different feeling than than the latter because with progressive the aim of that music gears toward a different audience. Simply put you know that certain music is meant to evoke a certain feeling right? If you want to listen to something very soothing and relaxing then ambient chillout trance would do the job. But if high energy is your thing then tech-trance, hard trance, and hi-nrg can easily fullfill that for you. When it comes to progressive there is a certain essence that is hard for me to explain, but it's there. You just have to have an ear for it. |
|
|
| SYSTEM-J |
| quote: | Originally posted by stevieboy32808
As far as genres are concerned, classic trance is more of a description rather than a genre which is given to any type of trance that had a major, lasting impact on the dance scene. |
Classic trance is what the original trance is now called- to identify its age and original status. It's the old-old stuff from the early 1990s. |
|
|
| Ishkur |
In all honesty, it probably came from "Progressive Rock".
Progressive Rock was a style of rock music arising in the 70s that was considered an "advanced" form of rock that was beyond the typical verse-bridge-chorus pattern that the music uniformly adopted during the 50s and 60s. With long solos, interludes, set pieces, movements, and whole sections devoted to different timing signatures and complicated key changes. Songs became 20+ minute epics (and even longer during their live shows, without the restraints of an album-oriented vinyl release) with complicated parts to them.
Ultimately, of course, Progressive Rock became so advanced beyond its contemporaries that it became overwrought and pretentious, and was well removed from kids picking up a guitar for the first time to try to emulate. It was simply too complicated and required years of instruction and training. Because of this, in the late 70s there was a backlash against Progressive Rock music by kids who had not the time, not the talent nor the inclination to ever learn music at that level. So they opted for a Hegelian antithesis, ie: music so simple and basic anyone can play. Hence: punk.
In trance music's case, the adoption was similar, but the pretension actually went backwards. Early trance music was confined to expressing a certain mood or atmosphere over a long period of time, and was conducive to long, spacey repetitive melodies running through resonance filters. It had breakdowns, sure, and even snare rolls and melodies, but they by no means were meant to dominate or control the track, nor did everyone cling to them. There were very few, if any, chord changes. Eden Transmission - I'm So High, for example.
Progressive Trance referred to trance that was progressing beyond this minimalist mindset. It was trance that was actually ~going~ somewhere. It had set pieces. A definite intro, beginning, middle, end, outro. These set pieces were often separated by characteristic snare rolls, breakdowns, or a memorable melody that you would be humming to yourself all day. So it kind of had a stop-start-stop motive to it, unlike classic trance which was freeflowing. I guess it was aptly named because for the first time trance was actually "progressing" beyond its original theme, which is what progressive rock claimed to be doing. BBE - Flash is a good example of this.
Along the way, of course, producers got the idea of letting these gimmicks--the breakdowns, the snare rolls and the anthems--replace the music, instead of accompanying it. And when this happened, the music got really formulaic, really dumbed down, and thus perfect for mass acceptance. Pop Trance had arrived. And that's when trance broke through to the mainstream and, consequently, that's when all you people started liking it.
Tech-trance? ....that was made by people sick to death of the anthems, around about 99 or so. Trance with more techno elements.
Prog (as in just "Prog") .....that was made by people sick to death of the anthems, around about 99 or so. Trance with more housey elements. I dunno why they call it prog though. In a way, it is an evolution of progressive house, mixed with progressive trance, but the name itself is more pretentious than progressive rock, and I don't recommend you call it that anymore. |
|
|
|
|
