Hard Dance
Hard dance is a term that refers to a grouping of modern electronic dance music genres including hard trance, hard house, nu-NRG, hard-NRG, hardstyle, freeform hardcore and jumpstyle.
Hard Trance
Hard trance is an aggressive sounding subgenre of trance music. Originating in Frankfurt, hard trance incorporates influences from hardcore techno and euro house.
Characteristics
The hard trance sound varies from classic trance with its emphasis on harder, often acid sounds. The beat is very strong, and the lead synths or pads are more simplistic, yet still retain their melodic, "trance-like" nature. The hoover is used infrequently as of late, giving way to harsher lead melodies through synths or pads. Tempo rarely varies from 140.
Origins
The pumped up sound of hard house, popular at the turn of the millennium, spread to the trance and gradually the two came closer together through the evolution of hard trance. It features the dreamy vocals and dancing treble range characteristic to trance with a faster driving bassline and distinctive "Hoover" that gives it its "Hard" sound. As Hard House DJs incorporated more trancy buildups in their sets the style grew to have its own distinct sound. Many tracks are released on record labels such as Nukleuz and Tidy Trax. Today the Netherlands are best known for their numerous well known DJs in the Hard trance / Hardcore music production within the scene.
Hard House
Hard house is a style of electronic music that evolved from mixing techno and house music in the 1990s. Hard house is typified by a set formula of up-tempo compressed kick drums, signature acid house style basslines and the use of 'hoover' type sounds.
Generally hard house is part of a wider group of styles called hard dance and has little in common with the modern techno or house scenes. The music is often liked by younger clubbers because of its easy accessibility, meanstream attitude and suitability for dancing to while on Ecstasy.
Record labels
Tidy Trax
Nukleuz
Cajual
Strictly High
Dust Traxx Records