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Techno/Trance...could somebody please explain?

Started by radareyes · 44 posts · 741 views · this thread in the Internet Archive

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radareyes22 Nov 2003, 09:20
Hi,

I would like to preface this post by saying that I am not here simply to be inflammatory or to be an a**hole. Believe it or not, this post is inspired by genuine curiousity and a desire to understand something that I cannot presently conceive of. Basically, I find techno/trance and pretty much all subgenres of techno/trance to be some of the most boring, uninspired, unimaginative, and perhaps above all pointless music in existence. Because I like other forms of electronic music (Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre etc.) and because I heard that Trance[]Control were one of the most successful independant artists ever, I figured, despite my poor experience with this type of music, that I would give them a try. As of tonight I have listened to almost two hours of Trance[]Control music and I now realize that I should have known better. Trance[]Control seems to me like completely generic trance, with all of the fatal flaws that most trance music seems to love to flaunt: The most unvaried percussion I have ever heard (I know that's kinda the point, but still...), an incredibely bland sound palette, and rifs that are "milked" to such a degree that my auditory "udders" end up painfully sore. What I want to know is this: How do you rationalize listening to this music? How do you not crave for some genuine melodic sensibility, for some aural spaciousness, or for a drum track that actually takes some ability and experience to create? If you want to hear a rare example of techno/trance that gets it right (IMO) check out Toby Emerson over at www.ampcast.com/tobyemerson (some free downloads) or better yet, buy Tangerine Dream's Dream Mixes series. At this point, I would like to reemphasize that I honestly don't mean to be offensive, I'm just trying to see things through the eyes of a trance fan.

Thanks,
Travis
Alle22 Nov 2003, 11:54
Hey Travis,

I suppose I'm a bit of a trance fan myself... and it's kinda funny that you mention both Vangelis and Jean Michel Jarre - They've both been a great source of inspiration to me and I play the Columbus theme by Vangelis all the time.

To give you an answer to your question - (What's the fuzz about?) - I can only say you got to be open and aspired by this kind of music in the first place. I don't think it's about searching for aural perfectionism - it's more a question of seeking out music that match a state of mind... Yet once more you have to be open for this kind of music.

As for instance when you're angry you'd probably feel more comfortable listening to aggressive music.. Melancholic for sadness and so on...

Jarre & Vangelis deal with sonic soundscapes, while as we deal with fetching and delivering emotions...

I'm not sure if this makes any sense what so ever for you but I guess my main point is that if you can't bare listening to the music, no matter how hard you try, then I'm affraid you're just out of your boundries for aural satisfactory.

Best,

Alex

PS. Still pleased to hear that you did try to give our music a fair chance... We need more people like you in this world - People who evaluate before they judge. DS.
Proxim023 Nov 2003, 00:37
radareyes wrote: What I want to know is this: How do you rationalize listening to this music? How do you not crave for some genuine melodic sensibility, for some aural spaciousness, or for a drum track that actually takes some ability and experience to create?

