Ignite

Name: Paavo Stubstad
Home Page: www.malachyte.net
Member Since: Sep 05, 2004
Rank: 231
Average Vote Received: Correct (4.00, 2 votes)
Rated 418 releases, average: 4.22
Location: Oak View, Ca.
Profile: What is Trance?

Dictionary.com’s definition of Trance:

1. A hypnotic, cataleptic, or ecstatic state.
2. Detachment from one's physical surroundings, as in contemplation or daydreaming.
3. A semiconscious state, as between sleeping and waking; a daze.

Quite accurately put, trance is a state of mind – this state of mind can be reached in many different ways. Anything ranging from meditation to a peaceful walk in the forest can help you reach this mindset. A state of Trance can be created or enhanced by mind altering substances or even just lack of sleep. Trance is an altered state of consciousness.

What is Trance Music?

A common misconception: Trance = Techno.

My short definition of Techno is “Simple, mindless dance floor music” – for a more detailed, and perhaps less opinionated definition, please ask Mr. G. Although the most simple and uncreative form of electronic music, it is unfortunately the most popular and the most played, similar to Pop music… Many people unfamiliar with electronic music refer to all of it as “Techno”. I believe that this is the reason that it has all been stereotyped as simple and repetitive.

Trance music on the other hand, may seem mindless and repetitive at a first glance, like techno, but when listened to with an open mind, and one’s full attention, many subtleties and complex elements can be identified.

A piece of Trance music is an intricately woven mixture of sounds and musical instruments, intended to bring its listener(s) into a Trance. Certain elements of this music may indeed be very repetitive, but this is fully intentional. These elements are added to enhance the listener’s state of mind.

Trance music is intended to be listened to, not while doing the dishes or your homework, and not with a low volume setting - a low volume setting renders many of the subtle elements inaudible, thus vastly affecting the state of mind of the listener. The same effect occurs with distractions such as the above mentioned dishes or homework.

The ideal condition for the listening of trance music is at a loud volume setting with no distractions. If the music makes you want to move, get up and move! If not, just sit back and relax. Don’t be afraid to let the music take you on a journey, be open minded to where it takes you. Trance music is music for the body and mind.

I have often been asked "Who has the time in this day and age to just sit down and devote this kind of attention to nothing but listening to music?" Although it is true that most people have very busy lives, to me it seems that society has deemed it normal to devote hours of ones undivided attention to certain things, but not to others. Do you have the time to watch a football or basketball game on TV for several hours? Do you have the time to devote a Friday evening to going to the movies or reading a couple of chapters in your book before you go to sleep? My point is that society has made people belive that entertainment is more important than art, and that some forms of art are more valuable than others. Do you try to get your homework done while watching Kill Bill? Do you do your laundry while reading the new Tom Clancy? Why should ones undiveded attention be dedicated to these forms of art, but not music?

Take a little time out of your busy schedule, realise the depth and emotion that music can have when there are no distractions... Just sit back, realax, and close your eyes...

/ Paavo S. a.k.a. Ignite

For more information on all genres of electronic music, including trance, check out Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music.

Check out either of my home pages to hear some of my own trance compositions

Buyer Rating:

100.0% positive (12 ratings)

Reviews:

Shpongle - Divine Moments Of Truth - 31-Oct-05 03:38 PM
Let me preface this review by saying that I am a huge fan of all of Shpongles work - I own all four of their albums as well as just about every other production which Simon Posford has been involved with (Hallucinogen, Younger Brother, Dub Trees, Celtic Cross, The Infinity Project, Mystery of the Yeti) and I recognize him as a true genius of electronic music whether it be Goa, Ambient, or anything else.

Having said that, I find this single to be a complete disgrace to the beauty and depth of the original "Divine Moments Of Truth" song from their album "Are You Shpongled?". This single would be more appropriately titled "Divine Moments of Truth - The Hallucinogen Remixes". The first two mixes are made for the dance-floor, and dont get me wrong, I think Simon is perfectly capable of creating killer dance-floor tracks, but I really feel like "Divine Moments Of Truth" was meant to be a deep, spiritual, and emotional piece of music with nuances one would notice for the first time, even on the 50th listen. I would say that converting this type of track into Goa would be considered very disrespectful of the original artist, had it been done by anyone else. In this case, all I can say is that I dont know what he was thinking.

And finally, the "Original Russian Bootleg Mix" accurately conveys the true genius of the song "Divine Moments Of Truth". I love the subliminal "LSD to DMT" stuck in the middle of all the other random syllables of words implying that LSD can lead to Divine Moments Of Truth (DMT). However, although this mix is amazing, as far as I can tell it is nearly, if not completely identical to the mix on the album - so if you already own "Are You Shpongled?", there is no reason to get this single.

To end on a positive note, I highly recommend that you check out any other work which Simon has been involved with; check the aforementioned groups. A true electronic music mastermind he is!