Rave music

Rave music consists of forms of electronic dance music that are associated with the rave scene.

Most often, the term is used to describe high in energy music, including some forms of trance music, that features samples, loops and synthesizersFact|date=September 2008. Less intense forms of rave music include ambient music, and chillout music, usually used in separate areas of raves known as "chill rooms" that provide a place for "ravers" to rest and relax from the intense dancingFact|date=September 2008.

Rave music closely followed the acid house phenomenon and was initially considered as a combination of fast breakbeat and more hardcore forms of technosite. Early 1990s efforts by Nebula 2, Acen, Altern-8, The Prodigy ("Experience"), Utah Saints and The Shamen ("En-Tact") were quintessential rave music and were being played at huge all night raves like Fantazia, Raindance, Universe and othersFact|date=September 2008.

By the early 2000s, the term was used more generically to mean any one of a number of different styles (or combinations thereof) that might be played at a rave partyFact|date=September 2008. In this sense, rave music is more associated with an event than a particular genre, per seFact|date=September 2008. At a rave there can be different "arenas" or areas that play different styles of rave musicFact|date=September 2008. Very large raves, called "massives",Fact|date=September 2008 may include ten or more separate arenas, each with their own music style, ranging from hi-energy techno and trance to chillout and ambient in the chillrooms situated next to or within the surroundings of the main event. [http://music.hyperreal.org/library/fewerchur.doc] .

Genres

Raver styles of music continue to grow and evolve. Some genres and an iconic artist include (not an exhaustive list):

* Acid house - Phuture, 808 State, The KLF, Guru Josh
* Breakbeat hardcore - Acen, Brainstorm Crew, The Prodigy
* Goa trance - Hallucinogen, Astral Projection
* Drum and bass/Jungle - Andy C, Goldie, Dieselboy
* Hardcore techno styles: Happy hardcore, Gabba/Gabber - Dune, Luke Slater, Dave Clarke, Darren Styles, Neophyte, Enzyme X, Tommyknocker, Hellfish
* Hardcore trance- Cosmic Gate, DJ Scot Project, Alphazone
* Hardstyle - Technoboy, DJ Zany, Donkey Rollers, Q-IC, DJ Greg, Blutonium Boy
* Breakbeat - DJ Mikey Mike, Dj 303, Brad Smith and Dj Phunx

Non-dance styles that might be heard in a rave "chill-out" room include:

* Ambient music - Brian Eno, Harold Budd, The Orb
* IDM - Aphex Twin, Autechre

Some ravers are selective between genres, showing little or no interest in one area while finding great satisfaction in another. House often has roots in funk and discoFact|date=September 2008 while trance has its roots in new age and symphonic musicFact|date=September 2008. Many DJs mix genres, remix existing sounds, or leave electronic music entirelyFact|date=September 2008.

Among the new forms of rave music is "Makina"Fact|date=September 2008, a distorted spelling of the Balkanian word for "machine". It is mainly produced in Spain but also in Italy, Germany and FranceFact|date=September 2008. ploppaloppa

Drug use

Rave music is often tied closely to the drug Ecstasy because of the drug's capability to enhance the music in an amplified senseFact|date=September 2008. While on Ecstasy, listeners say rave music sounds clearer, crisper, and more "fluid", ultimately making the sound more enjoyableFact|date=September 2008. Rave music is heavily repetitive in nature, and "ravers" state that when the listening or dancing experience is combined with Ecstasy, the effect produced is a heightened and surreal pleasurable experienceFact|date=September 2008.

References

Bennett Andy, Peterson Richard A.: "Music Scenes: Local, Translocal and Virtual." Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 2004

Reynolds, Simon: "Generation Ecstasy: into the world of techno and rave culture" Routledge, New York 1999.

Lang, Morgan: "Futuresound: Techno Music and Mediation" University of Washington, Seattle, 1996.

External links

* [http://www.fantazia.org.uk Fantazia Rave Music information] - Download, label profiles.
* [http://www.ravehistory.co.uk RaveHistory.co.uk] - Includes rave history and event video clips
* [http://www.partyvibe.com/vbulletin/dlcat-rave-music-1/ Party Vibe] - Download free rave music.