Do u seriously not realize that everyone has their own opinion. Wow you don't like t[]c, lots of us enjoy listening to them. Is there really anything wrong with that? Also was it truely necessary to come onto the t[]c boards(a group that u very much dislike) to ask a dumb question. Everyone has their own opinion. You don't like them we do.
OneLoneMan23 Nov 2003, 02:17
Tance and Techno music to me is the type of music that I had been waiting for all my life. I am now 50 and think that Trance and Techno music are just great. I have listened to and have music from the bands you mentioned and find that for pure listening pleasure t[]c and like bands are the better music overall. I enjoy the fast pace of the music as well as the electronic sounds. I do not like all Trance and Techno just like I don't like all Rock'N'Roll but the genera as a whole is some of the best music I have ever found. The music is stimulating. I especially like Trance because of the lack of lyrics. The music lets my imagination soar unlike some of the music from the bands that you mentioned. I do like melodic music but I like Hard Trance as well. I am glad that you like the music that you do. Many people do. There are many types of music that I do not like but I do not force my opinions on others that do and do not belittle those who listen to it. You are entitled to your opinions as well as your likes and dislikes. So are we. I respect yours so please respect ours.
OneLoneMan23 Nov 2003, 02:37
I just listened to some Toby Emerson and found that I liked for the most part what I heard. But I did not find the music superior to t[]c's music or many other Trance bands that I have heard. Do you have a link where I could find some of Tangerine Dream's Dream Mixes series?
TranceSynthVania23 Nov 2003, 02:51
It's all about your taste, and there is little you can do about it, other than accept it. You are born with a certain taste to everything, like food, girls, music etc... the taste can of course change by time, but you cannot really control that. So that should answer your question. You don't like trance music, but we do. Think about that; some people can't stand the music you are listening to. Myself, I like all music with emotions and so on. Just like the music you are listening to. I also like Enya a lot. And I like trance. All you can really do is accept what you like, and what others like.

take care,

//TranceSynthVania
DjDaed23 Nov 2003, 03:40
aural satisfactory

Nice choice of words Alle.
OldDude23 Nov 2003, 04:18
To Trance or not to Trance - is that a question? Not really, it's a decision made by all of us who enjoy this music for what it is. Whether it's for the emotions or the beat or (and OLM has a good point here) the lack of lyrics that sometimes have a way muddying up the waters of most music. Don't get me wrong, I like to sing along with the oldies on the radio as much as the next guy, but to me Trance just has a life of it's own. Lyrics would just get in the way and slow things down.

I've listened to music of all kinds for many years (56 next month) and my collection, while not large is varied. It ranges from Joan Baez, Enya and Buffy St. Marie to Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton and Lynyrd Skynyrd . It goes from Black 47 to Dean Martin and Louis Prima and of course, t[]c, MCKEY TRAXX and others. But, and this is a BIG but, when things/people/situations are getting me down and I need that extra little shot of something to get up and moving (mentally anyway) I put on the headphones and crank up some Trance[ ]Control or any of the other good artists, TranceFusion or DJDaed to name two, who post here. It's just what the doctor ordered or would if he had any sense.

The only other comment I have is that if you consider trance music, especially t[ ]c, boring, you must lead one hell of an exciting life, bubba.

:devil2: Rick :devil:
teknodave23 Nov 2003, 06:33
When I saw this topic, I thought it was going to answer the question that I have always had ... but I guess not.

Even though I have "Tekno" in my screenname, I have been a fan of t[]c since September 2000 (when "Beyond 2001" hit retail shelves). I have heard various tunes in the clubs and such, and just assumed it was all techno.

But after hearing the CD, and subquent ones :wub: I am honestly having a hard time trying to discern the differences between the subgenres. :unsure:

What exactly is the main difference between techno and trance? :huh:
OneLoneMan23 Nov 2003, 06:39
OldDude wrote:I've listened to music of all kinds for many years (56 next month) ...

Nice to see someone my age around here! I'm glad my signature line only reads "...one of the oldest." ;)

Like you my taste in music varies a lot. While I may not like as wide a range of artists that you do I do like some from many different genera including Country, Rock'N'Roll, Trance, Techno, Electronic, New Age, The Classics just to name a few. But Trance does something for me that most music doesn’t. It has something to do with the beat and speed of the music as well as the style. Blue Grass has fast beats but the style usually doesn't do much for me. Trance and Techno do. And I'm still discovering new bands and sound almost daily!
:music:
OneLoneMan23 Nov 2003, 06:44
teknodave wrote:What exactly is the main difference between techno and trance? :huh:

If I may be so bold as to put forth an answer, I beleive that the only real difference is that Techno has lyrics and Trance does not. If I'm incorect here then I am sure that someone from the froum will correct me... :rolleyes:
Proxim023 Nov 2003, 07:08
OneLoneMan wrote:
teknodave wrote:What exactly is the main difference between techno and trance? :huh:

If I may be so bold as to put forth an answer, I beleive that the only real difference is that Techno has lyrics and Trance does not. If I'm incorect here then I am sure that someone from the froum will correct me... :rolleyes:

That is basically what i thought the difference is also. But i wasn't sure enough to say it first.
radareyes23 Nov 2003, 09:50
OneLoneMan wrote:There are many types of music that I do not like but I do not force my opinions on others that do and do not belittle those who listen to it. You are entitled to your opinions as well as your likes and dislikes. So are we. I respect yours so please respect ours.

