Progressive Trance
Slower, smoothly building trance with long breakdowns and changing basslines.
History
Progressive trance grew out of trance and progressive house in the early 1990s s1s2. It was made in Britain and Germany s1. The music is slower and smoother than harder trance s1. Tracks build slowly over a long time and have long breakdowns s1s3. The bass and chords change during the track, which gives the music a feeling of movement or progress s1. In Britain, DJs such as Sasha and John Digweed played this sound in clubs s2. Sasha released 'Xpander' in 1999 s2. The label Hooj Choons released records by Tilt, Lustral and Solarstone s2. The act Three 'N One made a famous remix of 'Cafe Del Mar' by Energy 52 for Hooj Choons s2. The label Platipus also released progressive trance from 1993 s1. AllMusic wrote that progressive trance became the sound of dance floors around the world by the end of the 1990s s1. Later, the word 'progressive' was often used for the main style of trance s3. The sound shaped melodic house and modern melodic techno s2.
Sound
- Slow, smooth build-ups
- Long breakdowns
- Basslines and chords that change during the track
- A deep, rolling groove
- Fewer harsh acid sounds than early trance
Key figures
- Sasha — British DJ and producer; made 'Xpander'
- John Digweed — British DJ who played progressive trance and house
- BT — American producer of progressive trance
- Matt Darey — British producer behind the act Lost Tribe
Labels
- Hooj Choons — London , 1991
- Platipus — London , 1993
- Perfecto — London , 1989
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Trance , Progressive House
Led to: Progressive Psytrance , Uplifting Trance
Sources
- Trance music — Wikipedia
- Trance Music History - From The Early 1990s Till Today — Beatportal (2023)
- 10 Trance Subgenres You Need to Know — Insomniac (2015)