Global Tribe: Technology, Spirituality and Psytrance

Psychedelic trance (psytrance) culture has grown from its origins in Goa, India, during the 1970s and 1980s into a global movement centered on festivals like Portugal's Boom Festival. Drawing on first-hand accounts from Australia, Israel, Italy, the UK, the US, Germany, Turkey, and elsewhere, the author examines this transnational phenomenon through its aesthetic roots, national variations, and internal debates. The book presents a multi-sited ethnography that analyzes the digital, chemical, cyber, and media elements of psytrance. It argues that the event-culture of psytrance incorporates rites of risk and altered consciousness, challenging existing theories of ritual, music, and culture.

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Abstract

Born from extensive international research, Global Tribe documents a little understood global dance culture that has mushroomed all over the world since its beginnings in diverse psychedelic music scenes flourishing in Goa, India, in the 1970s and 1980s. From small parties to major international events such as Portugal’s Boom Festival, the paramount expression of this movement has been the festival. Via first-hand accounts of the scenes, festivals and music of psychedelic trance (psytrance) in Australia, Israel, Italy, the UK, the US, Germany, Turkey and other places, the author explores this transnational movement with attention to its diverse aesthetic roots, national translations and internal controversies. As a thoroughly engaging multi-sited ethnography and an intimate examination of the digital, chemical, cyber and media assemblage of psytrance, Global Tribe studies the integrated role of technology and spirituality in the formation of this visionary arts movement. The book demonstrates how the event-culture of psytrance accommodates rites of risk and consciousness, a complex circumstance demanding revision of existing approaches to ritual, music and culture.