I never "belittled" you for listening to trance, I simply stated my opinion, which according to you I am entitled to. I never ventured into the territory of making character or lifestyle judgements of trance fans - behavior which WOULD be consistent with the meaning of the term "belittled" - I only offered my perceptions of the music itself. To say that I "forced" my opinions on others and "belittled" you for liking trance is a distortion and misinterpretation of my post.

What you don't seem to understand is that I am here BECAUSE I respect your musical tastes. If didn't, I would be content to simply dismiss trance entirely; instead, I am attempting to understand your musical perspective (an intention I thought I made pretty clear in my original post). To me, trying to understand another person's perspective is the epitome of respecting their opinions.

OneLoneMan: If you're interested in Tangerine Dream's Dream Mixes, there are a few clips on their homepage www.tangerinedream.org and I believe also on amazon.com. I suggest checking out vol. 2 first.

Travis
teknodave23 Nov 2003, 10:33
OneLoneMan wrote:If I may be so bold as to put forth an answer, I beleive that the only real difference is that Techno has lyrics and Trance does not. If I'm incorect here then I am sure that someone from the froum will correct me... :rolleyes:

Well if that is the case ... right on! :lol:

But I think "teknodave" rolls off the tounge better than "trancedave" :P
DjDaed23 Nov 2003, 14:52
Trance is more of a melodic and harmonic style of electronic music. There are leads, basslines, running basslines, percussions and some effects. Just because a song has vocals doesn't mean that it is not Trance. There are some great trance tracks out there with vocals in it, Voodoo and Serano - Overload, is one example.

Techno is a bit harder, they are a bit faster too. Techno has no, or very few leads, and the leads that they have are hard, short and aggressive. But also, vocals does not make techno, there are plenty of tracks out there that have no vocals but are in the techno genre.

You also have Drum and Bass, which is faster then trance, has some vocals and is made up of mostly drums and basses, thus the name.

Then you have house, and hard house. The are usually extremely fast (hard house), or somewhat slow (house) with lots of vocals. Ususally hard house is more of a hyper sound with loud effects and semi random vocal samples.

I hope this helps out a bit.
teknodave23 Nov 2003, 18:58
I think I follow. :lol:
MrGoodbytes23 Nov 2003, 22:08
radareyes wrote: What you don't seem to understand is that I am here BECAUSE I respect your musical tastes. If didn't, I would be content to simply dismiss trance entirely; instead, I am attempting to understand your musical perspective (an intention I thought I made pretty clear in my original post). To me, trying to understand another person's perspective is the epitome of respecting their opinions.

I agree with Alle. I think it's great that someone who definitely does not like trance is still trying to understand why we do. More people with an attitude like yours would solve a lot of the world's problems.
Everyone is free to their own opinion.

Graeme
OneLoneMan23 Nov 2003, 22:26
DjDaed

I stand corrected. :P

radareyes

You belittled Trance music, t[]c in particular. Your post had, to me, an overall condescending feel towards Trance music and t[]c.

Yes you are entitled to your opinion and so am I. My opinion of your post stands. But that doesn't mean we can't be friends on the forum. I have some of the best times verbally fighting with my friends.

Thanks for the Tangerine Dream suggestions. So far the best TD CD I've found is the music to the movie "Thief".

