Techno Question
Somewhere in Idaho. June, 2006
A friend of mine started assembling a list of the Ten Best Electronic Records of All-Time for a rock-loving colleague who wants an introduction to the genre. We kicked the idea around for a few minutes (Muzik, Selected Ambient Works, Minimal Nation, etc.), both of us wary of falling into the geeky and quarrelous depths that the topic opens up (we had to be somewhere in a half-hour). I’m going to start working on my list this week…
It’s a timeworn exercise, but an interesting question came up as we tried to pinpoint the essential releases from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s: for me, techno begins and ends with Basic Channel’s ‘Phylyps Trak II’. Here’s a short snippet and here’s the question: how would you connect the dots between Kraftwerk and Basic Channel?
The Lordsburg Killings 
Meeting Elvis 
Babushka Lady 
I can understand your dilemma for sure. I have to say that BC aren’t really my thing but I appreciate how major they were.
My own list would be a bit populist (and Anglocentric). In roughly chronological order:
1. Kraftwerk: The Man Machine
2. The Human League: Being Boiled
3. Soft Cell: Tainted Love
4: Donna Summer: I Feel Love
4. New Order: The Perfect Kiss
5. 808 State: Pacific State
6. Inner City: Good Life
7. Aphex Twin: Cornish Acid
8. Underworld: Cowgirl
9. Reprazent: Watching Windows
10. Plaid: Spudink
basic channel and kraftwerk? really the line goes from kraftwerk through detroit to the BC guys, but they have such a huge reggae influence that really came from outside of “dance” music and that is what makes their sound so distinctive.
[...] is the movie review accompanying this song, which has gems like * Basic Channel – Phylyps II on Kino Sport (Pioneers of Electronic Dub) * Mapsadaisical reviews Box (improv jazz, here’s our take on it) [...]
So I’m the guilty “friend” in this case. The short answer for me is that Mute + Mo’Wax + Warp is the bridge.
Casual conversations about music tend to reveal my obsessive, long winded, inner music geek. Questions like “What are your favorite electronic records ?” spark old Dan to start smoldering, and the latent record store punk pours on the gasoline. The result ? Late nights combing itunes libraries, recommendation engines, and dusty shelves of vinyl.
There is a sloppy consideration of the history here. I didn’t include any of the early hits from the Manchester scene (808 State, A Guy Called Gerald) or any new wave rock crossovers (The Normal, New Order, OMD, etc.) . At the same time, jumping right into German minimal house seemed anachronistic given how all of these styles and histories are combined by contemporary producers like Justice, Simian Mobile Disco, or Convextion.
What does this list reveal ? I’m as geeked out as ever. I’m old. Nostalgia is starting to creep in. I’m dismissive of the new. I like taking a look over the edge, but I’m not living off the grid. I need melody, mystery, and a dope beat.
An Incomplete List of the 20th Century’s Ten Dopest, Dankest, Most Illmatic Electronic Recordings Known to Me
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Kraftwerk : Minimum–Maximum – compilation of all the hits that started everything
Juan Atkins : Mastermix Volume 1 – best mix of the history of Detroit’s spooky sound
Massive Attack : Blue Lines – pioneers of dubbed out “trip hop” with mass appeal, somehow these cats never cheesed out like Tricky, Morcheeba, or Thievery Corp
Various : Headz : Mo’ Wax – my favorite of all of the “trip hop” imprints. This compilation includes early tracks from Unkle, DJ Krush, DJ Shadow, and a classic from Innerzone Orchestra (Carl Craig)
Aphex Twin : Selected Ambient Works Volume 1 – the most important works from Richard James, wicked godfather of Warp. This record is what made him famous, he’s been a total nut job for the past decade.
Various : Blech! : Warp Records- A condensed history of Warp Records in one convenient mega-mix. This is probably a bit too cold and teched out for most to dig, but it’s the best of breakbeat for my palette.
Various : Flexistentialism : Ninja Tune – funky, good, soulful, where hip hop and electronic music collided, proving not all the Brits are nerds. These guys pushed hip hop producers in the US to up their game
Kruder and Dorfmeister / Tosca / Peace Orchestra : G-Stone – the self titled Peace Orchestra record is my favorite of the Austrians’ combined recordings, although the K&D Sessions is a definitive mix from the late 90s and the Tosca records are gorgeous. There’s also the G-Stone “10” compilation which gives a good overview of the label. This is the electronic music chicks dig.
Michael Mayer Presents Neuhouse : Kompakt – a definitive minimal house compilation from Köln based Kompakt records. No other German label comes close to the hit making power of the Kompakt crew – favorites include Superpitcher, Closer Musik, Reinhard Voigt. The “Total” compilations from Kompakt are quite comprehensive.
Mr. Clavio : Mixed Up in the Hague* : Bunker Records definitive mix of the dirty Dutch take on electro- and italo-disco. This isn’t available commercially, but I’d be happy to IM you the MP3.
Awesome web site, thanks for the info.