Top 100 Electronic Music (including trance, house, techno, ambient, IDM, jungle, goa, avante-garde, indie electronic, etc.) Albums of All Time
Submitted by darktremor on Sat, 08/26/2006 - 10:01
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- Before I say anything else, know that any recommendations are greatly appreciated at this point, to be added to the "albums to consider" list. They will ALL be listened to (time willing, that is).
- I've only got the top 70 so far, but I'm going to finish it, it just takes a really long time to make a list like this. There's a lot to consider when saying something like "the best of all time," and I intend to see that every choice is perfect. I have more than 100 already on a list, I just need to sort through them and order them, and cut down on the number. I also want to see every important subgenre of electronic music represented here, without too much focus on any one section. ie: many people on listology release lists with names like "The top 100 Electronic dance tracks of all time," which turns out to be a list entirely made up of trance music, with 2 mainstream house songs. When called on it, they then argue "Well, that's because no other electronic dance genre is as good as trance." This is wrong, and insulting to people who like other styles, and usually the result of a narrow interest and view on the part of the listmaker.
- Another thing I'm trying to minimize is that horrible "the first is the best" bias. Some things really do get vastly improved on as time goes on. Although other times future works are really derivative of the first in the style, so the first really is the best...but I'm going to try to account for that.
- Note: the subgenres that will be represented here are:
- Trance, house, goa/psy, techno and minimal, electro, IDM, minimalism, avante-garde/musique concrete, jungle, abstract hip-hop, ambient, ambient dance, downtempo, worldbeat, Krautrock/psychedelic rock, early synth, synthpop, electronic pop, electronic rock, "progressive," microhouse, acid jazz, and glitch.
- Industrial is touched on, but all I really do is acknowledge its existence. The list will go no deeper than that into the genre, as I personally feel industrial music made its point by the time the first album was finished. The purpose of the style is the making of "anti-music" - producing the ugliest sounds possible for the purpose of exploring the line between what is and isn't music. As far as personal listening goes, this doesn't appeal to me, and honestly won't to most electronic music fans. What it really boils down to is that I don't like industrial very much, although I'm glad someone out there is making it.
- Note: I've run into some difficulties here. It seems that "electronic music" can't really be classified as a megagenre per se, as I believed. I don't think electronic genres are actually related on a basis of being electronic, or on particular electronic elements, but on structural, thematic, and aesthetic relations. This is comparable to saying that rock genres are not classified as such because they centre around the use of guitars, drums, bass guitars, and vocals, but through these other relationships.
- Shoegaze was the main style that threw my neat definitions into disarray. Many of its predecessors were electronic, many of its descendants are electronic, but it is not itself generally considered electronic music, but a form of indie rock. This doesn't mesh with the idea of "electronic music" being defined as its own specific category - and this is actually pretty much intuitive, as many "electronic" artists incorporate real instruments, and many "real instrument" bands use electronics or electronically distort their music.
- This leads me to think that the only reason electronic music is composed as it is, is because of the unique qualities and properties that electronics provide that traditional can't. It gets its own category only because some of the properties inherent in the use of electronics create similarities between even the most distant electronic styles. In other words, while happy hardcore and music concrete are obviously not historically related in almost any way, there are similarities between then that come specifically from the fact that both use electronics.
- So what are the special properties inherent in the use of electronics? My guess is, essentially, the production of sounds ad musical qualities that are impossible for traditional instruments. This boils down to:
- - very precise, complex and/or fast grooves and beats
- - alien, sourceless sound with no real-world comparison
- - extreme textural complexity
- - truly perfect composition - Since recording is generally part of the composition process when electronics are used, this gives musicians all the musical control that serialists attempted to achieve, without having to map every element of the music out onto a physical composition.
- These properties are perfect for creating texture and rhythm, and a musical focus on the elements is likely why so many electronic genres are actually related to each other - all are preoccupied with one or the other - or both.
- So, for the reasons stated above, I've broadened the requirements for an album to make the list. It doesn't even need to be predominantly electronic anymore: it must simply involve electronics in some way, and be texturally and/or rhythmically focused (this actually excludes many predominantly electronic albums that would never make the list anyway, such as much of the late 90's teen pop).
- Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians
- Year: 1978
- Electronic genre: Minimalism
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Amazon.com: 5/5
- New York Times: Concert review of Steve Reich's performance of this piece has no actual rating, but the article gushes. I'd say they're giving it 5/5: article here
- Critic Nathan Andrew Seifert puts it in his "10 albums he considers brilliant" list.
- Critic Jon Dolan: No star rating, but again, the review gushes and calls it boundary-expanding, to the point that I'd say they wouldn've given it 5/5.
- Critic Scott Paulin: again, gushes to the point that I'd say he gives it 5/5.
- Barnes & Noble users: 5/5
- Discogs raing: 4.8/5
- My "review":
- Music for 18 Musicians is not even electronic, not in the slightest. However, the structure of most electronic music, the audio world most of the mega-genre resides in was perfected here. You see, there was a genre of music created in the 60's called "minimalism." Traditional composers had long exhausted the "classical" sound, and were now all using a style called "serialism." The purpose of this "music" was to control every aspect of the sound to the point that any two playings of the composition would be exactly the same. The result? Compositions that became a)unbelievably difficult to play; b)Almost completely soulless; and c)Impossible to enjoy without mathematically analyzing the musical structure. For everyone who likes the feeling of being trapped in a burning iron maiden, try some 50's Stockhausen, and you'll understand serialism really quickly.
- So, since no one actually liked serialism, a bunch of composers decided to rebel against it and reject everything serialism stood for in one of the 20th century's great strokes of artistic genius: minimalism. Why not make simple music that is almost completely based on chance? And predictably, the results were beautiful, alive, and permanently kicked out of the artistic community. Oh modernist pretension, where would we be without you?
- Anyways, yeah, that's minimalism. Repetitive, rhythmic, almost dancible, melodic, tuneful, atmospheric, organic, and accessible, but still intelligent and open to analysis. This music was almost totally based on slowly shifting repetition, which was often purposely generated by pure chance (ie: In C was made bytelling a bunch of musicians to play their parts "at their own pace," and by only playing what they felt like.). Music for 18 Musicians wasn't the first minimalist piece (Music for 18 Musicians is the first minimalist piece in the same way that the Andromeda Galaxy is the first thing you'll find outside of New York), but it was progbably the very best of the style. Gorgeous, catchy, ever-shifting melodies, and a light and lovely atmosphere made up of an amorphous wall (Great Wall of China, really) of the prettiest traditional instruments. And it never gets tiring: there are days when I want to mix the first and last track on this album together and listen to this album on repeat. It's like an infinite song, and since it loops back on itself (the end IS the beginning), it's seems like that's what Reich wanted you to think when he made it.
- DJ Shadow - Endtroducing...
- Year: 1996
- Electronic genre: Abstract hip-hop/Sound Collage
- Difficulty Level: 2/10
- What the Critics Said:
- All Music Guide: 5/5
- Alternative Press: 5/5
- Robert Christgau: A+
- Entertainment Weekly: A-
- Mojo: 5/5
- Q : 5/5
- Rolling Stone: 5/5
- Spin: 4.5/5
- UNCUT: 5/5
- Pitchfork Media: 91%
- Discogs Rating: 4.6
- My "review":
- Nothing on this album is original, the entire thing is made up of samples of other artists, and you'd never know it from listening.
- This is now a cliche, but not when Endtroducing came out: people had sampled before (lots), but for the most part (EDIT: there are a couple of very rare, forgotten, and essentially lost albums made entirely of samples. I haven't heard them, but it seems fairly unlikely that they're very good anyway) no one had ever been able to make an entire album without doing something themselves. Not until Endtroducing.
- But don't let the process fool you: this would be a perfect album no matter how it was made. Jazzy beauty oozes out of every note (Does the word "note" even mean anything anymore?): DJ Shadow plays his turntables like a hip-hop Miles Davis. You can't even tell it's a technical masterpiece, this is pure (the only?) jazz-hop genius. It's the perfect soundtrack to a 20th century post-modern poetry reading in a poorly lit cafe on a cold, rainy night. Only, you listen to the music instead of the poetry. But still, like all great electronic music, it has it's own feel, it's own personal emotional core that no other album has ever captured, that can never really be described. While there are other perfect soundtracks to 20th century post-modern poetry readings in poorly lit cafes on cold, rainy nights, there are none that feel quite like this (and none that are nearly as good). Hell, if I ran 20th century post-modern poetry readings in poorly lit cafes on cold, rainy nights, this would be the soundtrack every single time.
- My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
- Year: 1991
- Electronic genre: shoegaze
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- What the Critics Said:
- I don't even need to go into it. It is widely considered the best album of the 90s.
- I know it's not really electronic: the only electronic aspects are the mountain of effects pedals used on the guitar work, and some keyboards. But like I said above, it's the textural focus of the music that qualifies it, and the fact that much of what shoegaze inspired was/is electronic (Ulrich Schnauss, m83, etc.). Plus it's one of the best albums of all time, any genre.
- Faust - Faust
- Year: 1971
- Electronic genre: Krautrock/Musique-concrete
- Difficulty Level: 10/10
- What the Critics Said:
- All Music Guide: 4.5/5
- Piero Scaruffi: 3rd Best Rock Album of All Time
- Amazon.com: 4.5/5
- My "Review":
- This sounds like Hell. I don't mean it sounds terrible and boring, I mean, it actually sounds like Hell...or maybe "the Netherworld." At first, it sounds like you're driving through Hell, trying to get a radio station, but since you're in the centre of the earth, reception is understandably poor. Hell has a radio station, and, (I think this may even be the joke Faust is getting at) of course, it plays mainstream popular music. Then, driving through Helltown our car stops working: the engine overheated and it won't run anymore. But you stay hiding in the car, as just that moment, Hell's marching band of skeletons, devils, and demons goes by. There are floats, showcasing different tortures (all campily redone) and reenacting all kinds of Satan-driven events in history (from Hitler's slaughter of the Jews, to the Rwandan massacre, to the releasing of Celine Dion's first album; again, all deliberately silly). Then the horn section comes by. This being Hell, they're all overloud, and don't really know how to play their instruments. You're trying to get away from the noise, but no matter how fast you run, Hell moves with you at the precise same speed: you can't escape. Then the singing begins, announcing the coming of the Satan float. He makes the band stop, shrieking in electronic pulses, laughing as everyone around screams in pain at the noise, then flees. But the band stays together, and marches by at a hyperspeed. You run, escaping Helltown this time, across a barren waste both frozen and burning, accompanied by the band, marching by now and then, passing Hell's bar, where the pianist isn't playing, he's just warming up forever. Hellwinds accompany us, almost blowing us over at times, along with the howls of wolves (although the two seem to merge together). Odd voices come out of the ether, shipwrecked tankers float by the land, a fog falls, and we are almost driven to madness, falling over into a nightmare. And so ends "Why Don't you Eat Carrots?", the first third of the album.
