Dancey, Trancey, Ethereal Music

[LoungeLizard]

Please could someone with knowledge of dance music offer some suggestions for artists / CDs / compilations / bands which fit the following description:

I like the music to be 'dancey, trancey and 'ethereal', BUT I am NOT that keen on heavy percussive beats (like in 'hard house'?).  However, I am quite happy with background beat.

I like the music to be 'up-lifting' but it is likely to have a 'pathos' running through it as well.  I expect the music will be 'electronic' and performed on a synthesiser, probably by a DJ; but fine if it's a band performing or maybe a black, female singer (some of those voices really get me).

 All suggestions welcome; also is there a name for the sort of music I'm describing?

[dilbert]

I wonder if 'Need to Feel Loved' by Reflekt fits the bill?

[paddy_36]

'Need to feel loved' is a brilliant track!

I'm not sure if you want your music to be all those things at once, but I would recommend the Ministry of Sound dance or chillout compilation CDs as a fairly good compromise. Might give you a better idea of specific artists/tracks to go for. Or if you even have one song or a band that you know you definitely like, look it up on amazon.co.uk - this will show you similar artists as well as what other people bought who purchased the item you're looking up. I've found loads of good CDs that way. Maybe you'd quite like Moby or Fatboy Slim...?

[OBonio]

Planet Funk, Daft Punk, Orbital, Jean Michel Jarre, Les Rythmes Digitale, Roykssop, Lemon Jelly, Groove Armada to name but a few.  The Orb are good for really chilled out stuff too.  I think the genres you are after are happy house, euphoric and maybe electronica.

[admarlow]

Faithless - more upbeat

Zero 7 - more chilled