Sean P. Hier in the Canadian Journal of Sociology states also the fact that drugs are
sold as Ecstasy to the ravers in Canada; so this is an international phenomenon³:
While the intake of pure ecstasy is associated with very few negative side- effects, the
Toronto Research Group on Drugs (2000) reports that much of what is sold on the streets of Toronto
under the guise of ecstasy falls far short of pure MDMA, often containing “side- products” which
present a greater likelihood of stimulating health complications. (Hier 2002:43)
Rave culture and generally club dance music would have never worked so
well, without the above catalyst drug. Several types of club dance music were
introduced in the 1990’s as a result of the rave culture: House, Techno, Trance and
Jungle, all of them having in common the repetition of a particular beat. Among them,
House music has become more popular nowadays and can be differentiated in
different kinds, such as Harthouse, Funky House, Electro House and Acid House.
Initially house wasn’t aligned with a particular genre of music, but rather with an attitude and a feeling.
It signified a rebellious edge and an underground vibe. ( McCall 2001: 18)




House music is influenced by Disco music; it uses a 4/4 beat( bass drum on every
beat) which is created by samplers. It also uses a repeting electronic synthesizer bass
line. Samples of jazz ,funk or pop then are added to the drum beat and the bass line.
Trance music, like house, is generally characterized by a tempo of between 130 and
160 beats per minute, featuring repeating melodic synthesizer phrases. Sometimes
vocals are also utilized. According to several DJ’s, the style is derived from a
combination of house and electro music. Trance music took its name from the
repetitious beats which change constantly, without the listener being able to
understand the actual change, and the repetitive melodies which put the listener into a
trance-like state. Trance music is divided as well into different kinds, like: Acid,
Hard, Progressive, Goa and Psychedelic Trance, among many.
Trance music uses also some lyrics during the piece, but only in few parts:

3 An interviewee, in Limerick, told me that it’s rather rare that pure MDMA is sold in Ireland. The same thing has been said to
me, by interviewees in Greece.

It’s not me; It’s just a demon you see. It is like a big flat stone lying on your chest. (Goa Trance 2001)




The above quote can be found in a piece composed by Massimo Santucci, called
Libidine Motorica. Interestingly enough at the moment, Santucci has changed his
style into house music (www.myspace.com/massimosantucci). I asked a friend of
mine what he thought of this phrase, when he heard the piece:
L: What do they mean by this phrase “ big flat stone lying on your chest”?
K: Oh that has to do with the drugs…When I take E and starts working, I feel my chest kind of heavy;
especially when I dance and drink the same time. I don’t breath normally.. I think that the demon refers
to some hallucination.
While trying to find why a producer/composer would use a phrase like the above on a
piece of 9.21 mins, only once, I received the answer I wanted from a friend of mine
who is a DJ in a major club in Athens. He said that “these are tricks that the dance
music industry use” ( Anonymous 2007 ). I later found out what he meant.
Club Dance Music industry is one of the biggest in its kind. The record
companies and the venues make always much effort in promoting a recording or an
event.



Example of a cover from a recording. The title here
is very important: Euphoria.



Another invitation- commercial which was recorded for the pirate stations in London:
( Wayne 1998: 58)
In a secret location, somewhere in London, Genesis ’89 proudly presents the Chapter of the Chapters.
An invitation to all Genesis members and veterans.
Entertainment will be supplied by an all-star DJ line-up,
including: Fabio, Grooverider, Mickey Finn, Tony Wilson, Dem 2 and Bones.
A production of the highest quality includes 60k of turbo- sound, lasers, special effects and
cinematic-sized projections.

For the information hotline, please stay tuned. Genesis ’89 is live and kicking.
The venues are either big warehouses or sometimes happen outdoors, as a form of an
“electric pic nic”. The lighting, the sound and the visual material plays important role,
as to increase the trance state of the audience. But let us now wonder: is this music
encouraging the use of drugs?