- This same bent continues throughout the next two songs, but they're very different (the second song being the nightmare...[could you actually have a nightmare in Hell, if it existed?] The third is awakening from the nightmare, and being unable to tell what is the nightmare, and what is Hell...forever].
- While I could describe my own "Faust" world for pages, I must also note the importance of this album. It was one of many albums that shattered conventions in the 70s, even convention-shattering for Krautrock. This album is specifically rooted in "deconstructive" ideas (it was this concept's most pop-accessible version yet, which doesn't really say anything - and isn't as accessible as say..."The Orb"), taking apart a huge number of influences with a chainsaw, and throwing them all into a heap, their emotional centres laid bare. When this album came out, it was suddenly pretty much possible to do anything with music, and everyone knew it. Artists like Nurse With Wound, Throbbing Gristle, and maybe even sample-heavy ambient house producers owe quite a lot to this music, whether they know it or not.
- This is proof that Hell can be FUN!
- This album is already showing serious diminishing returns after 5 listens. It's good, but problematic. Analyze it all you will, it really just boils down to being a collage. A good one though, so it's still worthy of a very high position. It's just really not the number one of all time, especially considering how difficult it is, and that sound collage was nothing new at this point.
- Sasha & Digweed - Northern Exposure
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: Trance/Progressive house/Ambient Trance
- Difficulty Level: 2/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Discogs ranking: 4.9/5
- All Music Guide: 2.5/5
- Inblot: read it here. No star rating, but I interpret the review to be 5/5 (as again, the review gushes).
- TheScene.com.au: No star rating, but the genre they give it is "amazing" and the whole review is just them going on and on about how everyone should own it. So 5/5, I guess.
- Amazon.com: 4.5/5
- My "review":
- A DJ mix CD is supposed to be a musical journey, perfectly showcasing the DJs talent along with an immaculately chosen flow of music. However, until 1995, with the release of this masterpiece, the vast majority of DJs simply threw their favorite tracks together on a CD with minimal mixing, the theory being that no set of CDs would ever really capture the feeling of being at a rave or party. All of that changed with Northern Exposure. The modern ideal was born (then later forgotten. Oh anthem trance). Northern Exposure is to artistic DJ mixes what sex is to children: totally impossible and nonexistent without it (and better than anything that results after it). Northern Exposure was the first, and it's never been topped (and never will be).
- For people who don't care about process, you've got a single-track ambient trance masterpiece on your hands. I mean it: the tracks fit together so exactly that it almost seems they were written to be together. There is a gradual feel of build from the beginning of CD 1 to the end of CD 2: beginning with The Orb's float tank ambient, ending with Underworld's stratospheric trance anthem "Dark Train," the built is so subtle it can't even be noticed, yet lacking the monotonous flatline of other DJs managing similar effect: it's dynamic and alive. Listening to this mix is like watching someone take pieces out of 40 different jigsaw puzzles and put them together (unmodified) to make a completely different picture that is not only infinitely more beautiful than the originals, but contains no seams between the pieces. This mix is the reason why Sasha and Digweed are the only DJs on the top 10 that are worthy of their position. This is the musical personification of balance.
- Aglaia - Three Organic Experiences
- Year: 2003
- Electronic genre: Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- What the Critics Said:
- The Ambient Review (aka Brian Bienowski): Best Ambient Album 2003. The review has no star rating, but it's so loving that I can't imagine it being anything but 5/5:
- Backroads Music: 21th Best of 2003
- Discogs rating: 4.8/5
- My "review":
- This is probably the most underrated album of all time. No one anywhere knows this album exists, but that's really the world's loss.
- But, I'm not going to rage at horrible marketing, that would just overshadow a perfect album.
- This is THE BEST ambient album ever created. I have listened to it more times than any other, it's better than Biosphere, better than Aphex Twin; it's even better than Brian Eno. It combines all the ambience of everything previously mentioned, with a mystical, ancient sound, slowly coalescing in and out of organic drones (if that's even possible). Listeneing to 3 Organic Experiences is like exploring a mythical version of Earth before humans came into existence. The first part brings you under the sea, the second onto land, and the third into the Arctic, and eventually, the sky. And you see (and hear) everything you would expect in a world just ending it's Goddess-driven creation.
- Klaus Schulze - Irrlicht
- Year: 1972
- Electronic genre: Experimental/Minimalism/semi-ambient/early synth/krautrock
- Difficulty Level: 7/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Discogs Rating: 4.3/5
- Amazon: 4.5/5
- Piero Scaruffi: 13th greatest rock(?) album ever
- Tigersushi: 5/5
- All Music Guide: 5/5
- My "Review":
- Like most albums on this list, it's very difficult indeed: it takes a very good number of listens to sink in, to associate with a mental world that makes the album worthwhile. At first, I didn't see anything here but generic, if very high quality space music (the invention of space music, yes, but still nothing special). Then I realized what it was, and how unbelievably wrong I was. This wasn't space music, but a veritable musical black nothingness. Irrlicht wasn't the sound of floating in space, it was of floating in less than space.
- And this is not a bad thing: it's incredible! It is said (by physicists), that if you could go beyond the edges of the universe, into the nothingness into which the universe expands, the universe would extend out with you, by virtue of the simple fact that you're there. However, all around would be no universe: nothingness. But nothingness is impossible: when all matter is removed, random "positive" and "negative" energy and "positive" and "negative" matter will come into existence, resulting only in an average of nothing. So, in effect, you would be in nothingness, but you would see all sorts of unbelievable things around you, all popping in and out of existence in rapidly disintegrated and reintegrating mirror images. This surreal nothing is the endless, droning strands of Satz Ebene, infinitely far from the edges of our universe.
- Satz Gewintter is the same world, but now we're moving, heading back towards our universe at infinite speed, so fast it appears as almost stillness. The surreal world passes us by, distorting with more chaos, flowing by the edges of our ethereal ship.
- Satz Exil Sils Maria brings us the edge of our universe, trillions of miles away, the first light of "home" reaching our eyes, the mirrored chaos all around us.
- Brilliant, one of the only pure ambient albums I'll actually listen to, rather than just putting it at the threshold or sleeping to it. It's the sound of both infinity and nothingness.
- Not recommended for agoraphobics.
- Can - Future Days
- Year: 1974
- Electronic genre: Krautrock/Psychedelic
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Soon Over Babaluma:
- All Music Guide: 4/5
- Amazon.com: 4.5/5
- Discogs rating: 4.5/5
- Pitchforkmedia: 74th best album of the 70s
- My "review":
- Banco De Gaia, Peter Gabriel, Deep Forest, Tangerine Dream, Enya, Enigma, The Orb, the entire Escapes and Cafe Del Mar series', hell, every electronic artist that's decided to put backwards Mongolian warbling or glitched-up ant flutes of the Serengetti, or Kalahari tongue-clicking into their tracks owe everything to this one album here. It's psychedelic and rambly texture, as only krautrock can be, but with very subtle ethnic influence. Unlike the shamelessly tribe-sampling worldbeat artists that would dominate the downtempo world for the next 20 years, this is all under-the-sound, it's all very hidden and elegant. It seems to recall some unknown ethnic group you've never heard of...it's almost like general ethnic, with no actual direct influence. Sort of like...the experimental music of a parallel universe where an Arabian-African hybrid civilization became Earth's dominant society.
- While this is only arguably electronic, there's so much keyboard and found sound here that I think it's a crime to call Soon Over Babaluma anything else. (Oh yeah, it was a major influence on trance music too).
- I've decided to add Future Days here: repeat listens (thanks to lukeprog) and similar concept. I'm putting together sets of any two albums that I feel were similar enough in concept taht the second was just a development on the first, but still worthy of its greatness. In other words: the two CDs could have been initially released as a 2-disc set.
- Oval - 94Diskont
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Glitch/Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Pitchforkmedia: 47th best album of the 90s
- Discogs rating: 4.4/5
- Amazon.com: 4.5/5
- All Music Guide: 5/5
- Wire: Albums of the year 1996
- Wire: 100 Albums that set the World on Fire
- Blow Up: On the 600 Essential Albums list
- My "review":
- This album is now extremely famous, as it made a massive musical concept that now spans a vast number of genres actually musical: that being the glitch. This style has found its way into techno, into electro, into house, and yes, now even into pop music. However, that now almost cliche electronic idea became a musically enjoyable reality with this album, right here (well, technically the Oval's album before it, but no one really noticed). But who would've thought that music, actual music and not noise, could be made like this? Cutting up CDs and gluing them back together, dropping paint on their surfaces, hacking away at them and scratching them with blades...and the result is music?
- Still, I think focusng on all that process totally misses the point of this album: the music. Pastoral, expansive, and epic, the 24 minute opening track, Do While is deceptively simple, but brings to mind climbing a great grass-covered mountain. There are sparkling, red-glowing trees all around, endlessly dropping shimmering leaves, the trees growing thicker and thicker as you climb. The branches move almost unnaturally, and the view of the valley below can barely be seen: it is covered in layer upon layer of silent static. Although glimpses of a small, ancient town and the sound of its ringing bell glimmer through the haze when it is focused on, you know can't reach it, you can only go up.
- On reaching the top of the mountain, Do While ends, and we find ourselves in a collage-world, slashed apart bits and pieces of everything fly by us in a dark mist, becoming clearer and clearer as we run over the electronic, yet magical plateau, and just as things reach their greatest frenzy...we find ourselves climbing back down, and Do While begins again.
- The Notwist - Neon Golden
- Year: 2002
- Electronic genre: Glitch Pop
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Metacritic Score: 89/100
- Pitchforkmedia: 9.2/10
- All Music Guide: 4/5
- Popnews: Best Album of 2003
- Intro: 2nd Best Album of 2003
- Robert Christgau: B-
- Dusted Reviews: No Actual ranking, but I'd judge their review to say about 4.5/5
- My "review":
- Glitch pop has never been lovelier than it is on this sexy little bastard child. Equal parts MORR music (german electronic pop label) and Oval, this was the last thing anyone expected from The Notwist at the time of their conception: coming from a generic alternative and nu-metal band, suddenly we get a glitchy, emotional masterpiece. And what a masterpiece it is.
- To me, it sounds like the soundtrack for a small town of lovable people in a post-apocalyptic future. They're all mutated and changed to the point of being no longer human, and are thus unable to leave, but are otherwise happy (though always yearning for escape from their isolated existence).
- The lyrics are completely abstract, but more important is their delivery: Notwist's lead singer has a brilliantly charismatic voice that makes the sound of the music itself difficult to focus on, but still ever-present as atmosphere. However, if one manages to escape his engaging pull, you'll find clicks and cuts and broken melodies, worthy of any of Mille Plateaux's best, seamlessly mixed with a perfect indie-rock guitar preciousness.
- Monolake - Hongkong
- Year: 1997
- Electronic genre: Minimal Techno/Dub Techno/Ambient Techno
- Difficulty Level: 7/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Mark Warren Weddle: No rating, but his review screams 4/5: here
- Stylus: A. They've never actually reviewed it, but they review a later Monolake album as A-, and imply that Hongkong was better.
