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Trance

Melodic electronic dance music with long builds and breakdowns, developed in Europe in the early 1990s.

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History

Trance began in Europe in the late 1980s s1. The KLF released 'What Time Is Love? (Pure Trance)' in Britain in 1988 s1. In Frankfurt, Sven Vath and other DJs played hypnotic dance music at clubs such as Dorian Gray and Omen s2. Vath started the label Eye Q in 1991 and Harthouse in 1992 s1s2. Eye Q released softer tracks, while Harthouse focused on a harder sound s2. In Berlin, the label MFS released early trance records and a compilation called Tranceformed From Beyond in 1992 s2. Paul van Dyk and Cosmic Baby became well-known names there s2. DJ Dag Lerner said he was the first to call his music trance s1. Producers mixed the steady beat of house and techno with long melodies, builds and breakdowns s1s3. In Britain, labels such as Platipus and Hooj Choons released progressive trance from 1993 s1s2. By the late 1990s, uplifting trance with big breakdowns was the most popular form s1s4. The music reached its commercial peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s s2. Later, pop-style vocals were added to many tracks s1. Trance is still played at large festivals around the world s2.

Sound

  • A steady four-to-the-floor beat
  • Long melodies that repeat and change
  • Build-ups and breakdowns
  • A soft, wide atmosphere
  • Bright lead synthesizer sounds

Key figures

  • Sven Vath — Frankfurt DJ; co-founder of the Eye Q and Harthouse labels
  • Paul van Dyk — Berlin producer and DJ
  • DJ Dag Lerner — German DJ; said he first used the name trance
  • Ferry Corsten — Dutch producer and DJ

Labels

  • Eye Q — Frankfurt , 1991
  • Harthouse — Frankfurt , 1992
  • MFS — Berlin , 1990
  • Platipus — London , 1993

Defining tracks

  • Age of Love — The Age of Love (1990) YouTube
  • Dance 2 Trance — We Came in Peace (1990) YouTube
  • Energy 52 — Cafe Del Mar (1993) YouTube

Connections

Came from: Detroit Techno , Acid House , Ambient , New Beat

Led to: Hands Up , Hard House , Hard Trance , Freeform , UK Hardcore , Acid Trance , Dream Trance , Goa Trance , Ibiza Trance , Progressive Trance , Psytrance , Tech Trance , Uplifting Trance , Vocal Trance

Sources

  1. Trance music — Wikipedia
  2. Trance Music History - From The Early 1990s Till Today — Beatportal (2023)
  3. 10 Trance Subgenres You Need to Know — Insomniac (2015)
  4. The 10 best early 90s trance tracks — Mixmag (2019)