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A. Musical background (and using it) Couldn't disagree more mate, but what did you expect This 'neo' goa (let's talk about the last few year) misses too many times the most essential stuff. If listening to electronic music in the 80's and 90's (with styles I grew up as a kid and adolescent) is where Goa trance is a blend of. 80&90's music styles and 70's stretchy psy rock and Indian orientated melodies (played, not programmed notes and bars into a computer) are the basic of what we know as goa trance. Most important: it was and should still be an experiment, but within a certain variety of 'fixed' music styles which are noted before. Many of the goa trance producers in the 90's where a part of psy rock bands or involved in that scene (for example Total Eclipse). Adding to that you can notice that many goa trance producers (for example: Boris Blenn, Har El) made not first goa, but more acid, trance music. They evolved in the 90's by blending more styles/genres into goa trance. Think also about the latest vinyl release of DAT records with the proto goa EP 'you never know'. This tracks - if you listen - proves the former point, and it isn't the only record that you can listen to and where that is very clear. In short: real goa trance is not near or superficial copy of an existing style or sound from the 90's. It is so much more and it needs a wide and broad musical background to understand and make it. It was an evolution a experiment. B. Goa is a blend, not a copy Goa trance is like making a dish, you have to know all your ingredients and the way to blend them and than off course do your own thing with it. Because the ingredient list is so big you have so much freedom. Note maybe that is why that Transwave track was called 'land of freedom' - just a guess 80/90's styles were: acid, techno, house, trance, new beat,... If you make goa trance (melodic or not) this are the basic ingredients you start from. You blend them (or strong aspects/elements of them) together to make goa trance. It is like making a pie: first you collect the different (and separate) ingredients by tasting them, experiencing them. Than you take the next step, you follow a certain receipt and that you cook it up to a blend depending your own flavour. Much (not all) 'neo' goa is like making a pie and skipping the receipt. Basing the product on a picture without reading what the receipt is and what separate ingredients you really need for it. As result you get a vague copy of a existing style, but differs too much to be called goa trance. Yes, I said it, I dare to say it and I don't care how much it will stir the rabbit hole.Apart from the former remark ; you only get real goa if you use the real original ingredients and this 'neo' goa isn't complete goa trance for me. C. Some examples: a ) Techno influence: Electric Universe - Online information b ) house influence: Sundog - Ancient Forest (Yantra Mix) c ) acid influence Bassline Baby - Altered States d ) new beat influence dj mix goa - 1989 (year which goa came to birth) e ) trance influence California Sunshine - Coming Home D. Production has nothing to do with it. This has nothing to do with modern and clear production. Because in the 90'sthere were enough artists who made perfect warm and deep BUT clear goa trance. If you know the album Deedrah - Reload, you know what I'm talking about. Modern production, clear, clean even,... but 100% goa trance with all the necessary ingredients. The same counts for Oforia/Pigs in space: clear, but not plastic. E. Modern goa (some examples of clear and clean, but deep and warm production) But it doesn't stop here, there are more (new) goa artists who (imo) respect that original blend without - like you stated it - copy the same kick and tricks. They have proven what I stated above: goa is a blend of styles, and when you don't respect the musical background and history of goa trance you get something else that sounds plastic and generic. Here are some examples: M-Run and I tried to make goa trance with a clear modern production, but not a plastic one. The same counts for Ufomatka, Artha, RA, Khetzal,...and so much more. 1) Ufomatka - Extragalactic Form Of Life (Original Mix) 2) M-Run ft. dj Inada - Kapala 3) Artha - 1st element is gone 4) Ra - 9th (full album) 5) Khetzal - Corolle (album) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTGw_inlFvM ...and last but not least (and probably the best newer melodic compilation since 2004): 6) Various - Apsara https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=4YRGbs3iD8A Any way: I actually love this discussion In the above I want to sate why I feel that tracks isn't 'goa' trance for me. But it is in most ways very similar off course, as its original is goa trance. But still, this clean and plastic sounds and kick are really giving me the creeps, especially that boring and non inventive 'horse kick' so called baseline: it has no melody, nothing, so generic. So far my humble (but I hope well argumented) opinion. Note: Depending what 'the crowd' wants, depends on their musical background (and taste). It is not because people (on drugs) dance to it, that it is goa. We all know that the so called modern music is mainly focused on beats. This due to the change of drug use in the goa scene: from more 'mind expanding' drugs like acid, cannabis,... that challenge your mind and take you out of the comfort zone (just like goa music should do). Changing to more comfort drugs like coke, speed,... This effects the dance floor and reactions on the music very hard...and off course what producers make to get booked.