The trance reign of the ’90s and early aughts was an intense, energetic, and fascinating period. The genre’s rich combination of melody, harmony, and repetition brought smiles to individuals across the globe. It also led to some of the most compelling musical sounds of the era. Showcasing the development of trance over time, explore the style through ten essential tracks.
The Birth of Trance
The earliest forms of trance came to life within the German club scenes of Berlin and Frankfurt. The fall of the Berlin Wall in East Germany in 1989 made way for cultural tectonic shifts. Seeing the capital move from controlled austerity to unrestricted joy inspired artists of all disciplines.
"The sounds of acid, house, and techno pumped from vacant warehouses across the city. By contrast, trance showcased a more atmospheric and alternative sound palette."
At the same time, the sounds of acid, house, and techno pumped from vacant warehouses across the city. By contrast, trance showcased a more atmospheric and alternative sound palette. Early trance endeavors were part of an ongoing search to reach higher states of consciousness. In essence, music became a vehicle to cross the invisible bridge to a parallel world.
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“Stella’’ by Jam & Spoon
Within the domain of trance, one of the first tracks to reach global acclaim was “Stella,’’ produced by German duo Jam & Spoon. Featuring heavenly synthesizer pads and vocals, the track came out via influential Belgian imprint R&S in 1992. It immediately raised the bar for trance productions to come.
“Superstring’’ by Cygnus X
While Berlin boasted an anarchic underground scene in the early ’90s, Frankfurt simultaneously became a cultural hotbed. A central figure in this scene was Sven Väth, notable for co-founding imprints Eye Q and Harthouse. Both labels released some of the finest trance-induced tracks since the genre’s inception, such as “Superstring’’ by Cygnus X.
“Acperience’’ by Hardfloor
Practitioners of trance reserved a prominent role for the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer. Released in 1981, the acid sounds of the TB-303 found their way across virtually all electronic music genres during the ’90s. An early effort that brilliantly explores the sonic possibilities of the TB-303 is “Acperience’’ by Hardfloor.
"Released in 1981, the acid sounds of the TB-303 found their way across virtually all electronic music genres during the '90s."
The Rise of Trance Throughout the ’90s
As trance music peaked in Germany in the mid-’90s, the sound began to erupt in the United Kingdom. Led by DJs like Paul Oakenfold, trance became the soundtrack of major British clubs such as Cream, Gatecrasher, and Ministry Of Sound.
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“Octopus’’ by Art Of Trance
Meanwhile, British labels Hooj Choons, Perfecto, and Platipus gained global fame with a flow of quality releases. Most of these came from domestic artists. A prominent example is “Octopus’’ by Art Of Trance. Here, the artist places euphoric synthesizer strings atop a TB-303 bassline.
“Café Del Mar’’ by Energy 52 (Three ‘n One Remix)
It wasn’t long before superclubs in Ibiza started to present extensive trance programs during festival season. Audiences in that lush setting are always seeking new energy and excitement. Winding tracks with monumental breakdowns, melodic hooks, and uplifting lead lines scored direct hits with attendees. One such track was the Three ‘n One remix of “Café Del Mar’’ by German duo Energy 52. The song features a catchy melody line that evokes the sun-drenched vibes of the island.
“Godspeed” by BT
Meanwhile, in the United States, American artist Brian Transeau (aka BT) was one of the first to experiment with the Roland JP-8000 synthesizer, released in 1996. One of his early efforts, “Godspeed,’’ combined slick, four-on-the-floor rhythms with chopped-up vocals and razor-sharp melodies. BT produced the latter with the help of the JP-8000. It quickly turned Transeau into a favorite among European DJs such as DJ Tiësto, Paul Oakenfold, and Sasha.
"This Dutch sound featured longer major chord progressions, dramatic breakdowns, and the sound of the Super Saw, a unique feature of the Roland JP-8000."
The Dutch Force and Beyond
By the late ’90s, Dutch artists catapulted a more anthemic form of trance to meteoric levels. This sound featured longer major chord progressions, dramatic breakdowns, and the sound of the Super Saw. The latter is a waveform consisting of several slightly detuned sawtooth waves stacked on top of each other. The Super Saw was another unique feature of the Roland JP-8000.
PLAYLIST
“Out Of The Blue” by Ferry Corsten
Dutch artist Ferry Corsten was one of the first producers to utilize the supersaw. This became common practice within the genre ever since. His track “Out Of The Blue’’ spearheaded the trance movement just as it was breaking into the mainstream.
“Walhalla” by Gouryella
Not long after, Corsten joined forces with fellow Dutchman DJ Tiësto to venture on their Gouryella project. Although the pair only released four singles, Gouryella became a hallmark for the powerful, melodic Dutch trance sound later driven by Armin van Buuren, Rank 1, and Three Drives.
“Sandstorm’’ by Darude
Ultimately, it didn’t take long until the sound of trance spread its wings outside the European territories. Trance became commercially viable and found its way to radio and television airplay. One of those mega-hits around the turn of the millennium was “Sandstorm’’ by Finnish artist Darude. Interestingly, the title refers to the Roland JP-8080 synthesizer. Featured heavily on “Sandstorm,” the unit displays the title on startup.
"The title "Sandstorm" refers to the words the Roland JP-8080 synthesizer displays on startup."