And Welcome to the t[]c forum. :D
Guest23 Nov 2003, 22:59
OneLoneMan (or anyone else...): If you're interested in continuing to explore the rich, diverse, and prolific musical landscape that is Tangerine Dream, let me know and I'd be glad to give you some good starting points and an overview of their 30 year+, 70 album+ (not including bootlegs...that would make it 200+!!!) career. ▓ e-mail address hidden or just tell me here.

I apologize if my post seemed condescending - as I have said before, that was not my intention. Thanks for being willing to build rapport with me despite our oppositional introduction.

Travis
OneLoneMan24 Nov 2003, 01:45
radareyes

No worries, mate! (and, no, I am not Australian) :D

I was turned onto Tangerine Dream through their show tunes, namely "Thief". I bought several of their CD's over the years searching for what didn't exist at the time (Trance and Techno). I like many of the band's tunes but I find most of them too slow in tempo. I feel the same about Mannheim Steamroller and the "Fresh Aire" series (all of which I have). There are only a handful of tunes from all 8 that I really enjoy. Both Tangerine Dream and Mannheim Steamroller are great bands and have produced some great music without question. It is just that I like, enjoy, almost need the intensity and speed of Trance and Techno music.

Have you ever heard of a Christian group called Hydro? They produce Techno music. Of the 2 CD's that I am aware that they have produced I like only 3 songs. The names are "rawar", at 150 bpm, "jiggle", at 150 bpm and "rawar - the mad axeman mix", at 131 bpm. These are 3 of my all time favorite Techno songs because of the power and speed of the music. If you have never heard the songs then I can not convey the power the songs have.

I have also listened to Jean Michel Jarre and Vangelis and have found both, with some exceptions, not to my taste. But I seem to like just about every John Carpenter show tune that I have ever heard! I also like some Enya tunes as well (for relaxation my wife and I often listen to Enya as we fall asleep) and I am a big Rock'N'Roll fan as well, having grown up on the music. So my music taste does vary. I have just found that Trance and Techno music, the faster stuff, is just what I have been searching for all my life.

When it comes to Trance and Techno I do like the music to have movement and change up. Not all Trance and Techno live up to my standards. I pick and choose what I listen to. I am still on the path to discovery as to which bands and styles I like the best. t[]c's music and being a part of this forum has helped me discover some great music. Many of the posters here are music producers and have produced some tunes as good or better than t[]'s (in my opinion).

When I listen to music I don't try and analyze it. I just listen and watch where it takes me. If I like it I listen to it, regardless of the genera.

BTW I apologize for getting offended at your remarks. alle handled it much more eloquently than I did. He's younger and more levelheaded that I am. I'm just and old fart who likes Trance. :lol:
teknodave24 Nov 2003, 02:02
OneLoneMan wrote:Have you ever heard of a Christian group called Hydro? They produce Techno music.

Christian Techno? That's a new one. I do not think I have heard of those two styles blended together before.

OneLoneMan wrote:When I listen to music I don't try and analyze it. I just listen and watch where it takes me. If I like it I listen to it, regardless of the genera.

I would have to agree with that. I enjoy just cranking it up, and becoming one with the music. It has taken me many different places, both depending on the mood I am in, and the way the music is performed. I have listened to many different styles and artists, but I always find myself overplaying t[]c quite a bit. :lol:
t[]c lover24 Nov 2003, 02:57
ya ive heard christian techno. i many cases, yuck. Ill stick to choirs.
DjDaed24 Nov 2003, 06:30
DjDaed

I stand corrected

You were still somewhat correct. Most people can't even explain it like you did.
teknodave24 Nov 2003, 23:47
I am still somewhat intrigued to hear what it sounds like though. Just to say that I have, and to get funny looks from others when I tell them that I have listened to Christian Techno. :lol:
OneLoneMan25 Nov 2003, 01:59
technodave

There is a lot of Techno Christian bands around, or there were the last time I checked which was some time ago. When I found free downloads of (mostly) harmless Trance music I quit searching for Christian Techno bands. The general reason being that I had to buy the Christian CD's before knowing if the music was any good.