- Discogs: 4.5/5
- All Music Guide: 4.5/5
- My "review":
- I didn't think there was anything at all to this music the first time I heard it. I couldn't hear any of the layering, the atmosphere, the depth: nothing. Just maddening repetition.
- But, sadomasochistic listener that I am (no, seriously, look at some of the albums on this list) I gave it repeat listens. And I was so...completely...wrong. This is such amazingly complex music: there is almost continuous change in all of this, it's like an organo-futuristic Steve Reich. It's so structurally shifting that, despite being ambient in nature, you can actually sit and listen to this album sans any boredom at all.
- Again, like all great electronic music, it has a completely irreplicable atmosphere never heard anywhere else (that isn't blatantly copying). Oxymoronic as it may sound, this is organic minimal techno. The first track, Cyan, sounds like being in a greenhouse in the year 2984 after humanity has been replaced by a cyborg-tomato hybrid species. Index is sort of like fleeing through a robot-infested field filled with these computerized (but mostly harmless) biological nightmares, the greehouses they're grown/manufactured all around, the landscape completely barren and devoid of existence but for the now-abandoned bunkers and metal scrap heaps made by a now-extinct humanity. Lantau is like a visit to the island where these creatures were first designed, the brain-centre of this mutilated planet: green and beautiful, but twisted and...off. After more demented wandering through this gorgeous, but barren and terrible world, we finally escape on the ambient winds of the now-green and overgrown last working maglev train in the final resting place of Neotokyo the 5th, out to an unknown future.
- Really relaxing. One a very few albums here that I can both sleep to and listen to.
- 4Hero - Parallel Universe
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Jungle/Acid jazz
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music For Airports
- Year: 1978
- Electronic genre: uh...
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Rollingstone: 4/5
- Slant: 6th Best Electronic Album Ever
- All Music Guide: 5/5
- Pop: 101th Best Album of all time
- Musichound: 4.5/5
- Robert Christgau: B
- Robert Dimery: One of his 1001 Albums to Hear Before you Die
- Vigin Encyclopedia of Popular Music: 4/5
- Discogs rating: 4.5/5
- Pitchforkmedia: 9.2/10
- Mille Plateaux - Clicks + Cuts 2
- Year: 2001
- Electronic genre: Glitch/Ambient/Microhouse
- Difficulty Level: 8/10
- The Orb - Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld
- Year: 1991
- Electronic genre: Ambient House/Sound Collage
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Massive Attack - Blue Lines
- Year: 1991
- Electronic genre: Trip-hop
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- What the Critics Said:
- All Music Guide: 5/5
- Mixmag: Best Electronic Dance Album of All Time
- Amazon.com: 7th best album of the 90s
- Rollingstone: 101th Best Album of all Time
- Face: Best Album of 1991
- Pitchfork: 85th Best Album of the 90s
- Muzik: 14th Best Dance Album of All Time
- Pure Pop: 2nd Most Important Album of All Time
- Kraftwerk - Autobahn
- Year: 1974
- Electronic genre: early synth
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Leonard's lair: 4/5
- Sputnikmusic: 5/5 (and 14th best of 1974)
- Rollingstone: No rating, but the review gushes over it, and the voted rating is 4.5/5
- Allmusicguide: 5/5
- Q: 4/5
- Robert Christgau: B-
- Amazon.com: 4.5/5
- Discogs rating: 4.6/5
- My "review":
- Up until this masterpiece, electronic music was either a)novelty, only heard because it was a different way of doing the same things that could be done without it (listen to Switched on Bach, or Popcorn), b)Self-conscious experimentation, almost impossible to listen to by anyone who isn't a computer or a music Ph.D, or c)another instrument for rock music. This album changed all of that, and permanently split electronic music off from rock and experimental music, forming a new mega-genre of music completely unheard of or thought of until Autobahn. And it's a masterpiece: the first track is a 23 minute epic that gorgeously conjures up a Sunday drive down a highway in 2948, surrounded by 70's kitchy robots dancing around electronic rainbows while your windshield wipers knock off little flitting electric fairies unlucky enough to get smashed onto your antimatter forcefield. Gorgeous.
- Ricardo Villalobos - Alcachofa
- Year: 2003
- Electronic genre: Microhouse/Minimal Techno
- Difficulty Level: 7/10
- Radiohead - Kid A
- Year: 2000
- Electronic genre: Electronic pop/IDM
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Everything that can be said about this album has already been said, as music critics seem to like declaring this "the best album of all time" (along with OK Computer). It certainly isn't, but it is still quite good.
- Orbital - Snivilisation
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Downtempo/Trance/Ambient Trance/Ambient House
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Plastikman - Consumed
- Year: 1998
- Electronic genre: Minimal Techno
- Difficulty Level: 7/10
- Global Communication - 76:14
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Ambient dance/Ambient/
- Difficulty Level: 3/10 for most I think, but oddly, it was about 9/10 for me
- My "review":
- This album took me forever to get into. I'd been recommended it about 7 times before actually listening to it, and I never understood it on any listen. That changed recently (for reasons that are perhaps psychedelic, but I'm admitting nothing), and I was suddenly whisked away into a calm, gentle world enshrouded in mystery, and perhaps a hint of menace. On listening to the classic 14:31, I found myself walking on a desolate beach under grey skys that evoked a forever cloudy day. Nothing around me moved, as if it were all frozen in time. In looking to the sea, I saw waves that did not travel, waves staying eternally at their break, always about to fall, but never moving. Stark cliffs dwarfed me when looking to the land. Small crab and snail-like creatures skittered across the beach, sometimes moving, sometimes going very slowly, but usually frozen mid-step, never reaching the ground. Abormally transparent bubbles slowly floated out of the ground, freezing any creature that travelled into one, the movement only resuming when it eventually (very slowly) passed. The ticking was almost like the world fighting the clock, the second hand ticking back into the same place with every moment that passed. On looking at my watch, I saw that the time was 14:31. It never changed; that time was eternal. Beautiful.
- Spicelab - A Day on Our Planet
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Classic Trance/Ambient Trance
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- What the Critics Said:
- Discogs rating: 4.6/5
- That's really it. This album is an unknown.
- My "review":
- The first wave of trance was perfected here, and everything you'd expect from such a thing can be found. Sci-fi samples, long ambient washes, an unqeildy length to the tracks, laser twerps, catchy melodies, unpredictable structre, and acid, acid, acid. However, A Day on Our Planet really transcends all that, to be something far greater, something far more beautiful. Lieb (as in Oliver Lieb) has tapped into some otherworldy, alien atmosphere with the 4 tracks contained here, he's managed to produce something not of the Earth. There is no rave reference point to this trance (something that really can't be said for most other trance, regardless of what most trancEaddicts will tell you): the beats are momentum (and you couldn't dance to a lot of this anyway), this album is a fast-moving journey through another universe.
- The Future Sound of London - Lifeforms
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Downtempo/Ambient/Ambient Trance
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman
- Year: 1993
- Electronic genre: Progressive house/Techno/Trance
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Farben - Textstar
- Year: 2002
- Electronic genre: Microhouse
- Difficulty Level: 6/10
- Biosphere - Substrata
- Year: 1998
- Electronic genre: Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- James Holden - Balance 005
- Year: 2003
- Electronic genre: Neo-trance/Progressive house/Progressive Trance/IDM
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- m83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas, Lost Ghosts
- Year: 2003
- Electronic genre: IDM/Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Manuel Gottsching - E2-E4
- Year: 1981
- Electronic genre: Minimalism/Trance
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- What the Critics Said:
- All Music Guide: 5/5
- Pitchforkmedia: 79th best album of the 80s
- Blow Up: On the 600 essential albums list
- Discogs: 4.7/5
- Amazon.com: 5/5
- My "review":
- The instant E2-E4 hit the shelves, trance and techno existed. While this did not have acid, or breakdowns, or even the TR-909, the atmosphere and groove of the styles were birthed right here: 4 years before anyone else thought of it.
- Surprisngly, this is all managed with a single 59-minute track, with a single melodic centre. Unlike other epic 59 minute albums, or any later trance or techno music, for that matter, with plenty of songs and changes, this is all managed in one track, with just one main melody (although with plenty of variations), without ever growing tiring. It never feels like Gottsching is trying as hard as he can to fill the 59 minutes, it's more like he simply wanted breathing room to let all of his ideas slowly develop out of each other: as if he wanted to let the music blossom at it's own pace from his initial seed of silence, in the same way as 70's minimalism. In fact, it was almost as if Gottsching simply took minimalism, and made it groove-oriented. I'd even go so far as to say that this is the missing link (and it is missing: E2-E4 is all but forgotten) between modern EDM and 60's/70's minimalism.
- And all that without MIDI. (In other words, if Gottsching played the first 57 minutes of E2-E4, then fucked up on the last bar, he'd have to go back and replay the entire first 57 minutes again. No wonder electronic music took so long to catch on).
- Bjork - Homogenic
- Year: 1997
- Electronic genre: IDM/Electronic pop/Glitch
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 1
- Year: 1993
- Electronic genre: Ambient techno/Ambient Trance
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People
- Year: 2002
- Electronic genre: Indie pop/Indie rock/electronic rock
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- While not fully electronic, still very much in the aesthetic. (more info coming later)
- Michael Mayer - Immer
- Year: 2002
- Electronic genre: Microhouse/Tech-house
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- The KLF - The White Room
- Year: 1991
- Electronic genre: Stadium House/Anthem trance/Eurodance
- Difficulty Level: 1/10
- Herbert - Around the House
- Year: 1998
- Electronic genre: House/Microhouse/Acid jazz
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Aphex Twin - The Richard D. James Album
- Year: 1996
- Electronic genre: IDM/Drill n Bass
- Difficulty Level: 6/10
- Luomo - Vocalcity
- Year: 2000
- Electronic genre: Microhouse/Deep House/Minimal
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Tim Hecker - Radio Amor
- Year: 2003
- Electronic genre: Glitch/Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 7/10
- Lee Perry - Revolution Dub
- Year: 1975
- Electronic genre: Dub/Reggae/Sound Collage
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Tuu - One Thousand Years
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Ambient/Tribal
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Burial - Burial
- Year: 2006
- Electronic genre: Dubstep
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Amon Tobin - Bricolage
- Year: 1997
- Electronic genre: Abstract hip-hop
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Burial - Untrue
- Year: 2007
- Electronic genre: Dubstep/ambient
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Mouse on Mars - Iaora Tahiti
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: IDM/Ambient/Dub
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Daft Punk - Homework
- Year: 1997
- Electronic genre: French house/Electro
- Difficulty Level: 1/10
- Neu! - Neu!
