Psy Trance
Psy Trance is another of my favourite Trance sub genres. The power of it and rhythmic energy really entices the listener and is why so many people feel it is the most "spiritual" of the trance genres.
"To put it succinctly, Psychedelic Trance removes the hindu/middle-eastern influences and melodies and full-on blasts you with mind fuck music...teleport zappers, star trek tweeps, nintendo twerps, theremin squeels, feedback hums and radio antennae frequency squelches. Well...Goa might have all that stuff too. Hmmmm. Let's say this instead: Goa is more organic, and Psy is more cybernetic. But they're both futuristic sci-fi music."
(Ishkur, 2017)
History
While Trance was securing its foothold in Europe the Indian State of Goa which had been destination for psychedelic music from the 19070's. DJs and producers in Goa in the 1980's began experimenting with synthesizers and forwent there psychedelic rock roots to a more electronic sound. Discovering trance music, imported from Europe by travellers, they had found a base for their hypnotic, hallucinogenic Goa scene. In the early 1990, Goa had developed into it's own sub genre when travellers to the area took it back home to the Europe. Pioneering artists of the genre include Paul Oakenfold, whose Goa Mix on Radio 1 shared this genre with a wider audience. As trance was becoming more and more commercialised in Europe, producing seeking new sounds evolved Goa too. This evolution saw a darker and more progressive sound develop and this was the birth of psy trance. As scenes do it continues to evolve and the early naughties saw melodic elements featured more and more. To this day psy trance has gained a global footing in the world festival scene. (M, 2013)
Producers
John 00 Fleming
(Fleming, 2017)
“A national treasure of trance music” – BBC Radio 1 (Essential mix)
(Fleming, 2017)
With a career spanning 3 decades it's hard to sum this artist up in a small bio. Starting out as a teenager with a residency at the legendary Sterns Nightclub in Worthing he built his legendary reputation behind the decks. With an immense back catalogue including many compilations and mix cd's; in fact Reactivate 13 is one of the first trance mix CD's I ever owned.
Known across the world for the "J00F Sound" he has championed the underground electronic music scene for many years. His Journey sets are something one must experience to understand and I've been lucky enough to have been to more than my fair share.
"The J00F sound is as unpretentious as the artist, and is best described as deep and textured progressively edged trance, in an electronic dance music style that is an antithesis to what is normally produced within the genre."
(Moshtix, 2017)
Not only a DJ he is an active force in the industry as a whole. His label J00f Recordings and sub labels J00f Mantra and J00f Aura as well as J00f Editions compilations and club nights mean you can find his influence world wide. He also host Global Trance Grooves which is a monthly podcast hosting some of the biggest names in dance music and drawing a global audience.
“One of the Pioneers of the electronic dance music scene” – The daily Telegraph Newspaper
(Fleming, 2017)
In the studio he not only produces dance music for the underground but has scored major TV and film productions. He is truly a master of the craft and respected throughout the industry.
[Quoted from my post John 00 Fleming - Desert Rider]
(MrLemilica1, 2016)
Simon Patterson
(Rusu, 2017)
A founding member of the VII crew label with 21 consecutive beatport number ones Simon is one of the most prolific producers in the trance scene. He masterfully combines psy and tech trance to create his unique sound (Patterson, 2017). Starting out in A & R his ear was recognised early and got his big break running Age One Records and B Sorted Records at age 19.
Sebastian Rusu from edmidentity.com has an a mazing interview with Simon talking about his sound and how he is a perfectionist in the studio. I can do it justice in a summary check it out here.
[Quoted from my post Simon Patterson - Opulence]
(Solis, 2017)
Sean Tyas
(Discogs, 2017)
American born Tyas is a DJ, Producer and Record Label Boss (Tytanium Recordings, VII). This prolific producer has remix songs for almost everyone in the industry and has had tunes released on almost every major trance label on the planet. His Degenerate Radio is one of my favourites and is a driving force in the scene with live studio session broadcast inspiring producers worldwide.
This year I was also lucky enough to close for him at Capulet here in Brisbane.
(Black Hole Recordings, 2017)
Elements:
Psy-trance can be defined by the following characteristics
Tempo of around 140 - 175BPM
Solid Kick drums are dominant and can fit either above or below the bass notes fundamental frequencies
Kick and bass work in tandem to create the drive
Bass notes are either rapid 16th notes or 8th note triplets usually heavily side chained to allow the kick to sit in the mix
Usually not very melodic and rather harmonically surrounds a tonal centre with minor 2nds commonly used
Use of sound effects and stabs to create change is used widely
Gated synths and vocal stabs used as a percussive elements
Synthesizers are used more than sampling
Many more breakdowns and drops than other Trance sub genres
Middle eastern tonality and vocals samples are commonplace
(Graham & St John, 2010, p. 115-116)
Here is an excellent video describing many of these elements in context.
(EitanKobi LOUD, 2013)
Set of the year (for me)
(Psy Connaisseur1, 2017)
Jump to another genre:
Tech Trance
References
Black Hole Recordings. (2017, August 21). Sean Tyas - Lift (Sean Tyas Remix) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM1Vm2Gzft4
Discogs. (2017). Sean Tyas. Retrieved from https://www.discogs.com/artist/85524-Sean-Tyas
EitanKobi LOUD. (2013, May 27). Future Ducks of London - Why Psytrance has Become Shit[Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIjFMQsb2S4
Fleming, J. (2017). BIOGRAPHY - John 00 Fleming. Retrieved from http://www.john00fleming.com/biography/
Fleming, J. (2017). MEDIA - John 00 Fleming [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.john00fleming.com/media/
Graham, & St John. (2010). The Local Scenes and Global Culture of Psytrance. Taylor & Francis.
Ishkur. (2017). Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music | New Home on Techno.org [Video file]. Retrieved from http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/
M, J. (2013, September 1). A history of trance music. Retrieved from http://www.toucanmusic.co.uk/articles/trance.php
Moshtix. (2017, June). Retrieved from http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/john-00-fleming-brisbane/95355
MrLemilica1. (2016, May 27). John 00 Fleming - Desert Rider [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-ReMshqj3M
Patterson, S. (2017, December 5). Simon Patterson. Retrieved from https://soundcloud.com/simonpatterson
Psy Connaisseur1. (2017, August 10). SIMON PATTERSON - Dj Set@Luminosity Beach Festival 2017 [Psychedelic Trance] [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDXC2BOZ_AU
Rusu, S. (2017, July 7). Simon Patterson 'Opens Up' About EDCLV, His Career, & New Releases! Retrieved from https://edmidentity.com/2017/07/07/in- depth-simon-patterson/
Solis, J. (2017, May 29). Simon Patterson - Opulence (Original Mix) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls3u8f7zijA
Tyas, S. (2017). Sean Tyas. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/pg/seantyasmusic/about/?ref=page_internal