Psytrance

Psytrance, also known as psychedelic trance, is a style of electronic music that emerged in the mid-1990s as a distinct movement from Goa trance and reached its peak popularity between 1997 and 1999.

Origins and Characteristics of the Psytrance Music Style

The term “trance” first became widely known to the public in the summer of 1992. The genre was first described as a type of melodic electronic music that, unlike techno, did not beat the listener over the head with drum machines, but instead drew attention to itself.

The rhythm became noticeably lighter and the atmosphere generally more airy. Trance is like looking out of a window into blue, distant places, while the thick sound of techno can be compared to barbed wire that crushes with its massiveness. The genre of trance music has spread as an innovative form of pop music.

The Manipulation of Sound

To create psychedelic qualities, sounds are manipulated in a variety of ways, much more so than in other types of electronic dance music.

This list could go on for a very long time, especially considering how many specialized computer programs have been developed recently.

Typical Sounds of the Psychedelic Scene

TR 909 – Percussion Drum

The vast majority of trance artists use samples generated by the TR 909 or other vintage drum machines in their work, as these machines are quite difficult to obtain at this time.

TB 303 – King of Acid Sounds

He was instrumental in the development of the signal noises, sirens, squelches, and screeches that are characteristic of psychedelic trance today.

Similar Genres

PsyChill This sub-genre sometimes known as Psybient. That’s a type of trance that appeals to those who like slower dance beats. Although the tune does not often average over 100 beats per minute, it still relies on a psychedelic trip effect that is subtle and ambient.

Goa-Trance This is a time-honored genre. The history of the psychedelic scene as a whole began with the development of this subgenre. The tempo averages between 135 and 140 beats per minute (BPM). The quality of a Goa Trance track has the ability to evoke the sensation of moving through a winding passageway.

Progressive Psytrance The efforts of artists from Serbia, Macedonia, and Israel in the late noughties gave birth to this subgenre. Described as an attempt to return to the genre’s origins while using innovative techniques to create electronic sounds.

Dark Psytrance It’s a subgenre of psychedelic trance that emerged in Russia in the late 1990s and dramatically departs from the genre’s established musical canons.