- Year: 1975
- Electronic genre: Krautrock/Psychedilic/Early Synth
- Difficulty Level: 6/10
- Infected Mushroom - Classical Mushroom/BP Empire
- Year: 2000/2001
- Electronic genre: psytrance/goa trance
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Terry Riley - A Rainbow in Curved Air
- Year: 1969
- Electronic genre: Minimalism
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Kraftwerk - Computer World
- Year: 1981
- Electronic genre: Electro
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Art of Trance - Platipus Beginner's Guide
- Year: 1999
- Electronic genre: Acid Trance/Classic Trance/Anthem trance
- Difficulty Level: 2/10
- The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
- Year: 2004
- Electronic genre: Indie rock/Electronic rock
- Difficulty Level: 7/10
- Bonobo - Animal Magic/Dial m For Monkey
- Year: 2000/2003
- Electronic genre: Abstract hip-hop/Lounge/Ambient/Downtempo
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Banco De Gaia - Last Train to Lhasa
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Ambient/Ambient Trance/Progressive House/Worldbeat/Ambient Breaks
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Akufen - My Way
- Year: 2002
- Electronic genre: Microhouse/Funky house/Dub Techno/Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children
- Year: 1999
- Electronic genre: IDM/Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Ellen Allien - Berlinette
- Year: 2003
- Electronic genre: Techno/Electro
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- The Books - Thought for Food
- Year: 2002
- Electronic genre: Sound Collage/Indie Electronic
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Kompakt - Total 3/Total 4
- Year: 2001/2002
- Electronic genre: Microhouse/techno/minimal/tech-house/house/Dub techno/deep house
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Four Tet - Rounds
- Year: 2003
- Electronic genre: Glitch/Acid Jazz/Abstract hip-hop/IDM
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Biosphere - Shenzhou
- Year: 2002
- Electronic genre: Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Leftfield - Leftism
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: Progressive house
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- The Orb - U.F. Orb
- Year: 1992
- Electronic genre: Ambient House/Ambient/Dub
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Orbital - The Green Album/Orbital 2
- Year: 1991/1992
- Electronic genre: Rave/Techno/Ambient techno/Classic Trance/Ambient trance/Anthem trance/Acid
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Tangerine Dream - Phaedra
- Year: 1974
- Electronic genre: Ambient/Krautrock
- Difficulty Level: 7/10
- Herbert - Bodily Functions
- Year: 2001
- Electronic genre: Jazz/Glitch/Deep House/Nu-jazz
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Autechre - Amber
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: IDM/Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 6/10
- Oribtal - In Sides
- Year: 1996
- Electronic genre: Trance/Ambient trance/Ambient breaks
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Massive Attack - Mezzanine
- Year: 1998
- Electronic genre: Trip-hop
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Shpongle - Are you Shpongled?
- Year: 1998
- Electronic genre: Ambient Psy/Tribal
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Richie Hawtin - DE:9 Closer to the Edit/DE:9 Transitions
- Year: 2001/2005
- Electronic genre: Minimal Techno/Microhouse/Hard Techno/Ketaminimal
- Difficulty Level: 6/10
- Hallucinogen - Twisted
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: Psytrance/Goa Trance
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- The Prodigy - The Fat of the land
- Year: 1997
- Electronic genre: Big Beat/Breakbeat/Rave
- Difficulty Level: 2/10
- Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene
- Year: 1976
- Electronic genre: Proto-trance/Early Synth
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Throbbing Gristle - The Second Annual Report
- Year: 1977
- Electronic genre: Industrial
- Difficulty Level: 10/10
- This album is really groundbreaking, it was literally the instant industrial music was invented (Well, there were 3 albums before by the same artist, but they were in the same year and they weren't as good).
- This album makes me really queasy everytime I listen to it, moreso than anything else I've ever heard. Hearing The Second Annual Report is like watching someone being hung, drawn, and quartered: it's painful even to see, you're horrified, but you just can't turn away, even if it makes you vomit.
- That doesn't really make this a great listen, but this is great art, and it is important (ie industrial, EBM, industrial rock, trance, acid house, etc. would not exist without it). And at least interesting to listen to: its the ultimate indulgence of morbid curiousity. Recommended to fans of "Hostel" and "the Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
- Air Liquide - The Increased Difficulty of Concentration
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Ambient/Classic Trance/Acid/Ambient House
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Ninja Tune - Zen Retrospective of Ninja Tune
- Year: 2004 (but really, 1990-2004)
- Electronic genre: Abstract hip-hop/Nu-jazz/Downtempo/Atmospheric Jungle
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- The Field - Sun & Ice
- Year: 2006
- Electronic genre: Neo-trance
- Difficulty Level: 2/10
- Boards of Canada - Geogaddi
- Year: 2000
- Electronic genre: IDM/Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 6/10
- Sasha - Xpander EP
- Year: 1999
- Electronic genre: Progressive trance/Progressive house/Progressive breaks
- Difficulty Level: 2/10
- Ricardo Villalobos - The Au Harem D'Archimede/Achso EP
- Year: 2004/2006
- Electronic genre: Minimal techno/dub techno/ketaminimal/Microhouse
- Difficulty Level: 8.5/10
- Legowelt - The Classics 1999-2003
- Year: 2003
- Electronic genre: Electro/Electro-house
- Difficulty Level: 2/10
- Perlon - Superlongevity series
- Year: 1999-2006
- Electronic genre: House/Minimal/Microhouse/Tech-house/Minimal techno
- Difficulty Level: 7.5/10
- Fennesz - Endless Summer/Venice
- Year: 2001/2004
- Electronic genre: IDM/Ambient/Glitch/Avante-garde electronica/shoegaze
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- The Orb - Orblivion
- Year: 1997
- Electronic genre: Ambient House/Sound Collage/IDM/breaks
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Giorgio Moroder - From here to Eternity
- Year: 1977
- Electronic genre: Italo-Disco/Early Synth/Mutant Disco
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Morton Subotnick - Electronic Works Volume 1
- Year: 1967
- Electronic genre: Musique Concrete/Avante-Garde
- Difficulty Level: 8/10
- Portishead - Dummy
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Trip-hop
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- L.S.G. - Into Deep
- Year: 2000
- Electronic genre: Ambient trance/Tech-trance/Trance
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Daft Punk - Discovery
- Year: 2001
- Electronic genre: French house/Funky house/Electro
- Difficulty Level: 1/10
- Terry Riley - In C
- Year: 1968
- Electronic genre: Minimalism
- Difficulty Level: 6/10
- Tricky - Maxinque
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: Trip-hop
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Radiohead - Amnesiac
- Year: 2002
- Electronic genre: Glitch pop/Indie rock/Electronic rock
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 2
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Ambient/Dark Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 9/10
- Spicelab - Lost in Spice
- Year: 1993
- Electronic genre: Classic trance/Acid trance
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Dominik Eulberg - Kreucht & Freucht
- Year: 2005
- Electronic genre: Ketaminimal/Minimal/Neo-trance/Microhouse
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Carl Craig - Landcruising
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: Detroit Techno
- Difficulty Level: 6/10
- MFS - Tranceformed from Beyond
- Year: 1992
- Electronic genre: Classic Trance/Techno/Tech-trance
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Eat Static - Implant
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Psytrance/Acid Techno
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Plaid - Notforthrees
- Year: 1997
- Electronic genre: IDM/electro
- Difficulty Level: 6/10
- Honourable Mentions:
- Main Street Records - Rounds One Through Five
- Year: 1999 (but really, 1993-1999)
- Electronic genre: House/Dub
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- DJ Tiesto - In Search of Sunrise 1, 2, and 3; Magik 1 to 7; and Nyana CD 2
- Year: 2000/2001
- Electronic genre: Trance/Epic trance/Anthem trance/Progressive trance/Progressive house/Ambient trance/Ibiza trance
- Difficulty Level: 1/10
- While not masterpieces of DJing by any means, these albums are nonetheless on the list simply because they perfectly capture a time period and genre. In other words: these are amazing collections: great sets of tracks. Tiesto is a very weak DJ lacking any kind of artfulness, skill, or subtlety (this guy was number one for 3 years, and he doesn't even mix by key), and the mixing on these sets are nothing special, as the tracks are all anthems and club masterpieces of their times, but what you are getting when you listen to these 11 mixes is literally a "best of collection" of second wave trance. Having heard these mixes, you've pretty much heard everything second-wave trance ever did, and ever will do. You've heard an entire genre of music. But couldn't you get this with any other trance DJ? Not exactly. It is precisely Tiesto's artlessness that makes these mixes such perfect summaries of second-wave trance: Tiesto brings no personality and style to the mixing (doing little more than beatmatching) or tracklisting (never stepping outside of second-wave trance), thus leaving the music to be completely free of influence. It is exactly Tiesto's talentlessness (aka no personality or mixing skill) and business sense (aka he KNOWS what the anthems are) that make these mixes the penultimate second-wave trance.
- Brian Eno & David Byrne - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
- Year: 1981
- Electronic genre: Sound Collage/Indie Rock
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Etienne De Crecy - Super Discount
- Year: 1996
- Electronic genre: French House/Deep House
- Difficulty Level: 2/10
- 808 State - Utd. State 90
- Year: 1990
- Electronic genre: Rave/Acid house/House/Breaks
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Paul Oakenfold - Tranceport
- Year: 1998
- Electronic genre: Progressive trance/Anthem trance
- Difficulty Level: 1/10
- Man With No Name - Moment of Truth
- Year: 1996
- Electronic genre: Psytrance/Goa trance
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Paul Van Dyk - 45 RPM/The Green Valley EP
- Year: 1994
- Electronic genre: Classic trance/anthem trance/epic trance/progressive trance/ambient trance/rave
- Difficulty Level: 2/10
- Karlheinz Stockhausen - Hymnen
- Year: 1996
- Electronic genre: Musique-Concrete
- Difficulty Level: 10/10
- Nurse With Wound - Homotopy to Marie
- Year: 1982
- Electronic genre: Industrial/Musique-Concrete/"Surrealist"
- Difficulty Level: 10/10
- William Orbit - Strange Cargo 3
- Year: 1993
- Electronic genre: Ambient trance/Ambient house/Ambient/Progressive house
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Philip Glass - Music In 12 Parts
- Year: 1974
- Electronic genre: Minimalism
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- Oval - Wohnton
- Year: 1993
- Electronic genre: Glitch/IDM
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Juno Reactor - Beyond the Infinite
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: Psytrance/Goa trance
- Difficulty Level: 5/10
- Autechre - Tri-Repetae
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: IDM
- Difficulty Level: 7/10
- DJ Tiesto - Forbidden Paradise 3
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: Classic trance/Acid Trance/Progressive trance/Melodic Gabber/Trancecore
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Sasha & Digweed - Northern Exposure 2/Northern Exposure: Expeditions
- Year: 1997/1999
- Electronic genre: Techno/Progressive trance/Progressive house/Classic trance/Anthem trance/Breaktrance
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
- Year: 1973
- Electronic genre: Psychedelic/Progressive rock
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- This is the cusp of electronic and rock music, the line doesn't get any thinner or more obscured than it is here. Thing is though, while there are going to be people complaining about having this album in an electronic music list, had I not put it in, I would get just as many complaining about it not being the list.
