What's going on with trance music?

[funkyrobot]

I'm sat listening to some older sets by the likes of Dash Berlin and Armin Van Buuren. These sets are from 2011, so aren't that old.

I listened to a few more modern sets from the above the other night. The modern stuff sounds quite bashy and base-ridden, but doesn't really have that much of a nice melodic flow to it. Dj's like Aly and Fila and Above and Beyond seem to still spin the melodic stuff, but the likes of AVB and Dash have gone all, well, commercially trashy.

If I were to be a new listener to trance, I'd not take any interest in AVB or Dash. I've been following AVB since some of his first sets way back in the early 2000's. The style of music he is playing has really changed. I don't like it any more.

What on earth is happening to trance? Or is it that trance isn't trance anymore. It's just labelled as being EDM and gets thrown in the same pile as the likes of cheesy commercial rubbish that you find on Ministry of Sound albums.



Bugger. Title should be 'on', not 'in'.

[Hoofy]

You mean it sounds a bit electro? With the hi hat hitting at the same time as the bass drum? And short stabs of some lead synth? I kinda stopped listening to trance about 6 months ago and moved more towards prog. Maybe I'm just getting old, though?

[Baskey]

classic case of getting old mate. The youths will always want something different and take a gern in a different direction.

[Condi]

Deffo moving away from melodic sounds to more bass driven tracks. Still think A+B, AvB, Markus Schulz, Dash Berlin, John O'Callaghan are the best out there though. Probably following Tiesto (or is he following something else?), as his sets from 10 years ago and now couldnt be more different. Must say he's a disappointment to see these days.

But hey, music evolves and changes. It has never been easier to find the sounds you like on Youtube, Beatport, Spotify etc so just have to find some new sounds to listen to. If anyone has suggestions Im all ears!


Faithless could be interesting... I see they've let all their old songs be remixed into modern 'EDM' sounds, with modern 'EDM' DJ's. Not keen on hearing the new versions, but if they release any new material will that be down the same route as what they used to do, or what the public these days want to hear?

[Hoofy]

Yeah, Tiesto started working with names you see in the Top 40 so I'm not surprised he's changed.

[funkyrobot]

Hoofy said:

You mean it sounds a bit electro? With the hi hat hitting at the same time as the bass drum? And short stabs of some lead synth? I kinda stopped listening to trance about 6 months ago and moved more towards prog. Maybe I'm just getting old, though?

Yes. It sounds like some sort of crash bang techno.

I think this sums it up nicely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCawU6BE8P8

[funkyrobot]

Baskey said:

classic case of getting old mate. The youths will always want something different and take a gern in a different direction.

I don't think it's getting old that is the issue. I've spent over ten years listening to the likes of AVB and it's as if the style is changing all of a sudden. I don't mind, it just means I listen to other people now. Really like Aly & Fila and Above & Beyond at the moment.

[Condi]

funkyrobot said:

Yes. It sounds like some sort of crash bang techno.

I think this sums it up nicely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCawU6BE8P8

I think Steve Aioki's response sums it up better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozB10JuuB1U

Totally misses the point...

[big dub]

I used to like a lot of AvB and Dash stuff, but rarely buy their tracks anymore. I have to say I'm leaning more towards the 'big room' stuff, and Markus Schulz and Coldharbour are putting a lot of good stuff out lately.

I've found quite a few of the old big name DJ's are going more mainstream/EDM, and it's really not my bag.

[Hoofy]

funkyrobot said:

Yes. It sounds like some sort of crash bang techno.

I think this sums it up nicely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCawU6BE8P8

You'll like this sample CD: http://www.producerloops.com/Download-Shockwave-Pl... Click the "play demo track".

[DevestatinDave]

I saw this a while back and thought it was appropriate :/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f_LyEsNI2s

[funkyrobot]

big dub said:

I used to like a lot of AvB and Dash stuff, but rarely buy their tracks anymore. I have to say I'm leaning more towards the 'big room' stuff, and Markus Schulz and Coldharbour are putting a lot of good stuff out lately.

I've found quite a few of the old big name DJ's are going more mainstream/EDM, and it's really not my bag.

Indeed.

Haven't listened to Marcus for a while so will catch up.

The whole 'EDM' tag is very commercial and a bit cheesy to be honest. I've been listening to a bit of Deadmau5 lately. He has had stuff out in the charts, but it's interesting to hear his take on EDM.

I'm going go hunt around for more music to listen to as I'm not really into a lot of my old favourite DJ's anymore.

[funkyrobot]

DevestatinDave said:

I saw this a while back and thought it was appropriate :/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f_LyEsNI2s

Interesting.

Joyenergizer is a crazy old track and the original was released in the early 2000's. I loved it from the first time I heard it. Butchered now though.

The Above and Beyond example is probably only one of the few tracks they have made lately that sounds like that. I still like them.

I think Tiesto and Oakenfold lost it a long time ago.

In general, even though technology has come on leaps and bounds, it's as if music has gone backwards. The modern EDM stuff sounds like it was generated on something that couldn't handle a nice melodic track with lots of layers.

[funkyrobot]

Condi said:

I think Steve Aioki's response sums it up better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozB10JuuB1U

Totally misses the point...

What the hell?

[funkyrobot]

Hoofy said:

You'll like this sample CD: http://www.producerloops.com/Download-Shockwave-Pl... Click the "play demo track".

Holy moly!

[TheExcession]

funkyrobot said:

Hoofy said:

You'll like this sample CD: http://www.producerloops.com/Download-Shockwave-Pl... Click the "play demo track".

Holy moly!

Feck that's some real talent going on in there. Suitably motivated by the intricate melodies, rolling percussion and the deep and fascinating soundscape I've just frizbied my old Leftfield CD out the window in a demonstration of appreciation.

[Hoofy]

I've developed a liking for Gai Barone.

http://www.mixcloud.com/gaibarone/

[TheExcession]

Hoofy said:

I've developed a liking for Gai Barone.

http://www.mixcloud.com/gaibarone/

Would you just edit your post so that you are quoting my post? I mean it's not really that important but I'm thinking of the grandchildren, like the Buddhist's say lineage is everything....

Gai Barone is in that camp quite good - probably would sound better after a pill or two. I'm getting old now, it takes something really special now to hear a tune and think 'fk me - that is good'.



ETA:

Here's a proper tune for you Hoofy

Edited by TheExcession on Sunday 2nd August 18:47

[Hoofy]

TheExcession said:

Would you just edit your post so that you are quoting my post? I mean it's not really that important but I'm thinking of the grandchildren, like the Buddhist's say lineage is everything....

Gai Barone is in that camp quite good - probably would sound better after a pill or two. I'm getting old now, it takes something really special now to hear a tune and think 'fk me - that is good'.



ETA:

Here's a proper tune for you Hoofy

Just couldn't get into that kind of music. If we're going down that route then I always opted for the harder stuff.

[MitchT]

There's plenty of melodic trance around, just don't look to the big name DJs, they're busy chasing the big bucks of 'trendy trance' rather than playing real trance. I always enjoy The Thrillseekers 'Night Music' podcast for a great variety of trance including plenty of dreamy melodic stuff. Here's a couple of gems that I discovered via said podcast ...

https://youtu.be/Oiu5NbmUazE
https://youtu.be/ojhr_PMkZsM