Psychedelic Trance genders
Goatrance, Psytrance, Full On, Progressive, Night & Morning Trance, Minimal
Certainly the premises and the context in which the birth of the Psychedelic Trance occurred, can be explained not only by the musical characteristics of the style, but also by other philosophical aspects, such as the behavior of the mind and the body. Also, there were politic aspects which closely accompanied all the development of the scene by all these years.
Everything began in Goa, India. At the end of the 80’s, the hippies, travelers, spiritual searchers, freaks, and a great number of people that were connected to some manifestation of anti-culture found a place to experiment and develop trough an intuitive way a new sonorous style.
Oriental sounds were incorporated to the traditional electronic music, as well as, less industrial rythms than those common rythms of the urban Techno. At that time that was the trend. After that, tribal and ethnic rythms were also incorporated, resulting in more organic and easily assimilable music,that stimulated not only states close to the mystical trance (for example, associated to Hindu mantras), but also a greater harmony with natural atmospheres and outdoors.
Spontaneous celebrations were born in the coast of Goa where voluntaries were in charge to install precarious sound equipment and decoration. That was enough to take the participants to experiment an atmosphere of a very special celebration, not only from the music, but also a unique experience of freedom and tolerance, such as, the dance without rules, the psychedelics,and spiritual trips. It was then when the Goa-Trance was born.
Initially melodic and very loaded with Eastern elements. It was taken to Europe where the celebrations were multiplied and inspired by the style of Goa. The goa was always flowing in an underground atmosphere. The great majority of played music was not published by electronic records of that time; however,original material was taken by the same producers or collectors with exclusive connections.
The celebrations were increasing, attracting more and more people, bringing the revival of the old aspirations of the hippie movements and the anti-culture of the 60s and 70s.
The mentioned above can explain the process of the clear fusion of the old Rock’n’Roll with the hypnotic Beats of electronic music and the Oriental elements. In some way, it’s possible to say that GoaTrance is the most electronic expression of Rock’n’Roll, containing not only musical elements of their own sources, but also experimenting certain mental and body aspects.
As well as Goa influenced the initial format of the Trance, the places where the Goa style was growing also influenced it. For instance, England, one of the western cradles of the Trance, produced an intelligent and sophisticated style of the new Goa music. As England was the innovator and revolutionary contribuitor for the history of the Rock with The Beatles and Stones, Germany was another western cradle of the Trance. Germany brought nailed in its memory Pioneers of electronic music, with groups like Neu, Can and Kraftwerk.
These two countries can be considered the focal points of Trance in Europe, where later the style spread to the four sides of the planet. In all the localities where the Goa arrived, the Goa Trance took not only its fascinating and hypnotic music, also a full concept based on well-known humanistic principles (Peace, Love, Union, Respect…).
The movement arose in Holland, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and other countries of Europe. Apparently unusual countries, like Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and later, Mexico, South Africa and Brazil were also receptive to the process. Without a doubt, in diverse aspects the movement was every time closer and closer to the hippie vision of the 60s.
On the other hand, each place where the scene was consolidated, ended up, giving their own style and identity to the Psytrance. The Nordic countries created a minimal style, perhaps coincident with the cold that they live in. The idea of what, a little can say too much, brought the Progressive Trance. Beats less accelerated, generally 136 BPM, gives the style and space for deep individual experimentations. Arisen by the end of the 90’s, until today’s date is still producing musical jewels of high value.
Other variations were created in warm and sunny atmospheres, as the called Full On with accelerated Beats, always over 142 BPM, reaching sometimes 150 BPM. Pulsating, vigorous and filled with explosion moments that make express much euphoria on the dance tracks. That style is very appreciated in Brazil, Australia, Israel and South Africa.
The Psychedelic Trance can be melodic and reflective or abuse sonourus/rythmic effects that suggest hidden melodies. Nevertheless, Psy is always Psy even if it’s Progressive, Full On, Minimal, Tribal or Morning Trance (the one that DJs use to revigorize dancers in the tracks of dance at dawn, often taking the celebration crossing the morning). Each style is adapted to a certain situation or schedule on the dance track, which differently occurs besides other rythms, it’s almost always facing the premises of a ritual act.
Currently, the Psy Trance is among the styles of electronic music that has grown more in popularity all over the World. The alternative style and the underground scene from its beginnings continue serving as a datum point against the excessive commercialization of the events and guaranteeing the necessary dose of authenticity.
thanks to : HonguitoDJ
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