Goa – 20 years of Psychedelic Trance

This unique book about the Goatrance movement is an anthology of the international Goa and Psytrance generation. It is the first book that describes the scene as a whole. The articles are written by 30 insiders of the international Psytrance scene from all 5 continents. The pictures originate from some of the best photographers globally. The book highlights the evolution of the scene in the last 20 years and looks ahead to the future. The book will alongcome with a DVD and a poster, together as deluxe version, and both book and DVD will also be available separately. Both products are contemporary documents of a generation and photographic and filmic masterpieces.    


Target groups: The book reaches the international Psytrance scene around the world with emphasis on Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Japan and USA.

Publisher: Tom Rom/Pascal Querner
Publisher and production: Nachtschatten Verlag, Solothurn/Switzerland
DVD production: Psynema/Omananda
Distribution: Nachtschattenverlag, Mushroom Magazine, Tom Rom, Psyshop.com, Festivals, Headshops around the world
Layout, graphics, design: Peter Lippert
Format: 25 x 25 cm, in colours, hardcover, 200-250 pages
Circulation: 2,000 copies in English, 2,000 copies in German for the first print run, later editions also planned in Portugese and Japanese
Date of publication: April 2010 (planned)
Price: EUR 24,90 (without DVD), EUR 29,90 (with DVD), planned
ISBN 978-3-03788-189-7

The Goa-Psytrance movement will become 20 years of age this year. Like Rock, Punk or Techno the movement has developed new and unique styles of music, fashion, art, visuals, festivals and an entirely new lifestyle for millions of people in the Psytrance tribes worldwide. Unlike other music or social scenes the Goa-/Psytrance scene has unfortunately never been described in a comprehensive way.

Therefore we want to take this anniversary as a chance to produce a richly illustrated book about the Psytrance phenomenon in 2009 as the first book about Psytrance as a whole (“Goa – 20 Years of Psychedelic Trance”). More than 25 important authors from within the scene are involved in this project that highlites the steps of the movement from it’s origins to the current state in all its forms of appearance. The work for this book started already in September 2008 and the book will be published in spring 2010. The Psytrance culture, also as a setting of important values for our planet, should be remembered in future and not being only a short glimpse in history. The Goa Book wants to contribute to this thought. A DVD, accompanying this book, is also in progress.

The Goa Book is a non-commercial project! Because this huge project has to be financed by advertising in the book, we ask you as a possible financial partner for your kind help. This project is a chance for you to promote you and your products on a global level in a much wider range of time.


Table Of Contents


History and Evolution

The roots of Psychedelic Trance (Goa Gil)
History of a colourful culture (Tom Rom)
Magical spots around the world (Pascal Querner)
The evolution of Psytrance music (Kai Mathesdorf)
Media in the Psytrance scene (Mat Mushroom/Sam Chaishop)
The Psytrance labels (Kai Mathesdorf)
Masterminds of trance(Omananda)

Culture, Spirituality and Drugs

The “Goa-Tribe” – Culture or subculture? (Wolfgang Sterneck)
Cybertribes: Projects against the system (Wolfgang Sterneck)
The Cosmic Octave (Hans Cousto)
Anarchy with codes (Tom Rom)
Dance in Trance (Marc Brouard/Phoenix Firedancers)
Spirituality and shamanism (Christian Rätsch)
Ecology and environmental consciousness (Tom Rom)
Drugs and the expansion of the mind (Roger Liggenstorfer)

Art and Performances

Decoration and Design (Ananto)
Visions und psychedelic art (Martina Hoffmann/Robert Venosa)
Visuals – Moving minds (Omananda/Psynema)
Performances in colours (Pascal Querner)

Festivals and Scenes

The Boom Festival (Artur da Silva)
Voov/Vuuv (Scotty)
Burning Man (Peter Ziegelmeier/Brad Olsen)
The Solipse Festivals (William Miller/Hannah Cleaver)
Doof in Downunder (Lui Raptor)
Psytrance in Brazil (Kranti Pessoa)
Psytrance in Israel (Eyal Yankovich)
Goa culture in Japan (Kei Fujishiro)
Trance in the UK (Gregory Sams/Charles de Ledesma)
Parties in paradise (Pascal Querner)
Beautiful people (Pascal Querner)
Trancedance fashion (Katarina Bartovicova)

Reflection and Future

Critical thoughts: What is missing? (Tom Rom/Omananda)
The future – where does the trip go to? (Tom Rom/Omananda)

Sponsors and Advertisings
List of Team
List of photographers




adverts in the GOA book and extras for mushroom clients
advert size price * width x height   extras
1/1 page

1000 €
(4000 €)

250 x 250 mm + 8 weeks banner at mushroom-online.com
1/2 page 600 €
(2500 €)
250 x 125 mm + 4 weeks banner at mushroom-online.com
1/3 page 400 €
(2000 €) 
250 x 83 mm + 3 weeks banner at mushroom-online.com
1/4 page 300 €
(1500 €)
250 x 62 mm + 2 weeks banner at mushroom-online.com
Posting in list with logo and website at the end of the book 200 €
(500 €)
  + 2 weeks banner at mushroom-online.com


* All prices exclusive tax


Conditions for advertisings in the book

We emphasise that the space for ads is very restricted and only for ads appropriate to the book. The graphic ads have to be sent by email in printable form to the publisher. All ads appear in the last part of the book. Prices refer to the first print run of the English and German editions. Per 1000 pieces of publication one copy is granted for free per 1,000 pieces of print copies. For higher quantity purchases individual conditions can be agreed, when booking a whole page, 3 copies are for free. All ads have to arrive at the publisher by September 1st 2009. The publisher disclaims any liability for delays of the publication date. The content or authors are subject to changes without prior notice. Payment: 50% after receiving the invoice, 50% before the planned printing date, latest by February 1st 2010.

For buy-offs in a higher number individual conditions can be agreed. It is also possible to order a number of copies (min. 300 copies) with the logo of the partner on the cover. Please contact us if you are interested.

Technical specifications:
Bleed: 3 mm for all edges (you could add this to your file format)
Colours: CMYK (Coated FOGRA27)
Resolution: 300dpi
Files: pdf, tiff, jpg