In the 21st century, the term "dance music" is incredibly far-reaching; the term can be used to describe anything from the frothiest, most radio-oriented dance-pop that Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears have to offer to the most abrasive, amelodic, rave-friendly, and underground of techno. Dance music can be extremely underground or extremely commercial -- it all depends on what interests the artist or the producer. In August 2002, the Los Angeles-based Provocative Music reminded listeners of dance music's diversity by ...
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In the 21st century, the term "dance music" is incredibly far-reaching; the term can be used to describe anything from the frothiest, most radio-oriented dance-pop that Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears have to offer to the most abrasive, amelodic, rave-friendly, and underground of techno. Dance music can be extremely underground or extremely commercial -- it all depends on what interests the artist or the producer. In August 2002, the Los Angeles-based Provocative Music reminded listeners of dance music's diversity by putting out two very different but equally dance-oriented mix compilations. One was Provocative Trance; mixed by producer Chris Cox (of Thunderpuss fame), Provocative Trance shows listeners how melodic and pop-minded a Euro-dance approach can be. The other was Provocative Progressive, which was mixed by Dave Dresden (as in Gabriel & Dresden) and is less concerned with vocal personality, pop hooks, and actual song structures. That isn't to say that none of the material that Dresden brings into his nonstop 76-minute dance mix has a song structure or a real melody; New Order's "Someone Like You" and Way out West's "Mind Circus" are among the more melodic tunes that enter the mix. Many of the tracks, however, don't have actual song structures -- and ultimately, Provocative Progressive has a lot more to do with beats and electronic exhilaration than melodies or vocal personality. This disc is far enough to the left to appeal to a raver, but it shouldn't be lumped in with hardcore techno; while that type of electronica can be quite forceful, Dresden's mix is spacy and hypnotic rather than abrasive. Those who like their dance music with a lot of pop hooks would be better off with Provocative Trance, although Provocative Progressive will easily appeal to the more seasoned fans of underground electronica. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi
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