- But whatever, this is a great album, and I wouldn't be honest to not have it here somewhere. This is psychedelic at its best (in other words, its VERY electronic, if still rock-oriented).
- Black Dog Productions - Bytes
- Year: 1993
- Electronic genre: Classic Trance/IDM
- Difficulty Level: 8/10
- Robert Rich - Somnium
- Year: 2001
- Electronic genre: Ambient
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- I really had a change of heart on this one, thanks to lukeprog for suggesting this.
- Meat Beat Manifesto - 99%
- Year: 1990
- Electronic genre: Jungle/Breakbeat/Rave
- Difficulty Level: 4/10
- BT - IMA
- Year: 1995
- Electronic genre: Progressive house/Progressive trance
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- LTJ Bukem - Journey Inwards
- Year: 2000
- Electronic genre: Atmospheric Jungle
- Difficulty Level: 3/10
- New Order - Substance
- Specifically, CD 2.
- Year: 1987
- Electronic genre: Synthpop
- Difficulty Level: 1/10
- This album used to be on the upper parts of the list, but it's enjoyment deteriorates really quickly, and they massively overuse the "Blue Monday" beat.
- Some of these may be re-ordered before the end. I don't know if I'd really call Autobahn the best electronic album of all time. I seriously don't listen to or enjoy it more than Endtroducing or Music has the Right to 18 Musicians or Three Organic Experiences, but none of those feel right as number one either. [I also really don't think Can's albums are the second best].
- Albums to be listened/under consideration:
- Cybotron - Clear
- Kraftwerk - Trans Europa Express
- Prefuse 73 - Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives
- BT - ESCM
- Paul Van Dyk - Seven Ways
- Sasha - The Qat Collection
- MJ Cole - Sincere (apparently this is indisputably the best of UK Garage. The problem here is that UK Garage is a hybrid genre mixing the absolute worst aspects of New Swing Jack Radio RnB, Speed Garage, and trip-hop. This always happens with hybrid genres (the exception is microhouse and its many offspring, [anything that hot is going to have a lot of sex, and sex produces babies, so of course microhouse has many offspring] which exist in a tiny creative bubble shielding them from all hybridization cliches). Why artists do this, I will never know, since even the tiniest speck of logic would dictate that it makes more sense to join the BEST aspects of two genres. But I really like MJ Cole's track "Sincere", so maybe the album has hope too. I guess I'll know when I get a hold of it.
- Dntel - Life is Full of Possibilities
- µ-Ziq - [explore artist]
- Fluke - [explore artist]
- Matmos - Matmos
- Manitoba - Up in Flames
- Animal Collective - Feels
- Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
- I may make a "not good enough" albums list. It would take up WAY too much space to put it with the accepted albums.
- Any recommendations are appreciated at this point, to be added to the "albums to consider" list.
Eat Static - Implant is another nice techno/acid trance album you might like to add.
It is a pretty good one. I'd put it more under acid trance/goa trance though - mainly because the songs quickly stop being discernible from one another when you listen to the album beginning to end. I may just need to give it a little more time, as that's usually the most shallow reason to dislike an album, but for now, it doesn't yet merit a spot.
I think that Bricolage should swap positions with Endtroducing. If this was a 'most groundbreaking' list, then Endtroducing would obviously be high for its efforts in sampling entirely for the first time, but in terms of greatness, perhaps Bricolage should take its place? Bricolage sounds like what Shadow was trying to achieve (that melancholic jungle/hip-hop jazzy sound) but done better, and with a bit of 4Hero's Parallel Universe-esque styling to add to it. Bricolage is also made up of nearly all awesome tracks (with the exception, in my opinion, being One Day In My Garden), whereas Endtroducing has some weak points. It's just an idea, but what do you think? At any rate I feel Bricolage may merit a higher place.
I enjoy Bricolage a lot, but I do genuinely love Endtroducing more, for the reasons I wrote above in my little review.
Race Data E.T.A by Billy Nasty you might like. Really good techno mix.
I've got a list you might like if you like experimental music. Its my 50 favourite post-rock albums! Go to http://bluelightnign2.angelfire.com/blog/
Nice list, I'll be doing a fair bit of downloading off of it, it looks like :D Those that I know seem like excellent choices - although only one Tortoise album, eh?
My only real gripe is your definition of post-rock: I'm not sure I agree with it. I've always heard post-rock defined as non-rock music made with rock instrumentation. In other words, you have a rock band making avante-garde classical or jazz or something. While I agree that a lot of post-rock has the elements you describe (quiet part, build-up, loud) I don't think those elements are what define it. Plus, isn't post-rock considered a movement that began in the early-mid 90s? It was certainly influenced by artists like Talk Talk and Pink Floyd - but I don't think they're usually defined as post-rock (You may be backwards genre associating a little [IE calling disco a type of house would also be backwards genre associating]). Of course, post-rock is rather hard to define.
Capital list though: I love the choices I've been exposed to, and I'm definitely going to download the rest. Thanks :D
To Menindrag: sure, I'll check it out.
Hey darktremor:
First of all, amazing list!
Second, there is a band out there called Trentemoller, and I'm wondering what your stance on the band is...
I love Trentemoller (it's just one guy, BTW, not a band). As great as his music is, I found the album I heard from him (The Last Resort) quite uneven. He seems to create his best work with singles - like most dance producers.
Everyone seems to count this guy as a dance producer, and I treat him just the opposite. Just another part of my weirdness I suppose. I listen to [mainly] The Last Resort when I have friends over and we just want to hang out and....really just sit outside and smoke a cig or two. I find his music very....head-bobbing, and it doesn't make me personally want to get up and move. I must agree that it is uneven, but I treat each song as its own I suppose...
I'll set up a party and see how people dance to him :).
P.S. I greatly appreciate this list. I literally always have a tab open with it on my computer lol.
Haha, sounds like you're quite a fan of this list, then :D Good to hear, thanks.
Trentemoller's music has its place in a DJ set, but I wouldn't call it peak-time stuff that will fill the floor. It works better when warming up, or in Berlin when the party is always warming up, or if you're playing to a crowd that really appreciates minimal. It also depends on which track, of course.
Hey Darktremor, what do you think of Art of Noise?
I've given Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise a couple of listens, but never got into it. The Seduction of Claude Debussy was OK, but it felt incredibly pretentious and forced, and I wondered the whole time I listened to it why I wouldn't just listen to Claude Debussy. But maybe I need to give them both another shot, I hear nothing but good things about that first album.
Yeah, I personally love them, but music is all about personality (that's my conclusion lol).
Also, random, but do you know where I can find Aglaia - Three Organic Experiences? I have been looking everywhere for that cd, and it has run away from me it seems :(. Any places (online or off) that you know of?
Thanks!
Only soulseek has it, really. That's the only spot you'll find it. Everybody has troubling tracking that one down.
This is a nice list and all, but it's not going to have much merit if you completely ignore an entire genre of music. You have one paragraph on industrial, yet manage to make several ignorant statements. Industrial is anti-music? Maybe, but so is 94 Diskont, which is largely a piece of unlistenable garabage, notable only for the process in making it, a la Disintegrating Tape Loops. "Real" industrial, as you call it, is actually rhytmic noise, and can be quite beautiful, full of complex beats and song-writing. If it was over the second the first album was finished, Die Form wouldn't sound vastly different from Controlled Bleeding, and Skinny Puppy wouldn't have moved the genre beyond it's roots while still retaning what it was in the first place. Most people who are into electronics and programming (i.e. NOT DJs, mainstream hip hop kids, or hipster music critics) respect industrial and realize there are more great albums in that genre than in trance or house combined. Vivisect Vi is easily better than half this list. Daft Punk should never be mentioned in the same sentence as "Top 100 Electronic Music." You've excelled in listing some albums I've never heard of, though, which makes reading this worthwhile.
The original purpose of industrial was to create anti-music. Even Throbbing Gristle, the original creators of industrial said this. I'm not insulting it - this is literally what the music is trying to do. This is not an ignorant or incorrect statement, it's right out of the paper that the whole style was inspired into existence by: Luigi Rolo's The Art of Noises. Here's an example reference to it:
http://media.hyperreal.org/zines/est/articles/prehist5.html
or you can actually read it:
http://120years.net/machines/futurist/art_of_noise.html
As for 94 Diskont, I actually know enough about glitch to make some sort of relatively informed statment about it. I know nothing about industrial, so any albums I listed would be pulled out of my ass. Anyway, I think I gave enough reasons above as to why I consider 94 Diskont great.
Also, I do respect industrial, I just really don't enjoy listening to it. I've given it several tries, I've listened to what various "industrial" fans (about 3/4 were industrial rock, which I consider out of this list's jurisdiction) have listed as their favorite albums in a few different subgenres (mainly some Skinny Puppy, Throbbing Gristle, Vampire Rodents, Funker Vogt, Nine Inch Nails, Nurse with Wound, and Rammstein). I'll give Vivisect Vi a try anyway.
I don't know, I'm not sure you can say the list doesn't have much merit for that reason - after all, I do mention that the list lacks any real amount of industrial. Also note that I find there is often a divide in electronic music: very few who like industrial like the rest of electronic music and vice versa. I know quite a number of both industrial and electronic music fans, and there's very little agree on. I think an industrial list should be its own entity, seperate from the rest of electronic music. Perhaps you could make one, I'd love to see it, maybe give industrial another shot.
I don't know if Throbbing Gristle gets the honor of defining industrial, as I believe Cabaret Votaire's earliest recordings of the genre were from 1974, although TG may have been unsigned and around back then too. I can accept it being seperate from the rest of electronic; I often feel that way. The best thing about industrial is that it can be anti-electronic in a way, as the best stuff eschews repetition and 2-second loops. Forget Funker Vogt and Rammstein, both are awful. Die Form's "Photogrammes", Haujobb's "Homes and Gardens", SP's "Vivisect VI" or "Last Rights" for classics, check out Flux Information Sciences, Decree, and Kill Memory Crash for some excellent, recent noise.
I'm not sure there are very many albums on the list that are based on 2-second loops and repetition, but I digress - I suppose industrial is more your thing than electronic music.
I'll give some of your favorites a try and see if anything really sticks after a few listens. So far even your personal favorite Vivsect Vi isn't sitting well with me, although I find it interesting and can appreciate its originality. It's possible that this simply comes down to a matter of personal taste - when music gets too cold and dark I usually get somewhat put off.
Endtroducing... was not the first album to be composed enitrely of samples from other artists. there is at least one precedent with Christian Marclay's More Encores, and a 20 minute piece a few years before with Record Without A Cover. but try getting an original of that album. they may come "cheaper," but that is what i would expect from an album like that.
Thanks, I'll make a small edit (although I don't expect I'll be able to find the Christian Marclay album).
that edit is fine. i have some Marclay if you like. i have not been on soulseek for a while though. just let me know when you will be on and i can sign on to give it to you (if you cannot find it on your own).