If you want to check out some good Christian Techno music you can check out the following bands: The Echoing Green; Scott Blackwell; Erin Fall; Painted Orange; dba bubble and e-majn. A couple of good compilation CD’s are “eclestia” and Vibe central”. You may be able to find some of them on the Internet.

:music:
OldDude27 Nov 2003, 04:21
OK, this is kind of long, but it's the first time I've found technical definitions as to what Trance is. These were copied from the www.ElectronicScene.com website and since they are there for anybody to read, I hope nobody there minds if I put them here.

:devil2: Rick :devil:

"TRANCE:
Trance combines repetitive yet evolving melodies, multiple layers and threads, quantised patterns, and smooth/sweeping pads together to produce music that depends strongly on composition to keep everything clear and not mindlessly repetitive. Drums and percussion may be present in 4-on-the-floor style but are not given the same importance that they receive in genres such as breakbeat or drum’n’bass - if anything, they may lurk in the background or be brought in and out of the mix as the track demands. As the name suggests, trance aims for being hypnotic and trance-inducing - a way of using music to achieve an altered state of consciousness and, as such, shares musical roots with religious and spiritual music across the ages.

HARD TRANCE:
“Usually the most danceable of the trance genres, hard trance has an emphasis on harder, often acid sounds. The beat is very strong, and there is less emphasis on lead lines and pads. But the trance 'feeling' is still there in the big soundscapes and atmospheric sound fx” (Transience/Phil, 06/11/00).

MELODIC TRANCE:
Not surprisingly, melodic trance places emphasis on intricate and constantly evolving melody. This is “feel-good” music that uplifts and energizes the dance floor.

PROGRESSIVE TRANCE:
The word "progressive" is a deceptive, often misleading term used to describe music that begins simple and progresses towards a powerful climax, returning to its simple sound in order for the next song to mix into it easily. Most trance produced today is of the progressive nature, with huge lead sounds, extensive breakdowns and memorable melodies. Perhaps the best known figures in this style are Paul van Dyk, Sasha & Digweed, Christopher Lawrence, Nick Warren and Ferry Corsten, although all of these DJs fluctuate their styles regularly. The most important thing to remember in this style is the word "big."

AMBIENT TRANCE:
Ambient trance refers to a period in trance's history when the focus was on intricate, melodic atmospheres and hypnotic repetitiveness, rather than the current progressive/epic sound popular in the club circuit. Reaching its pinnacle in the mid-1990s with labels such as Eye-Q and MFS, ambient trance captivated the party scene with its intense, hypnotic approach that took "rave" music to a more intelligent and refined level. DJs such as Sven Vath, Paul van Dyk and Cosmic Baby rose to stardom in this time, creating hoardes of imitators that have since gone on to refine the genre even more. Now, ambient trance is mostly a time of the past, yet the deep, atmospheric sound continues on today in select groups.

PSYTRANCE:
Springing out of Goa trance, but taking a departure from the layers of intricate melodies and arpeggiator patterns, psytrance is intense and emotional, striving to bend and manipulate sound as much as possible. Characterized by a 4/4 rhythm, psytrance attempts to use layers of sounds and audio tweaks rather than melodies to induce a trance like state in the listener. The current range of psytrance spans many styles from minimal techno like constructions all the way to harsh abrasive sounds that border on industrial, always with a heady dose of psychedlia thrown in for good measure.

GOA:
A precursor to psychedelic trance, Goa (or Goa Trance) is named after a region on India’s west coast of the same name, famous as a meditative centre with great beaches. Repetitive and hypnotic, goa attempts to induce an altered state of consciousness and take the listener on a psychedelic journey. Tracks often use the Arabic scale and feature evolving melodic themes that grow and develop. Tempo is set at active heart rate. There is an important spiritual aspect to Goa that welds trance music to an Eastern or mystical belief systems."
aqvayak10 Dec 2003, 11:18
There also exists a Trance/hard Techno hybrid, characterized by early Mauro Picotto and some songs by Cosmic Gate or Mario Piu. The songs are fast and trancy, with techno sounds creating the beat, but also include synths and pianos for trance buildups.

