Another thread got me thinking about Trance music and how it is often misunderstood or even more so misrepresented.

I am not talking about that watered down gay trance that Paul Van Dyke or Paul Oakenfold. The type of crap that they play at gay clubs sometimes or circuit parties. I am not even talking about BT or Robert Miles (though they have a few good songs). It seems as though this Eurotrance is the music that is giving the real trance music a bad name.

The Trance music I am talking about is Psychedelic/Goa trance. Astral Projection, Cosmosis, Infected Mushroom, Growling Mad Scientists, Deep Dive Corp, Sun Project, Hallucinogen and the labels Spirit Zone & Twisted. I am talking about the stuff that is relentless, unforgiving….grabs on to you and doesn’t let go. And the best place to hear it is OUTDOORS especially as the sun is coming up. Does anyone here know of what I am talking about?

erm...i like philip glass' "koyaanisqatsi"?

You bashed my DJ boyfriend, Mr. PVD. Therefore I will not play with you on this thread. Out There and Back was pure trance perfection, IMO. It may be on the mainstream side, but that doesn't take away from how good it was.

k, done pouting

One last word in defense...maybe it's a midwest thang, but PVD is like "hardcore" trance with all the queerboys I know. Most of them have never even heard of him and the only songs I've heard of his at the gay bars are the watered down radio mixes. even those were only played a few times. I swear, if ther'es not a friggin thunderpuss remix the bars here won't play it...

Anywho.

I LOVE dancin to trance. First Ave in it's finest years was just a mess o' trance in the mainroom, GOOD STUFF. As the years have passed, though, my dj connections have either given up, become junkies or switched to house. So, I've little knowledge of newer "good" trance.

So superspaceboy, I see some names here but do you have any tips on what I should pick up?

See that's what I am getting at. I'm from the midwest...I came out here to San Fran and got an education in what Trance was. At first I was exposed to the "Dance" trance side of things. It's very hard to describe...but it's a meatier version of PVD stuff. A lot of it comes out of Germany...and I can't give you one name as an artist in this stuff. Also they would mix in this dance trance with what was termed NRG trance (they call it hard house too)...or Hoover Trance, because of it's sound. If you have heard Lisa Lashes stuff...it's very close. Thing was when I would seek this music out...all that was good and available were mix tapes you get at the DJ shop. Some of this music is really good...very etherial and the SF'ers really knew how to present it.

Then enter in Thump-Radio. They were a radio station/monthly night club...bringing the best in electronic music...really!!! They hosted the Blue Room Parties...if that means anything. The music they had wasn't this dance trance kind of stuff...but a much darker, slightly faster and harder version I had not heard before. Crazy stuff! That's where I was introduced to the wonderful world of Psy Trance and Goa. Again...they are hard to describe in terms of how they sound.

Psy Trance is still around..the dance trance has been washed away. Funny, house dj's that went to Trance are returning back to House.

So, you wanted some recommendations?

Mars & Mystere - Faith in 2000 - A bit dated, but these were the classic cuts back in the day. I find it a tad watered down...but what makes this stand out is that back in the day here...these songs would bring cheers at the parties. I really recommend this.

Art of Trance - Again melodic Trance...good stuff though

Lisa Lashes - SHe's good at presenting the Hard House/Hoover Trance. I ahve better mix tapes though.

I like the Psy/Goa stuff much better...I recommend

Astral Projection - Anything they have put out is quality!

Infected Mushroom - We love the mushies!

Sun Project - Love the guitars...Live they freeking kick ASS

Koxbox - they great unknown. a little on the slower side but very dense. This album was a favorite amongst fans

Cosmosis - I love this guy. He really knows his stuff. He gets pretty cosmic in the trance. Very fun to watch live.

Hallucinogen - Only has 2 albums...again HIGHLY recommend this guy. Very talented. Genius actually. He is more into running his label Twisted (ALMOST EVERYTHING OFF THIS LABEL IS OF HIGH QUALITY) and making music under the moniker Sphongle these days. He's the Godfather of psy-trance.

Oh god, I almost forgot...Olli Wisdom's Space Tribe!!!! - Oh yes...good stuff. A little repetitive, but really good.

Or go online and pick up any of the Global Psychedelic Trance Comps from Spirit Zone.

alright, that's a lot o shoppin in that there list

I'll let you know what I pick-up.

Thanks for the info!

endorphin74 said:

OK...I'll make it a bit easier...

Mars & Mystere - Faith in 2000

Hallucinogen or Shpongle

Global Psychedelic Trance Comps from Spirit Zone

superspaceboy said:

thank you, now I won't bankrupt myself

This is interesting to me.I have recently been introduced to this type of stuff through suggestions of non-gay weekend car racers.I was given a copy of a Seb Fontaine cd an d then told to get Creamfields by Oakenfold as an intro .It was pointed out that that was mainstream. I have no real point of refernce on this stuff.All I know is that sometimes I'm in the mood for it and it makes me drive really fast. I will check out some of your suggestions for "hardcore" stuff. This is all just me listening to this and part of no movement or group. I just find the deep booming beats and layers of keyboards to be engrossing at times.I don't even really consider this to be "dance" music. All I wanna do is get a buzz and speed out!

rockwilder said:

that's EXACTLY why I love this stuff on the dancefloor!