Cool, thanks. I'm on soulseek now, and will be for the next couple of hours if you're still around.
:-)
I for one am wondering when (if?) you will make a favourite rock albums list.
Sure, I could. I haven't just because I'm not much of an authority on rock, and a lot of people (almost everyone?) on listology have a favorite rock albums list. It would mostly be composed of indie albums with a large bias to the last 20 years or so. I prefer (for the most part) to make lists that others have not yet made. But I suppose it might be a nice addition to my little pantheon of lists, if people are interested.
Where can I find Aglaia - Three Organic Experiences online? I've checked iTunes (what a shock, it wasn't there) and I was actually surprised to not find a torrent. I'm sure it's somewhere on Soulseek but there are some personal problems that I have with that, and I cannot use that site (sadly). Is there anywhere else that I can achieve this album that I have read so much about? Thanks in advance.
You're really only going to find it on soulseek - it's basically the only place.
Alright, well, I finally solved my personal problem and got SoulseeX...for Mac [G5] (that was my problem XD). I ended up getting the album [Three Organic Experiences] on there,(and I am very impressed with it), and have been listening to it for the last...oh hour or so. I find it very relaxing, and cannot wait for a moment alone to truly experience it. Anyway, I also recently found the artist of Ulrich Schnauss, and was curious as to your perspective on the album Goodbye (Far Away Trains Passing By I absolutely love)...
P.S. Thank you so much for this list. It has gotten me "into the loop" of true "electronic" music. I cannot express my enthusiasm when I found there was more than...well...all the mainstream crap.
Also, I was looking for The Field - Sun and ice. I found the track listing on discogs.com but I could not find the album anywhere else. So I just searching for it song by song, and quickly got all four songs it listed. I then decided to look it up on iTunes (because the people I was D/Ling it from had the album name From Here We Go To Sublime), and found a totally different album name (as aforementioned). So, are there just two albums, or did you mess up on the name? =S
No, Sun & Ice was the EP released a year before the album, and I added the EP before the album existed (I knew about it before the rest of the world, simply because I follow Kompakt's release schedule to a certain degree). Most of the EP was included on the album released a year later: From Here we Go to Sublime. The EP was quite obscure, but the album became a massive cult hit, getting some of the best critical reviews...basically ever, and crossover fans in the indie rock world (nothing to the extent, of say, Justice, but a lot of more diverse and eclectic indie fans were fond of it). I'm still considering switching the EP with the album, but I'm not sure, because I find the album drags on too long, whereas the EP leaves you wanting more.
Great list, and I really wish I could find half the artists you have listed! I love hearing stuff I haven't heard of before.
I do think The Knife are a very important act, and am really surprised Depeche Mode didn't make it in anywhere on the list. Are they not seen as being incredibly influential on the progress of electronic music?
I've read your view on industrial music, and Nine Inch Nails, but I am really surprised they are not viewed more respectfully because of the huge contribution they have made to electronic music. If it wasn't for Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral, I don't think I ever would have paid attention to other genres of electronic music.
Cheers for the list and reviews, please keep it up :)
Nine Inch Nails: Like I said above, I don't know much about industrial, or really listen to it, so I can't say. I think it's likely that they had quite an influence on the development of industrial rock music, but I'm not sure any non-industrial electronic took much from them (maybe some EBM or futurepop?). I also don't know if I'd call them electronic - I find they're more of a rock band.
The Knife: I enjoy The Knife a lot, and actually keep planning to add Silent Shout (then forgetting).
Depeche Mode: I really find they're just an above average 80's synthpop band for the most part (with a bit of a gothic edge, I suppose), and their music doesn't appeal to me that much. I'm not sure if they're all that influential either - I mean, goth-tinged synthpop was done well before and well after Depeche Mode.
I'm glad you enjoy the list! (I don't mean to tear your suggestions apart, BTW, the above is just my reasoning behind those exclusions).
Fine, just tear it apart!
It's all good, I like to hear why you decided to not include some of the artists. I'm no expert at all, and don't pretend to be. In my head Depeche Mode were pretty groundbreaking with their sound, so I think I maybe need to listen to some of the artists that were there before Depeche Mode.
Cheers for ansering :)
Vladislav Delay - Anima is fantastic if you haven't heard it already, an hour long ambient/glitch/soundscape masterpiece.
I remember it being pretty standard Vladislav Delay (which is pretty good), but I sort of downloaded it and forgot about it after one distracted (meaning VERY background) listen. I'll listen to it again and see if it merits a spot.
Hey Darktremor,
First off, Congrats on the engagement! That is a HUGE deal, and I wish you luck, though you sound like a no BS kind of guy, so I'm sure you found the right person =D! Anyway, I just wanted to ask if you had an email that I would be able to reach you by in the future. I noticed Jim's post earlier that the site may be going down, and this made me extremely depressed. Basically everyday I am looking at your lists (mostly on music, but every so often I peek on your others, I literally fell on the ground laughing at some parts of the Melon XD) and am D/Ling more and more music. To be blunt, you basically brought back my love for music, because I had lost hope long ago for mainstream. My friends listen to rock all the time, which I find fun....about once a month (besides Tortoise, I LOVE their albums (yes, I know they are post-rock)), and if they aren't listening to rock, they are listening to Benny Benassi (which I partly blame myself for, look at one of my first posts here). Anyway, you have changed my entire OUTLOOK on music altogether. To put it bluntly, you have done work that I could not do, and I am not willing to lose such an important source because of a sad fact. My email is re4rules@gmail.com (as in the game resident evil 4...used to play it all the time...WHEN I had time), and if you would send me a quick email that would be fantastic. Don't worry, I'm not such a d*ck that I would spam you will all sorts of crap, but if/when this site does go down, I would still like to be able to ask some questions about a DJ I found, or maybe if you could tell me more music for a certain genre, etc. I really appreciate all the time and effort you have put into your lists.
P.S. I have been listening to Faust - Faust for DAYS now, it is probably my favorite album ever. Took me my first listen to fall in love.
P.S.S Please don't think I am kissing you ass when I thank you, because I genuinely mean it.
Thanks for the congratulations! Indeed, she is definitely the right person, she stuck with me through more than almost anybody else would (and she's gorgeous and wonderful to be around too - most people call her "an absolute sweetheart," and I have to agree).
I'm very flattered that you enjoy my work here a lot, thank you, that's very kind of you to say.
As for the continued existence of my lists, I'm thinking about starting my own web site where I can post them (and more) at a different location, so I could give you a link to that if listology ever goes down. I'm certainly going to host them at least somewhere (and continue to update them). If it happens after (and if) listology disappears, I'll e-mail you to inform you.
Faust is a great album, eh? Glad you're enjoying it too.
Hell yeah! It would be quite nice to have a website of just your stuff, even though the site is going to continue.
Anyway, have you heard of the album Cafe Zen (with the little thing over the "e")? It is nothing really special, no new music or anything of that sorts, but I found it is very very relaxing and it's...well, just something really nice to listen to when your working on something. I love it. But it is not original in any way. My favorite song on the album is Diamonds in the Sky, but i love all of them. I wouldn't call it top 100 material at all, but it is very relaxing to listen to. Check it out and lemme know whatcha think.
Sure, I'll give it a listen.
I probably won't make a website in the near future: I'm too busy right now (school, scientific research, wedding plans, laboratory volunteering, ridiculous university bureaucracy, and work, not to mention having some semblance of a social life). Maybe some day though.
How about (mainly drone, ambient, noise, power electronics):
Merzbow - Pulse Demon
Brighter Death Now - May Be All Dead
Atrax Morgue - Sickness Report
Propergol - Renegade
Aube - Embers
Troum - Tjukurrpa Part 1
Incapacitants - Sec End
Hijokaidan - Romance
Sunn O))) - Black One
Windy and Carl - Antartica
I'm not sure I'd be into those. I've never had much appreciation for power electronics or noise. I'll take a look at the drone and ambient ones though.
(Sunn O)) is metal, BTW).
A few albums I think you should check out/reconsider :
Jamie Lidell - Multiply
The Beta Band - The Three EP's
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings
Sigur Ros - Agaetis byrjun
I'm pretty sure you'd heard all these albums but give them another spin and tell me they dont belong . Big props on You Forgot It In People too, so good that somebody "gets it."
I think those are pushing it quite a bit. But then again, so is YFIP. Sure, I'll consider those (I actually haven't heard the first two).
Darktremor, i think you will find this site to be extremely well done and informative. Although you will most likely know almost everything, the guy is funny, and he actually makes a good time-line on the creation of electronic music (his tutorial, which is a must see), and how all of the genres tie into the other, and formed...other genres!
Yep, I definitely know that site. It's a really addictive guide. In fact, I'm directly responsible for one of his song samples :D
The song Leama - Requiem for a Dream under ambient trance in downtempo was my suggestion to Ishkur, and he took it. :D
I mean, we're not friends or anything, he knew me online when I was much younger (like 14), and a bit (a lot) of a douchebag.
That's awesome! It doesn't really surprise me that he's a douche. I could tell by his writing style that he was probably some egotistical know-it-all that was pretty closed-minded about certain things. But hey, he knew what he was talking about. Or seemed to...
Haha, no, he's not the douche, I was the douche, like most 14 year old boys are (that was almost 7 years ago, so I'd like to think I'm no longer a douche, but there's no denying that I absolutely was a douche). I don't really know if he's a douche or not.
Haha. It takes some guts to admit to being an asshole. He sounded like a very self-conceited man to me. Also (random) What do you think of the album Synergy: Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra?
Ohh re-reading my post I realize I kind of call you an asshole. Didn't mean it that way (sorry if it was interpreted that way). =D
That's ishkur, he's pretty well known around here. I'd take what he says with a pinch of salt.
The guide is a lot of fun, though (if missing a lot of newer genres: electro-house, dubstep, neo-trance, and minimal (2nd wave minimal is a very different style than he has listed, really) are the big ones that come to mind).
Just ended up stumbling upon this list on accident, and absolutely love it. Figured I might as well register with this sight as I love to read lists, but let me take a crack at this and ask some questions. With regard to samplers before DJ Shadow, what about Steinski who recently came back into recent music news with the release of What Does It All Mean? Also, with regards to other genres, obviously you touched on dubstep with Burial (who makes amazing albums), but there are some great albums in dubstep like Skream's self-titled, Vex'd's Degenerat, and Kode9's Memories Of The Future.
Thanks for the tip, I always do, but it's nice to see others looking out for people.
Taj Mahal Travellers - July 15th, 1972? It's pretty much electronic (if not very heavily influenced) and sounds a bit like some of the Orb's long ambient tracks. Oh yeah, and it's also amazing! :)
Sure, I'll download it. Thanks :D
Great lists! Was curious if you knew whether or not Enigma has any non-vocal albums or tracks, as I like some of the background instrumentation but find the vocals very cheesy. Any ideas?
Not that I can think of, but perhaps ambient music is more your thing than vocal new age, if that's the case. Just look through the list above and downloa...ahem, buy any albums with the ambient tag.