Also, id say english andand scnadinavian hard trance and euro hard trance have a distinct difference. Uk/scandinavian uses lots of acid sounds, while the dutch and german producers tend to avoid them, with the notable exceptions of blank & jones and PVD. eurotrance tends to have a sound characterized as more 'cheesy'
t[]c lover12 Dec 2003, 01:20
oh my goodness that will blow me away. Im still inrigued by singers.
Josiah F. Sowell8 Jan 2004, 14:23
radareyes wrote: Hi,

I would like to preface this post by saying that I am not here simply to be inflammatory or to be an a**hole. Believe it or not, this post is inspired by genuine curiousity and a desire to understand something that I cannot presently conceive of. Basically, I find techno/trance and pretty much all subgenres of techno/trance to be some of the most boring, uninspired, unimaginative, and perhaps above all pointless music in existence. Because I like other forms of electronic music (Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre etc.) and because I heard that Trance[]Control were one of the most successful independant artists ever, I figured, despite my poor experience with this type of music, that I would give them a try. As of tonight I have listened to almost two hours of Trance[]Control music and I now realize that I should have known better. Trance[]Control seems to me like completely generic trance, with all of the fatal flaws that most trance music seems to love to flaunt: The most unvaried percussion I have ever heard (I know that's kinda the point, but still...), an incredibely bland sound palette, and rifs that are "milked" to such a degree that my auditory "udders" end up painfully sore. What I want to know is this: How do you rationalize listening to this music? How do you not crave for some genuine melodic sensibility, for some aural spaciousness, or for a drum track that actually takes some ability and experience to create? If you want to hear a rare example of techno/trance that gets it right (IMO) check out Toby Emerson over at www.ampcast.com/tobyemerson (some free downloads) or better yet, buy Tangerine Dream's Dream Mixes series. At this point, I would like to reemphasize that I honestly don't mean to be offensive, I'm just trying to see things through the eyes of a trance fan.

Thanks,
Travis

I'll explain for you there are many types of trance music My favorites are Hard Trance , Progressive Trance.

Trance music is all about the rythem , beat , and if you listen to the right song
a massive uplifting of energy.

An it is great to listen to while driving But i enjoy mainly for the rythem.

If you want to list to some of them that is in my top 20 list here you go:

You will need real one player to be able to listen to these here is that Link:
Real One Player - Free Version

And now here are the music files:

Control-Dream_of_Trance.rv]Trance[]Control - Dream of Trance

Revolution 472 - Ice Cathedral II

Aura - the source of trance - Destination skyline

And if you don't like at least one of these song or at least one part of any
of these songs then go back to listening to 'down tempo' lol
Guest8 Jan 2004, 14:31
whoops the Trance Control Dream of Trance link was screwed in my above post
well any way here is the correct one.

Trance[]Control - Dream of Trance
The Weird Sir8 Jan 2004, 19:03
Hey, OneLoneMan, have you heard of DJ Andy Hunter? Really good Christian Techno there. It actually doesn't suck :lol:

Um, as for why I listen to trance, it's all about the energy it creates and the cool sounds that compose it. While t[]c doesn't offer that much for the latter (weird sounds) it's got some great energy and melodies (one of my favourite tracks is Touch the Lights).

