Tracks Tempo (BMP)

The bpm (beats per minute) range of Goa trance tracks is most commonly from 140 bpm to 152 bpm, with most DJ sets hovering around the 144 bpm mark. On the most recent compilations surveyed, the average bpm seems to have increased with many of the tracks clocking at around 150 bpm, whereas an earlier recording, Order Odonata (Dragonfly Records, 1994), has most of the tracks in the 130-140 bpm range. This suggest that the tempo of Goa Trance is on the increase. Indeed there has been some discussion of the tempi of recent tracks on the Goa Trance mailing list, with some subscribers complaining that the genre has become too fast.

The issue of tempo is an interesting one considering the possible relationship between musical tempo and human brain physiology. The frequency of alpha waves in the brain, critical in inducing trance states in humans, lies approximately between 8 and 12 cycles per second, and varies from one person to the next. . Many traditional trance-inducing musics of the world contain rhythmic elements which mirror these rates. Typically performances start at the lower level and increase over a period of hours towards the higher level. The gradual increase in frequency allows for the variation in different human alpha wave frequencies. In Goa trance there is a constant stream of 16th notes which when played at the suggested average of 144 bpm yields a flow of musical events at an average of 9.6 cps. This situation parallels that of traditional trance musics. However if the average tempo of Goa trance has increased there is a chance that partiers with alpha wave rates in the lower end of the range might not lock with any of the music being played in a party situation. .

The speed variation limitations of the typical playback equipment used for Goa trance parties has effected the practices relating to tempi of the tracks being played. The Djs using DAT machines (with no facility for vari-speed in contrast to record turntables), tend to beat match the tracks in groups of four or five. Typically they will then choose a track with a swirling beat-less breakdown, and bring in a beat with a different tempo underneath. Goa tracks often have these extended beat-less endings to facilitate DAT mixing. This practice may have arisen historically through the earlier use of cassette decks. According to Castle (in Cole, 1996a):

You had to guess the end of it; you had to know your music well; you didn't have the timer as precise as you do with DATs. You'd get to know which tracks worked with which tracks...just make connections; they wouldn't always be perfectly beat matched, but with this psychedelic music it's not so critical I think, 'cause each track is a journey, and they're long tracks with certain acid techno......a lot of psychedelic tracks... have lush beginnings and lush endings.

Goa trance DJs rigorously label all their DATs with track titles, durations, and bpms. All tracks have ID numbers to enable quick location. The use of CD players is becoming more common, as more Goa trance is being released on CD, and vari-speed CD decks become more affordable.