The exodus of psytrance

• Written by Sam

Recession, regression, depression, bankruptcy of banks, companies and states - this news follows us everywhere these days. Funny, or not - the Psychedelic Trance scene is currently experiencing a similar phenomenon: an exodus of followers, the dilution of the scene and it‘s music into trivial mainstream as well as the bankruptcy of labels, party organisers and media.

But lets rewind first. Where have we come from, what has been happening?

1989. From en-lighted 'Goa'-Freaks returning from their dropout-holidays in India springs the Israeli-European movement of Goatrance or Psychedelic Trance. The parties are mind-blowing, the drugs are good, the music is primitive but astonishingly creative. Goatrance is different, it‘s about expanding your consciousness, learning about yourself and the universe, celebrating excessive feasts in peace with all cultures. It‘s an affront to most societies and an escape from everyday life. The message is strong and it‘s being heard. Still the scene is small, big parties number a few hundred revelers.

1993. 'Psytrance' has become an underground music scene. You don‘t see posters of Psytrance parties around or read about them in event magazines. It‘s friends that invite you to these freaky gatherings that often happen outside in remote locations. While Techno is on it‘s stairway to mainstream heaven with massive parties like Mayday (15,000 people indoors) or love parade (30,000 people outdoors) psytrancers are eager to distinguish themselves from the Techno crowd. Big Psytrance parties count a few thousand people and each of them encourages many to join the tribe.

1998. Psytrance is peaking. The sprouts have been carried out everywhere around the world resulting in 'Psytrance tourism', big mind-blowing open air parties of up to 10,000 taking place in the most beautiful locations around the world. Progressive Trance music is being created as an result of Ex-Techno followers that cross over to the Psytrance scene and Psytrance veterans that became bored of the infinite squeaking of Psytrance music. A small psytrance media industry has emerged further developing the scene. The number of Psytrance parties listed on the website Chaishop.com in 1999 is 1207.

2003. The scene is becoming domesticated. The movement is massive and real businesses have manifested themselves. You can find party and release flyers everywhere and even see party posters in the streets. Psytrance is now for everybody, it‘s a fun and colourful scene worth checking out for a beer or ten. Big parties attract up to 20,000 people. Techno is dead, long live Psytrance! The music is still great, Progressive Trance is peaking and the golden formula for the castration of Psytrance music has been found, Full-on-Trance. 1725 parties are listed on Chaishop in 2003.

2006. The scene is massive - but who are we? Ideals and ideas have trickled down the porta-potty for a while now. Parties and releases are happening everywhere all the time, more likely to please the organisers/ labels/ artists ego and pocket than please the crowd. Most parties are not a blast, many are barely visited, however big Psytrance parties still get up to 20,000 people. Same with releases. It seemed perpetuating Psytrance could not be stopped but now people start to loose interest. Artists start to experiment with Electro and Minimal Techno that are currently experiencing a thrilling rebirth. In the meantime they still play their Trance sets in order to pay their rent. Some of the dancers also start to experiment with Techno parties, puzzled when meeting old friends from the Psytrance scene there. Chaishop counts 5442 parties in 2006.

Today. The exodus of artists and dancers is clearly visible. Most primitive cornerstones of Psytrance parties have lost half or more of their visitors. Most labels have signed bankruptcy, media companies are struggling if not yet dead, scene workers left for a 'normal job'. However there is still loads of music being released. Everyone is a producer but who is listening? Psytrance parties are mainly populated with the third generation of trancers, a crowd with different ideals and different ideas. Still 6731 parties are listed on Chaishop in 2008. It seems that the underground psychedelic frantic party vibe can these days are more likely found at a proper Techno party. However the Psytrance idea is not dead and once in a while the now splintered scene meets again at one of the few still successful events like Boom Festival in Portugal, Universo Paralello in Brazil or Rainbow Serpent in Australia. These events have maintained the original values of Psytrance and developed them to Todays reality - without the sellout that happened with most other events.

Future. Some say that after autumn and winter comes spring. If you look at today's problems (ecological, financial and population crisis), Psytrance cultures does offer some answers. It‘s founding constituents are expansion of consciousness, love and respect to nature and all beings and a peaceful and non-materialistic way of life. These values are more important then ever to save our planet and humankind. The current disasters are good teachers, awareness for such values is already rising. If you believe in the forecasts of the Mayans and other ancient civilizations such values might be the key to a new age. From the ashes a Phoenix shall arise, and maybe, it‘s gonna be listening to Psytrance.