Speaking of weird sounds though, anyone heard of Infected Mushroom? They're and Israeli Psy-trance duo. Check out www.infected.co.il for some really good samples up there. I'm trying to get my hands on their "Converting Vegetarians" CD, but I can't find it anywhere in Canada. :(
The Weird Sir8 Jan 2004, 19:37
Oh, forogt one of the biggest reasons I listen to trance; the world it makes it in my head. I know that sounds weird, but there's something about the music which takes me to another world, much like a good fantasy novel does. I don't know exactly how or why trance does this, maybe it has something to do with reverb and detuning. But, yeah, whatever :P This all gets into my own theory that good music should take the listener on a journey to places that only exist in the imagination. When I look back on all the albums I have ever listened to, the ones that I keep coming back to over and over again were the ones that had some sort of ethereal feel and a sense of journey. And I keep coming back to those albums because they are like places I can go to when I'm tired of my world. And trance music captures that sense of being in another world very well.

Now is it just me or did that all sound incredibly stupid. <_<

Oh well, what can I say. I'm weird :lol:
OneLoneMan10 Jan 2004, 03:17
The Weird Sir wrote: Hey, OneLoneMan, have you heard of DJ Andy Hunter? Really good Christian Techno there. It actually doesn't suck :lol:

No, I haven't. I'll have to check into his music. :music:
OneLoneMan10 Jan 2004, 03:25
Found some audio clips here. The faster stuff wasn't bad.
t[]c lover13 Jan 2004, 00:26
fatser christian music is hardly ever bad.
lazyboyzob1213 Jan 2004, 06:00
Andy Hunter's "Go" from "Enter the Matrix" and other venues, is one of the best songs ever. Scooter is pretty good, I just got into their music. Aura's Destination Skyline is incredible!
t[]c lover14 Jan 2004, 01:16
wow, sadly, i have no idea who youre mentioning and i probably never will.
MgrMOOSe20 Feb 2004, 04:04
I can never explain why it is I like listening to trance or techno or the like. For me it's almost like listening to a salsa song made around the time my dad was growing up. He puts one on and it seems like the world quiets down for those few minutes. Especially if it's one of his favorites, I can see it in his eyes how much it means to him.

When I'm at my computer and a t[]c song is on I lose touch with the world. The song brings me to another place, a hemisphere of calmness and serenity. I can just vibe to the music without a care. Sometimes it even brings back memories of times when I was just hanging out with some friends having a good time. It's an escape for me, like drawing, writing, or driving on the highway at night. Very seldom am I affected this way by anything. That's the reason why I listen.

It's a given that not everybody is going to like what someone else likes or understand why they like it. At least you put the effort into trying to understand.
damn121 Feb 2004, 06:17
Dude, all i can say is that i didn't like music as i like now just because of t[]c! t[]c was my 1st 'band' i enjoyed and i still enjoy, and i thank to t[]c for their great music, and yes, it really comes deeply on my emotions! I can't take anymore big-hair dudes on their guitars playing 'solos' and thinking just cos' they do a lot of musical notes in 1 second they're the best ones +_+ Music doesn't depends of the complexity or the instrumentation, but if it can say, express something to ourself, think about that! Thanks t[]c... !
lkollar23 Feb 2004, 18:49
Hmmm... I find it hard to explain why I like a particular kind of music. Similarly, why do I prefer bright yellow clothing? ^_^ I can say I've always liked up-tempo music, as long as I can remember. When Phil Collins kept Genesis going after Peter Gabriel left, I found that I also like heavy percussive beats. Being yet another over-40 t[]c fan (wow, I'm not the oldest one!), I grew up enjoying the sound of progressive rockers like Moody Blues, Yes, Alan Parsons, et al. (The Moody Blues in particular were 'waaayyyy ahead of their time -- inventing instruments like the Mellotron, and using orchestras, to get the sound they wanted in a pre-synth age.) So for me, trance brings together those formerly-disparate elements that I've enjoyed.

The other thing I've noticed is that if you don't like a particular style of music, it all sounds the same. My son is into heavy metal, for example, both listening and playing, and I've never understood the attraction. Do his mom & me not scream at him enough? :lol: My wife would probably say t[]c and Aura sound the same to her -- OTOH, I could hear the opening few seconds of a new track and guess fairly accurately whether it's t[]c or Aura. Aura has a more melodic, ethereal feel to it; while t[]c has developed this rich, almost beefy sound that makes me bounce in my chair & realize I need a better set of speakers in the minivan.

