I have been thinking back on how my tastes in music have changed over time. Once upon a time I was a metal head, but that is another tale. Specific to Psytrance, I first got into Goa towards the end of the 90s. I'd been exploring various forms of psychedelic music and discovered this new world of electronic music. It was a really exciting time and did good things to my brain.
Over time I found myself listening to a whole range of different types of music and found myself not listening to Goa/Psy as much, but I would pull it out on occasion and enjoy it. Some of these times I found myself exploring some of the classic older releases from the past that I hadn't heard as well as filling in what had happened more recently. Looking back I now realize I had a very narrow focus on what I was expecting from the music. I was only seeking out the really storming brain-kicking tracks and anything else I would not listen to. (Even on I.F.O I would usually only play Electra and Asterope )
Moving forward to about 18 months ago my interest in electronic music was seriously rekindled. For whatever reason suddenly this music truly clicked with me in a way it never had before and the true exploration began. And I found that I was listening to things with a new set of ears - perhaps through the passing of time, my own maturing (well...!) and life experiences, listening to other types of music - no doubt a whole range of factors that go into making up who we are and what we bring to the music when we receive it via our sensory organs. I now chuckle when I think back to the version of me with the different pair of ears. As an example I remember years ago playing Dragon Tales by KoxBox, and never giving it a proper serious listen because it didn't fit my expectations at that time. More recently I revisited the album, giving it a proper serious listen and it ate my mind! It has become a favourite and continues to grow for me with all its subtlety, complexity, and detail, and I marvel and wonder at how a few years ago I had this stellar album but an incompatible brain and pair of ears at the time.
It has been a wonderful experience rediscovering this music, and almost like it is the first time as I am appreciating a much wider sense of dynamics in the music, and I find myself enjoying a more complete spectrum of music and the emotions it can evoke. I've also branched out, not just in the different forms of Goa/Psy, but into other forms of electronic music that wouldn't have appealed to that funny pair of ears I used to call my own.
I wanted to tell this tale of two sets of ears, and would be interested to hear how other people's tastes and approaches to listening/thinking about music have changed, or perhaps if you have found the opposite and things have remained the same for you over time.