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watje
about trance
 vrijdag 6 juni 2003
Listening to Tiesto's Nyana (review coming soon) I realized that trance is slowly but gradually getting harder and more minimalist, moving towards techno. I guess one shouldn't be too surprised, considering both originated from the same source. We used to call it "house" in Belgium, however that name isn't really appropriate. I suppose you could use "electronica" but that word was only invented years after the fact, when major labels needed a name to brand their new hit wonders.
Anyway if you want a good example of what I'm talking about listen to Nyana's outdoor disc. I'm not really sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. In general change is always a good thing, although it might not look so in the short run. The problem is that I am (and have been for quite some time) rather bored with most techno. I guess I can handle the monotony for some time or at a party when every one's up for it, but in the end a pounding bass and some hi-hats is just not doing it for me anymore.
That's where trance comes in with it's melody and sometimes singing. Although that last one's not always a good thing, but that's another discussion. In general trance tends to have more layers and a more complicated build-up, offering a deeper experience. If you just compare a 10 year old trance track (take Moby's Hymn for instance) with something more recent (e.g. Solar Factor's Urban Shakedown) the increased complexity is immediately apparent.
However, monotony and minimalism per se aren't necessary a bad thing. Some of my favorite progressive tracks are pretty boring if you start analyzing them. So we're back to point zero and I still cannot explain why I don't like the recent evolution.
Oh well ...
10:22:02 PM 
 So I promised you readers some trance music, but then stuff happened and Canvas showed Dr. Strangelove (or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb) and we ended up on a terrace once again. But anyway, to keep you busy for now: check out trancelog for a great trance-related weblog.
12:24:48 PM
© 2003 Peter Backx
Last Update: 1/07/2003; 23:58:18
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