Hey Darktremor, I've recently gotten into Indie rock/electronic, and was wondering if you would know of any good albums/songs/artists that I should look up. I can't stop listening to Broken Social Scene: You Forgot It In People. Any other good ones you would recommend? Thanks in advance!
Sure! Actually, sit tight for a bit and I'll make a favorite indie albums list. To start (in no particular order, I'm just punching out as I think of things):
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
The National - Boxer
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
Sigur Ros - Takk
Panda Bear - Person Pitch
Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted
Animal Collective - Feels
Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
The Notwist - Neon Golden
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Shugo Tokumaru - Exit
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
Interpol - Antics
The Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
The Magnetic Fields - i
Neutral Milk Hotel - On Avery Island
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
The Liars - Drums not Dead
Galaxie 500 - On Fire
Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation [although I never feel the need to listen to more than the first two songs...]
Radiohead - Kid A
Radiohead - OK Computer
Radiohead - In Rainbows
That's all I can think of right now. More coming when I make a list.
Thank you so fucking much! I cannot stop listening to several of what you posted (ie:Interpol, Pavement, Foals [from a different list]) I'm definitely looking forward to the list!
Good to hear! Enjoy :D
Random question, but in my library I have an artist called The Orb&Biosphere with all the tracks titled Track 1, Track 2, etc. I was wondering if they ever made an album together, or I just have some mistake in my library. I find it annoying, because I cannot find anything that hints to the fact they DID make an album together, but then again...it wouldn't just spring out of nowhere lol. So would you know whether or not they made an album?
Damn, that sure is a roundabout paragraph.
I've never heard of such a collaboration. Also, discogs has no mention of it, and there are only a very small number of listeners on last.fm, so I suspect some kid just wanted exposure for his ambient fruity loops tracks, and thus labeled his music "The Orb&Biosphere" hoping for random downloads from fans of either artist. It's a really common thing - although usually you find these tracks under "Mars & Mystre," "DJ Mystik," "DJ Tiesto," or "BEST TRANCE TECHNO HOUSE EVER TIESTO ARMIN VAN BUUREN FERRY CORSTEN SCOOTER ALICE DEEJAY DJ MANGOO!!!"
Ahhhh thank you for clearing it up. I must admit though, I've given the tracks some quick listen through (nothing thorough), and they don't sound half bad. Amazing what you can find on torrents lol. And I totally know what you mean by your last sentence.
On another note, I just finished listening to Throbbing Gristle TSAR. Your above review could not have explained it any better. It makes other industrial artists (today) look like pussys.
I couldn't eat for about 3 hours after listening to that, and even upbeat techno and trance and INDIE ROCK didn't help (which never has happened before).
But it was worth the listen. I DID IT! But never again LOL.
Lol, I agree. I don't understand how people can listen to that style of music exclusively.
Audio-Masochism.
If there is one Goa album that can make this list it is Identified Flying Object by Pleidians (which is the Etnica side project). Its the only album that one could rate ahead of Twisted.
I like it, it's really good. Thanks. I'll have to consider a placement for it with a few more listens.
What's your opinion on The Future Sound of London's: ISDN album? I here amazing reviews about it, but I have checked other lists by you and you don't even really mention it...let alone The Future Sound of London. I love Lifeforms, (Ambient trance has been my thing this week) and I would be ecstatic if you could point me in a good Ambient trance direction.
I've actually never heard it, perhaps surprisingly. That's definitely going on the wishlist...
Thanks!
As for ambient trance, it usually refers more to ambient psy, because not very much ambient trance is ever made (and Lifeforms isn't really ambient trance). Here are the closest albums I can think of:
Sasha - Northern Exposure 1, CD 1
Shpongle - Are you Shpongled?
The Field - From Here We Go to Sublime
Xerxes - The Mirror Formula
Sasha - Airdrawndagger
Biosphere - Microgravity
Banco De Gaia - Last Train to Lhasa
Orbital - Snivilisation
Orbital - In Sides
Orbital - Orbital 2
The Orb - Orblivion
The Orb - U.F. Orb
The Orb - Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld
William Orbit - Strange Cargo 3
Abakus - That Much Closer to the Sun
Aril Brikha - Deeparture in Time [ambient techno, or deep techno, really, but quite nice]
Earth Leakage Trip - Virtuality EP
Global Communication - Global Communication
That's the closest I've got. It's more ambient house, dancier ambient, some ambient techno, as well as some more chilled progressive trance, ultra-trancy minimal and ambient psy.
Hi,
just passing by to say: "great list!".
I'm relatively new to electronica. But seeing this I'm already dreaming of top 40 (or so...) lists of the last three or four decades plus a beginners list comprising all undoubted and listenable classics for good overview.
Thanks and keep the good work up (especially the comments & external references, which I find very useful)!
P.S.: Ever listened to Guy Gerber (Late Bloomers)? Or Bohren & der Club of Gore (perhaps the slowest electro you'll ever listen to)? Eivind Aarset? Bugge Wesseltoft (Moving)? Nils Petter Molvaer (Khmer) (for their incorporation of jazz-elements). Could also imagine Sie (Ruben d'alpha) which made me addict in the the first place (while mainly the second track is really, really outstanding).
Yeah, check out that album...I believe that that album is actually their most popular (or is it only one person?).
Anyway, I've checked out several of the albums you listed below that I don't own, and I can say that my fav. thus far is Aril Brikha. I'm really diggin' his stuff at the moment. And when you said Global Communication, did you mean 76:14 (if so, then that is in my top 20 favs of all time, just to let you know). Anyway, thanks much for the list, I will D/L it all!
I did mean 76:14, I'm not sure why I listed it as such...
Glad you're enjoying it :D
I still don't have ISDN.
I love ISDN, but I think Lifeforms is much better. By the way, what do you think of Lifeforms EP? I find the EP version to be just as good.
I haven't checked the EP out, is it much different?
Very, but I like each the same.
Have you heard Mundus Subterraneus by Lightwave? In my opnion, it's the greatest ambient album.
No, I'll check it out.
Venetian Snares: Rossz Csillag Alatt Született
Album I am totally into right now, and if you don't already know of it, check it =D!
I like that album, but it hasn't yet completely sunk in (it's quite an odd one).
I really need to update this list soon, there's a lot I've yet to fully consider.
i guess this must be the ongest ongoing internet talk i've ever come across. brilliant. i'll have to check my music and see what has already been named and what hasn't, but i wanted to pop in already suggesting the following two that i think are worth considering: voodoo child's the end of everything and locust's morning light.
Sure, I'll add it to my download list.
Indeed, it has gone on for a while :D Although the talk on my trance list is much longer (which is a shame, really, since I feel this one is superior).
First off, I must say that this is a great list, and I hope to obtain/listen to all of these albums.
Secondly, I can't believe that there is no mention of The Avalanches. Anywhere! Not on the list or in the discussion. They're worthy of at least an honorable mention for Since I Left You. Is there some kind of parameter where you can't have sampling on this list? Because the album is made up entirely of samples, but it is absolutely "electronic" music. So anyway, The Avalanches - Since I Left You, please put that one on your albums to consider list.
P.S. You should also give a listen to the new Animal Collective album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, it's their best one yet.
I second the recommendation of the The Avalanches - Since I Left You .... a top notch album. Also I'm sure you have probably already listened to and dismissed the likes of 'Girl Talk', but I feel mash-up should be represented on the list somewhere.
nice!!! i gues i'm a "robot" now and this list helped me alot in finding new music to listen :P
enywayz:
harthouse chapters 1 to 5 (genius compilations in my opinion)
LSG - Rendezvous in outer space
Astral Projection - Trust in trance (i'm sure you know it... i'm not sure why you didn't even mentioned astral projection. maybe you could enlighten me on this one :)
(sorry couse my recommandations are all trance :P )
It is a good one...it may qualify for a spot in the honorable mentions
Hi again
I have a recomendation for you:
Moby - Play
One of the better electronic albums I have heard, and the critics do agree with me.
I find it OK, but it makes me think of products spinning around in front of me.
haha, yeah, I can understand that. But here's another one for you:
Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole
One of the most influentual dance albums of the nineties, by one of the best dance producers. You realy should give this one a try.
I vaguely remember hearing it years ago, I'll give it another spin. Thanks!
Electronica and rave is not much of a rage in this part of the green planet, but your list is a pretty good way to start. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Now, Aglaia has got to be your best find. It surprises me how something so good can be so sheltered.
A few suggestions :
Röyksopp - "What Else is There?" and "Only this Moment" - Not quite classics these but sets the mood really well.
Robert Miles - "Dreamland" - I am a bit hesitant about this ... too mainstream perhaps ?
Those are both only tracks, are they not?
I'm not too much of a fan of Robert Miles though: I find every track he writes sounds exactly like Children.
Great list - my music collection has become many times better thanks to you.
Anyways, I was disappointed to not see "You've Come A Long Way, Baby" by Fatboy Slim on here. (enough so to make an account)
Here are some other albums that I really love that weren't on the list:
- Melody A.M. by Royksopp
- Moon Safari by Air
(and perhaps pushing the genre boundaries a tad)
- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
I'm not too fond of Fatboy Slim's album - I find them good in small doses, but not enough to listen to them for that long, straight. I've listened to that "You've come a long way, baby", and I found it was like eating too much chocolate at once.
You're totally right about Moon Safari, it was quite an oversight on my part - I'm going to add it. Melody AM, however, I find too uneven - a few good tracks, but too many others that I consistently skip.
I haven't heard the last 2, but I'll check them out.
Thanks for the suggestions! I'm glad you enjoy my lists :D
This is a great list, thanks for putting it up!
Have you considered including any of these:
The Tuss - Rushup Edge
Kelpe - Ex-Aquarium
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum
Black Dog - The Cost
Also, I think its great you've included music by Steve Reich, but I think 'It's Gonna Rain' deserves an honourable mention as being the first generative music peice.
I've actually never heard any of those albums (and in fact, have only heard of the fourth).
However, I find It's Gonna Rain so annoying that it will never merit a place here. I recognize it's importance in the history of electronic music, and have tried listening to it several times, but I think it barely qualifies as music, let alone one of the best.
I'll check the others out though, for sure. Thanks!
I think I just realized what has been bugging me about this list. This list contains absolutely NO Motown, which was such a HUGE influential genre for electronic music and the way DJ's even play and find music that it is like just forgetting about the Ford Model T just because it isn't in use today. It still paved the way for cars in the first place. You should seriously start checking out the genre if you haven't already, after all that genre contains the rarest song in the world (Frank Wilson: Do I Love You (Indeed I Do), which last I heard sold for over 15,000 lbs. for one song. There are only two original records ever created.)
And the genre is absolutely beautiful. It has so much history I don't even know where to begin...hell I just might make a list on this!
Haha, good idea. I've listened to a bit of classic Motown (Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, and, of course, Michael Jackson), but I've never been able to get into it, simply because modern RnB has pounded all of the initially good ideas it presented into the ground, overusing them to the point that they're now all cliches. I had the same problem watching Citizen Kane.