Some of the older posts discussed Christian trance/techno. I can happily recommend Avalon's "O2/Remixed" CD -- there are a couple of clinkers, and a couple of the tracks are more soul or hip-hop than trance -- but there are several real gems. The Spanish teacher at my kids' school also does Christian trance on the side, but he's more about live than recorded. *sigh*
Zxian24 Feb 2004, 15:48
Hi all,

I think I might be coming in here a bit late but I'll throw in my two cents anyways. For me, trance is the only type of music that really spans a wide range of sounds and emotions.

I listen to songs that reflect my mood at the moment. For example, when I'm pissed off at someone, I'll listen to something like Linkin Park - Papercut. If I'm enjoying a night with my girlfriend, we'll listen to something soft like Goo Goo Dolls - Iris. But on the other hand, I could probably give you a trance song that I'd listen to for whatever mood I'm in. A really good example is when I'm pissed off I'll listen to theory of trance - Awaken (http://theoryoftrance.newfactor.com/), or when I want to relax, I'll listen to t[]c - Emotions 2002.

Also, another thing that really interests me is the complexity of trance. I've found that mainstream music (pop/rock/hip-hop/etc) is becoming more and more bland. If you look at the people who actually wrote the songs, it's not the artists who are performing them. This kind of music just makes me upset, and it is really degrading to the meaning of music. For anyone interested in what goes into trance, take a look at the theory of trance site listed above. Take the song ecstacy (incomplete) and have a listen. It's done in Impulse Tracker (I know, old school B) ), and the whole thing is 64*40 lines long, with 39 tracks, and 27 different samples... and the song isn't even finished... it's only 2 minutes or so at the moment. Just the first 4 lines that make up the melody are insanely complicated. What you would think are just 2 melodies is actually 4, intertwined... and it sounds nuts... :music:

Well, that's my two cents for the moment. If I think of anything else, I'll post it here... probably. If you want to chat about anything add me to your MSN (▓ e-mail address hidden). Just remove the DELETE and add.

Cheers,

Nick
JONTECH66624 Mar 2004, 22:22
I am an old fan of electronic music, got into it back in 1988 and found my PLACE in this UNIVERSE at many events at NASA in New York City. I was a die-hard PUNK and HARDCORE fan...would never dream of listening to "that disco s---!"...UNTIL....WOW, what a great experience and culture...I keep my ears and mind OPEN. TRANCE to me is an experience that takes you on a JOURNEY, I use to use drugs...don't need them anymore, THE MUSIC POWERS ME.

NOW, as for Jungle...I too don't get it, so I don't bother with it. No big Deal!

PEACE and GOOD VIBES to all the heads and groovers out there! Older Tech Heads Unite!!!!!!!!

JON E WHY
Eugene Electronicmusicfanatic :D
Proxim026 Mar 2004, 05:10
why won't this thread die!
bbrriiaann27 Mar 2004, 16:13
Dude, this thread won't die coz i need SOMETHING to keep me of smoking ....
But to get back on tpc: I think that Radar is too analitical: He seems to be a person who has to be able to say to himself and to others: I ike this music because of the construction here and there and the loop this and that and the so and so variation, it's like saying: I like this and this book because of the architecture in the story etc. It's like saying: 'I liked Lord of the Rings a lot because of the sparingly use of Elves and dwarfes in a totally balanced and non-repetetive fashion.' Of course, you can say that, but then you've missed the point in enjoying creative expletions from other ppl. it's about the whole thing. Or, to put it in a t[]c way:

Do We Need a Reason?

BBrrr.

And how is Christian Trance different from other Trance? Do they say 'Jezus' a lot? Or what? And aren't they all gonna pull a Jessica Simpson and go mainstream when they become succesfull?

B.