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Rave music consists of forms of electronic dance music that are associated with the rave scene. Most often, the term is used to describe music that depends heavily on samples, loops and synthesizers, and is high in energy.

Rave music closely followed the acid house phenomenon. Initially "rave music" was considered a particular style that was a combination of fast breakbeat and more hardcore forms of techno. Early 1990s efforts by Nebula 2, Acen, Altern-8, The Prodigy (Experience), Utah Saints and The Shamen (En-Tact) were quintessential "rave music" and were being played at massive all night raves like Fantazia, Raindance, Universe and others.

By the early 2000s, the term was used more generically to mean any one of a number of different styles (or combinations thereof) that might be played at a rave party. In this sense, rave music is more associated with an event than a particular genre, per se. At a rave there can be different "arenas" or areas which play different styles of rave music. Very large raves called massives may include ten or more separate arenas, each with their own music style.

Raver styles of music continue to grow and evolve. Some genres and an iconic artist include (not an exhaustive list):

• Breakbeat hardcore - Acen, Brainstorm Crew, The Prodigy
• Goa trance - Hallucinogen, Astral Projection
• Drum and Bass/jungle - Andy C, Goldie, Dieselboy
• Hardcore Techno styles: Happy Hardcore, Gabba/Gabber - Luke Slater, Dave Clarke, Darren Styles, Neophyte, Enzyme X, Tommyknocker, Hellfish
• Hardcore trance- Cosmic Gate, DJ Scot Project,
• Hardstyle - Technoboy, Blutonium Boy, Donkey Rollers, DJ Coone, Q-IC, DJ Greg, Dark Raver

Non-dance styles which might be heard in a rave "chill-out" room include:

• Ambient music - Brian Eno, Harold Budd, The Orb
• IDM - Aphex Twin, Autechre

Some ravers are selective between genres, showing little or no interest in one area while finding great satisfaction and joy in another. House often has roots in funk and disco while trance has its roots in new age and symphonic music. Many DJs mix genres, remix existing sounds, or leave electronic music entirely.

Among the new forms of rave music is "Makina", a distorted spelling of the Balkanian word for "machine". It is mainly produced in Spain but also in Italy, Germany and France, and recently the North East of England.

Main article: Rave#Drug use

Rave music is often tied closely to the drug Ecstasy because of the drug's capablity to enhance the music in an amplified sense. While on Ecstasy, listeners say rave music sounds clearer, crisper, and more "fluid", ultimately making the sound more enjoyable. Rave music is heavily repetitive in nature, and "ravers" state that when the listening or dancing experience is combined with Ecstasy, the effect produced is a heightened and surreal pleasurable experience.

Reynolds, Simon: Generation Ecstasy: into the world of techno and rave culture Routledge, New York 1999.

• Fantazia Rave Music information - Download, label profiles.
• RaveHistory.co.uk - Includes rave history and event video clips
• Glowsticking.com - Worldwide online community for dancing with glowsticks and anything rave related.
• GenXGlow.com - An online rave community with a worldwide focus.
• Purerave.com - Global online rave community

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