-Well well, so trance music is becoming increasingly popular all the time…and that’s good.

-It is not only in undeground clubs/raves that we hear trance. We hear it on radio, in clubs and we even heard it at Athens’ summer games opening…and that’s good.

-More people know this kind of music, even if often only the commercial side of it and can sometimes even distinguish between ‘trance’ and ‘house’ music…and that’s good!

- Because of the internet we can buy trance music easily, legally and conveniently through online stores. People no longer have to travel the world to find a cd or download it illegally even if they wish to purchase it legally because the supply is simply not there…and that’s good!

- Virtual instruments have allowed a whole new generation to get familiar with music production and do it as a hobby…and that’s good!
So, this looks great right? It doesn’t…at least not for everyone!
People who have approached trance during the last few years are very excited about it, they find it a refreshing experience, full of new electronic sounds, catchy enough to listen to at home and really enjoy it. And…you know what? That’s good! In fact, that’s a sign that the ‘trance’ style of music is no longer confined to the underground and some stupid stereotypes such as ‘you gotta be on drugs to listen to techno/trance (or any other dance music)’ are slowly disappearing. People are appreciating the complexity of this style.
What’s bad then? Well…from the point of view of someone who has known electronic music for a long time and has seen trance evoluting into what it is today, a lot of things are…

- Supply has never been so high, that should be good right? It’s not…while technically most of the tracks are superior in sound-quality than, say, 10 years ago - they lack originality. Virtual instruments presets are heard all over new tracks…the average listener may not notice this but he will perceive it. Let’s not complain then, when some person with a different musical background says “electronic music sounds all the same…”

- The concept has changed: as I was mentioning a few articles back, trance has gone from being a club / dance style to a home-listening experience. This is good in that more people are quietly enjoying it and relaxing to it. However, this has implications. Supply always watches demand and follows its taste…more and more tracks nowadays lack the energy that was delivered by old-school trance, the kind of energy that could shake a dancefloor and make people dance. Instead, nowadays trance focuses on harmonies and atmospheres. The big take-offs are rarely heard, floor shaking snare rolls are disappearing and bassdrums are not booming anymore.
Some like it, some hate it…I personally see it as a negative point, but as the Romans used to say ‘de gustibus non disputandum est’, which can be roughly translated to ‘taste is taste and can’t be questioned’. So let’s leave it at personal taste!

- A lot of radio DJs play the same songs over and over, following the trend-setters. This used to be different in the past, when music wasn’t so easily found, DJs used to do more research and tried to differentiate their styles as much as possible. Nowadays, we keep hearing the same hits over and over. The consequence is that, while in the past tracks used to have a longer life, nowadays a track’s old after one week and sometimes people won’t even bother buying it when it gets released because ‘it’s old…’

So while I see trance music evoluting I also see it backfiring, will the excess of supply bore the listeners? Has part of them already got bored? How will the music keep evoluting?
Well…now I’m curious to hear your comments ;) Please keep it nice and objective!