Acid Trance
Early trance built around the squelchy sound of the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer.
History
Acid trance was one of the first forms of trance s1. It appeared in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Britain in the early 1990s s1. The style is built on the Roland TB-303, a small bass synthesizer that makes a squelchy, acidic sound s1s2. The machine had already been used in Chicago acid house s2. Early trance producers used long 303 lines as the main melody s2. Hardfloor, a German duo, released 'Acperience 1' in 1992 s3. Simon Berry made records as Union Jack and Art of Trance on his label Platipus s2. Tracks were often long and hypnotic, with a steady four-to-the-floor beat s1. Acid trance had a lot of crossover with the Goa trance scene in India s2. By the mid-1990s, softer pads and melodies became more common, and the acid sound faded s1s4. Producers used the TB-303 again in later acid house and acid techno records s4. The style is seen as part of the 'first wave' of trance s1.
Sound
- Long, looping TB-303 basslines
- A squelchy, acidic lead sound
- A steady four-to-the-floor beat
- Hypnotic repetition
- Few or no vocals
Key figures
- Hardfloor — German duo known for acid trance records
- Simon Berry — British producer behind Union Jack and Art of Trance
- Oliver Lieb — German producer of early trance and acid records
- Ramon Zenker — Member of Hardfloor
Labels
- Eye Q — Frankfurt , 1991
- Harthouse — Frankfurt , 1992
- Platipus — London , 1993
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Acid House , Trance
Led to: Suomisaundi
Sources
- List of trance genres — Wikipedia
- 10 Trance Subgenres You Need to Know — Insomniac (2015)
- Trance Music History - From The Early 1990s Till Today — Beatportal (2023)
- Trance music — Wikipedia