I wanted to include this extract from the last article in my last blog, but I’ll do a separate short entry.

The music played at raves is usually non-vocal and computer generated. It includes a variety of different subgenres such as techno, house, acid ambient or trance (Hitzler 2002). For instance, “trance” is based on a 4x4 drum beat with repetitive structure and with many layers making up the melody in a rhythmical fashion. This subgenre became the leading category within electronic music during the mid-1990s and, as a “trance” raver described, this music creates some form of a meditative state: “Dance is like an active meditation. You stop thinking. You just become one with your body…” Indeed, there is evidence to suggest that the synergy effect of the drugs, music (especially the drums) and dancing in a hot environment may produce an altered state of consciousness (Nencini 2002). Goa Gill, a rave DJ, describes trance as “the concept of redefining the ancient tribal rituals for the 21st Century… It’s nothing new, every tribal group since the beginning of time has been practising these things [music and dance]”. The comparison of primitive and modern settings of intoxication, such as religious shamanic rituals and rave parties, has also been made by Nencini (2002).

I wanted to comment that as someone who refuses to take drugs, but enjoys electronic dance music, you don’t need to be in an altered state of mind to enjoy yourself.  Actually just dancing to this sort of music can actually induce an altered state of mind.  I hark back to one of my SummerFieldayze experiences in the Hard core dance music area, where I’d been dancing the whole time and I did really feel like I could see the music and felt absolutely elated and happy like I hadn’t before.  So whilst it may be put down to the drugs, sometimes it’s the music!