Rave music

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

Rave music got it start in Britain in the late 1980s, closely following the acid house phenomenon. Initially "rave music" was considered particular style that was a combination of fast breakbeat and more hardcore forms of techno. Early 1990s efforts by The Prodigy (The Experience), Utah Saints and The Shamen (En-Tact) were quintessential "rave music".

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 party. In this sense, rave music is more associated with an event than a particular genre, per se. At a rave there can be different "arenas" or areas which play different styles of rave music. Very large raves called massives, may include ten or more separate arenas, each with their own music style.

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

• house styles: happy hardcore, progressive house - John Digweed, Bad Boy Bill
• trance - Ferry Corsten, DJ Tiesto
• Goa trance - Hallucinogen
• drum and bass / jungle - Andy C, Goldie
• breaks - The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Adam Freeland
• hardcore, techno - Luke Slater, Dave Clarke

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

• ambient music - Brian Eno, Harold Budd
• IDM - Aphex Twin, Autechre
• turntablism - MixMaster Mike, DJ Qbert

Some ravers are selective between genres, showing little or no interest in one area while finding great satisfaction and joy in another. House often has roots in funk and disco while trance has its roots in New Age and symphonic music. Many DJs mix genres, remix existing sounds, or leave electronic music entirely.

See also

• Electronic music
• Trance
• Techno
• House