High-tempo (140–150 BPM) psychedelic offshoot of trance defined by rolling triplet basslines and surreal sound design.
Definition
Psytrance is a psychedelic offshoot of trance that emerged from the Goa beach party scene in early-1990s India. Its defining features are a rolling triplet bassline (also called a "psy bassline") that creates a galloping rhythm distinct from straight four-on-the-floor trance, tempos in the 140–150 BPM range, and densely-layered surreal sound design that often references altered states of consciousness. Subgenres include full-on (the most melodic, festival-oriented variant), progressive psy (slower, more groove-focused), darkpsy and forest (faster, more abstract), and hi-tech. The scene is centred on outdoor festivals like Boom, Ozora, and Universo Paralello, and has produced major artists including Astrix, Vini Vici, Infected Mushroom, and Talamasca.