Coldharbour Trance:
Other Aliases: Progressive, Prog
A Sub-genre invented by David west, and exploited by Markus Schulz. In fact, the name "Coldharbour" was coined by Markus schulz, before that it would have just been progressive trance. Mostly known for it's rip-roaring pad-like sidechained basslines, over use of the sinewave, and really reverby saturated claps at alternated intervals. The closest cousins to Coldharbour would surely be Ambient trance and house, as it really sounds like trance to relax to more than it is to dance too. Unless you like to dance before you go to sleep. It's a kind of music that uses pads and reverb to sound like it is as wide as a stadium and the nearest sounds are the kicks. This is the sub-genre that really deserves the credit for the new use of the sidechain compressor, they use it on almost EVERYTHING! Basslines, pads, and and many times leads.
Notable Tracks:
AM - Arise [Exclusive Hammer & Funabashi Remix]
Synergy - hello strings
Markus Schulz feat elevation - Clear blue
David West feat inkfish - Searching for Substance
Melodic Trance:
Other Aliases: Melodic trance would pretty much cover it.
Melodic trance has really existed for a very long time, however is has taken clearer definition in recent times. It is a genre that focuses strongly on it's complicated melodies (often using a lot of Delay to extend the melodies even further) to deliver it's entrancing effect that trance is supposed to be known for. Pads in this genre, are not used as often as it is in others because it is not needed. The tracks are usually so saturated with delayed melodies that there is really nothing left to pad. Andy Moor didn't invent the genre, he just took it in a direction that basically standardized the use of Bubbly Square-wave melodies, and distorted saw-bases.
Notable Tracks:
Jose Zamora and Damian DP Ft Paleday - Transatlantic (Andy Moor Remix)
Basic Perspective - Small step to the other side
Adam White & Andy Moor - Andy Moor
Cressida - Slightly Agravic (Original Intro Mix)
Adymus - A place not far
Electro House:
Other Aliases: Electro, Progressive House
We can thank the rise of Synthtron and Electroclash of the 00's for this one right here. To put it simply it's 70's and 80's style analogue synths and basses with the funky beat of house music... Yeah I know, it's nothing new, But now It has a name we can call it. Not to mention this stuff has been all the rave lately to the point where it is practically created it's own scene. It's become the one of the biggest gateways into Electronic music. Emo kids everywhere are going from hardcore to Electroclash to electro house.
Notable Tracks:
Cicada - Things you say (Dirty South remix)
Melleefresh & Deadmau5 - Hey Baby (Original Mix)
Steve Angello - Voices (Eric Prydz Remix)
Burufunk & Carbon Community - Community Funk (Deadmau5 Remix)
john dahlback - blink (dons and dbn chainsaw remix)
Pryda - Shadows
Electro Trance:
Other Aliases: Electro, Progressive, prog
You should have all seen this coming: ********. The rise of Electro has influenced most mainstream trance and house artists. In fact, many artists who were once melodic or epic trance producers (ie: Filo & peri, and Wippenburg) switched over and joined the electro revolution. So naturally with the former trancers joining the likes of electro, they are going to end up with some part trance part electro disfiguration.
Notable Tracks:
Splittr - All Alone
Michael Cassette - A Shadow's Movement
Filo & Peri - The Anthem (Nic Chagall Remix)
Jaytech - Pepe Garden
Junk Science - My name is Jaques
Nu Tech Trance:
Other Aliases: Tech Trance, Trancetech, Tribal-tech Trance
I really don't know where the hell this came from. Maybe it was Sander van doorn, probably not... Possibly Fred Baker. Either way it is the re-emergence of Tech-trance in a completely different form. I ******** love this stuff. It has the raw, gritty, and hard mechanical percussion of Techno with the airy ******** of progressive trance. Before this, Techno breakdowns were just the same percussion loops, only filtered. Now we have some pads and s**t to fill the unused space, hurray!
Notable Tracks:
Remo Con - Cold Front (Bart Claessen Remix)
Fred Baker & greg nash - Lunar Eclipse
Marco V - Red Blue Purple
Randy Katana - Play it louder
Maor Levi - Reflect
Marcel Woods - Lemon Tree
Simon Patterson - Bulldozer
Ferry Corsten - Whatever (Marcel Woods remix)
Electro Tech:
Other Aliases: Techy electro? Minimal Electro?
Are you starting to see a pattern here? Good. Now that techno has joined the ranks, the triforce is complete!! I swear to god electro is like the ******** borg, and will not rest until it has assimilated to electro-Ambient, Electro-hardcore, and electro-step... Oh s**t, electro-step already exists... John B, you son of a b***h... What was I talking about? Ah yes, Electro Tech. If you listen to it is appears Electro-tech is really a combination of the genres Electro-house and nu-tech trance. Take note of the uses of Gritty mechanical percussion but with funky patterns and electro-housy basslines. Electro Tech does a lot of Bleeding over into Nu Tech Trance as well as Electro House, but there is still a difference... Somewhere in there.
