This article, which acts as a gateway to this thematic issue on “ technorituals ” (technoritualités), is comprised of two complementary outlooks on the rave phenomenon, enabling a common reference for the following analyses. The first outlook, engaging on a more inside perspective on this nocturnal world, draws upon phenomenology in order to present the portrait of a standard North-American rave, as well as to give close indication to how participants live this — sometimes life-changing — experience. The second outlook, from a more objective outside standpoint, consists of a short history of rave as well as a definition of this phenomenon’s specific characteristics.