Trance music is characterized by a tempo lying between 125–150 BPM, repeating melodic phrases, and a structure that distinctly builds tension throughout a track often culminating in one or two peaks or drops.
A descendant of acid house and techno music, the origins of trance music can be traced back to Germany during the late 1980s and early '90s when European DJs and producers began incorporating electronic and psychedelic sounds into their music. More specifically, they were injecting elements of Detroit techno into their productions to create more atmospheric sounds.
At first, the style was called “techno trance” or even “trance dance” - and later reduced to just "trance" - because it comprised techno foundations layered with mind-altering sounds. The trance label could reference the emotional state - a euphoric, uplifting rush - the music is designed to induce in listeners. Or, it could indicate the real trance-like state that the earliest forms of the sound attempted to emulate in the '90s before the focus of the genre changed.
Examples of early trance releases include but are not limited to KLF's 1988 release "What Time Is Love?", German duo Dance 2 Trance's 1990 track "We Came in Peace", and German duo Jam & Spoon's 1992 12" Single remix of the 1990 song "The Age of Love".
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