Note that one of the worst offenders is Motown Records itself - they're responsible for Shontelle, Nelly, Ashanti, Akon, Boyz II Men, Jojo, and many other artists that are essentially raping RnB's original sound. The label is on total autopilot at this point.
Nice list, and I more or less agree (indeed, I've never heard of quite a few of the albums... must check em out)... Just one thing:
Aphex Twin - Richard D James album, I purchased this about a year ago and it was the most disappointing CD purchase of my life. A lot of raving reviews, and it just sounded like a load of crap to me. The whole album is about 30 minutes long, so not good value for money either.
I'm not gonna go into detail about it, because I learned to hate that album, but can anyone defend it?
Yep. It's a perfect exercise in contrast. It manages to marry cute, pretty melodies to some of the most furious polyrhythmic percussion ever composed, and make them sound like perfect bedfellows. Few albums surprised me as much as Richard D. James did - while still remaining musical. I never knew what to expect in the next song, and it still throws me a loop to this day - which is something my musically jaded mind deeply cherishes. I'm also pretty much certain it's the first appearance of the "disturbed childhood" atmosphere that eventually made Boards of Canada famous.
I could go on about it, but it's likely love-it-or-hate-it - like most of Aphex Twin's work.
check out the Forbidden Planet soundtrack. early electronic album, not too sure if there is a greater precedent for the material, but it definitely needs to be somewhere on this list.
or you can watch the movie, it is pretty goofy sci-fi.
I've meant to check that out quite some time, actually. Thanks for reminding me. Might still be a while though, it always takes me forever to get around to checking out the really old electronic classics (like 70s and previous). I often find them quite noisy and difficult, so I tend to procrastinate on giving them a first listen.
Dominik Eulberg - Flora & Fauna
This one is a very good minimal album. You really should check this one out, it's great! Just as Dominik Eulberg is great.
I love Dominik Eulberg, but I really preferred his Kreucht & Freucht mix over Flora & Fauna. Good album, but I found it dragged a bit - too much filler.
Have you tried these? I think they are quite excellent.
Biosphere- Cirque downtempo house/d n b experimental
Autechre- Incunabula
Gas- Gas 0095
Digweed- Global Underground Disc 1 outstanding dark progressive house mix
Jooris Voorn- Future History
Basic Channel- BCD
LSG- The Hive
The Ambush- The Ambush
Eye Q Records- Behind The Eye Vol. 1 there isnt a single album that does as good a job with Frankfurt trance, this is a compilation though
Stevie B-Zet- Archaic Modulation some of the best ambient trance you will ever hear. Each track is outstanding.
I have tried a few of those, others I've never heard of. I'll check them out, and consider the others (I'll add them to my ever-increasing list of "must-listen" albums). Thanks.
Great list. Good work all round. My tuppenys worth;
F.U.S.E - Dimension Intrusion
Polygon Window - Surfing on Sine Waves
Are the two most realised slabs of techno ever made.
And 76:14 the most successful attempt at ambient house.
Adam
p.s. Just got Aglaia on Amazon for 2 of your british pund and 79 pence.
Sure, I'll give them a listen.
Nice find with Aglaia - that's a tough one to get even digitally.
good list, i also really enjoy Reich's piece.
A perhaps as equally an obscure ambient record as the Aglaia one you listed here is the brilliantly hypnotic dronescape of Staruha Mha. If you're not familiar I've just uploaded a track of their Meisterwerk, Fires:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_PLxolC4tw
And also...why no mention from anyone of Music For The Jilted Generation? A thousand times finer than anything else Prodigy ever did and surely when you hear Speedway, the Heat the Energy and Skylined again you'll also add them to the timeless music future historians will wonder over.
Sure, I'll give them a listen - when I can manage to find them.
I agree with Kreucht & Fleucht being better, but there are still some very good minimal albms:
Efdemin - Efdemin
Pantha Du Prince - This Bliss
Alex Smoke - Incommunicado
Think abouth these ones!
I've heard all three, and I very much enjoy them. I'll consider giving some of them a spot.
Great list, discovered many new interesting music thanks to it and I come here regulary to check new music...
Just a few opinions...
1- I think a top 100 list should include more broad, relevant and influencial electronic music... of course, every one has its own list, but still I think sometimes our personal taste or personal experience should be a sometimes subjugated to a more rational and critical point of view. Like My Bloody Valentine, ok, its one of the best 90s albums but in that order of idea, so is Air's Moon Safari, a wonderfull electronic pop music that got a hudge revival of all electronic music of the 70s or Beck's Mellowgold and Odelay (those two albuns revolutioned music in the 90s and sample use). Or Daft Punks Homework, should be on top 20 due to its influence and quality.
2- James Brown: once you start to include non-electronic music (in a technical point of view), like Steve Reich, My Bloody Valentine or those albums of Can you open a pandora box :) How do you draw the line? I think James Brown of the late 60s, specially live in long songs and in the more funkier things (more far from soul) is much more influencial to all dance music (thus electronic) than any other artist ever... got drum n'bass, syncopation, empty space filled with boomy powerfull bass lines, singing, guitar and metal section like "samples" (short bursts of melody repetitive patterns) and, of course, James Brown modern dance moves, singing... and he hipnotised audiences in a hedonist frenzy before lasers, strobes and trance music were invented.
3- hip-hop... an electronic music list should include hip-hop artists, like Grandmasta Flash. Samples and beatboxes and DJ'ing were invented here.
4- Gary Numan.
5- Some more electronic pop... from disco, synth pop, going through new wave, like ABBA, Depeche Mode and specially Michael Jackson album Thriller. I could even talk about Madonna earlier stuff. Of course, these artists many times refine ideas and music into broad audiences, but particulary in the case of Thriller, it defined a sound and an era.
6- Please check the swedish The Tough Alliance. This is, I am aware, a matter of personal taste. You will probably like the album Escaping Your Ambitions wich is 99% instrumental (and electronic). Then you have the perfect album A New Chance that is more pop.
Well, thats about it, thank you again for your list. These are mere comments and sugestions, and I'm sure I learned more from your list than you did from my comment! :)
LFBray
I agree with you in a lot of ways, some things like Depeche Mode's Violator or Air's Moon Safari should be on this list.
Hip Hop, however, is difficult. Where do you draw the line in the major genre of Hip Hop? Hip Hop uses a lot of electronic equipment, but that doesn't make it electronic music. There are songs (Run DMC's It's Like That) but no complete works that are good enough to make it on this list, with all due respect. Grandmaster Flash invented things like scrathing and mixing, but the music style is still Hip Hop (although I do have to say The Message including The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel can be included, while it is one of the first peices using scratching and mixing). For real electronic Hip Hop you should listen to DJ Shadow (which is on the list).
James Brown could have a major influence in dance music, but it's soul and rythem & bleus, not electronic. Minimalism, however, is an electronic genre, and so Steve Reich is included.
Electronic pop, that is hard... You can't deny the major electronic influence on Michael Jackson's Thriller (and his other albums), and the major influence it had on dance music, but it's still pop. The same counts for ABBA.
But this is just my point of view, and electronic is realy hard to discribe... of course genres like techno or trance are easy, but when it comes to electronic rock, pop or Hip Hop, it gets harder and harder.
Still, I do think this is a great list, and I learned a lot from it:)
I honestly just don't really like Depeche Mode that much. While there are a few songs I really enjoy (like Enjoy the Silence), I've never heard an album of theirs that really blew me away from beginning to end.
Drawing the line that defines what is and isn't electronic music was indeed really difficult, and in a lot of ways, arbitrary. However, my definition stands, simply because any change to it at this point would essentially involve making massive changes to the list - and because I think it's a fairly decent defintion, and one that caters really well to the interests of this list's audience (those who are searching for the best "electronic music" aren't usually looking for bands and artists like ABBA and Michael Jackson; they want to find musicians/groups like Air, Brain Eno, Kraftwerk, Sasha, or Boards of Canada).
Glad you enjoyed the list :D
To lfbray:
Points well taken, but this list focuses more on styles that are generally called electronic music, rather than including all music that is electronic. If I did it the latter way, I would have to include most pop music produced in the last 30 years, which would defeat the purpose of this list.
The albums from artists like My Bloody Valentine, Steve Reich, and Can come from genres that are closely related to electronic music, and in some cases, predominantly electronic. IE: a lot of people would call krautrock an electronic genre, but few would describe pop as such.
Moon Safari I'm strongly considering right now anyway. It's very likely going to have a place here.
As for Homework, I disagree with a top 20 position. While a very good album, and certainly influential, I think those placed above it are better - and "influential" wasn't really my primary criterion for placing albums (I took it into account, but it wasn't the main factor).
What exactly do you mean by "relevant"? While there are a few obscure albums on the list (3 Organic Experiences comes to mind in particular), the vast majority are well-known, and well-accepted as important electronic albums. (I counted 60 that are almost inarguably important of the first 75, and most of the 15 more obscure cuts were closer to the bottom; and I could easily argue that most of those 15 were indeed influential and important).
This list is alive! Its lovely.
I would recommend adding: Frozen Ants album - Subsurfing. Its seamlessly liquid and morphic. its hard to find though. Scorn's album Gyral (illbient minimal dub that borders on dark but maintains an otherwordly tactileness)
I'd also recommend the meditative works of David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir...its very good to fall asleep to or have as backgrounds sounds to complement the silence.
Peace.
Sure, I'll check them out. Thanks.
I saw you are considering Animal Collective, so I would suggest Merriweather Post Pavilion, but I'm not very sure if you would put this one under electronic. It has a psychadelic vibe, but is it elecronic as well? I must say I havn't heard the two other pieces that you consider, but I like this album a lot, so you may think about it.
I absolutely love Merriweather Post Pavilion. It is being strongly considered, and will probably make it - most of Animal Collective's instruments (sounds?) are electronic, so I think it fits.
I think you need to give Art of Noise - The Seduction of Claude Debussy another listen. I listened to that while being totally baked and I felt like a whole new world was opening up. Especially Dreaming in Color. I'm not sure if it deserves a spot on this list, but it certainly deserves being in the "almost made it but not quite" list imho.
Mmmm...I personally thought it was just really pretentious. Baked it would probably be really good, that I can see. However, I would much rather just listen to Claude Debussy - especially since the album is essentially just his work plus some beats, with speeches about his life played on top. It's almost barely an album IMO, so much as a highly musical book-on-tape about Debussy.
It is pretty pretentious, I must admit, but those damn beats sent me flying through space lol :)! I can see how it wouldn't deserve a spot on this list, however, but it still is one of the best songs I have listened to while being baked, that and Bay of Pigs - Destroyer, I can't get over that song.
Seriously, neither can I, what a great song. That and OAR 003B - played it close to 20 times since you sent it to me a few days ago.
Watch out with things you like baked though - I thought Clash of the Titans was pretty good baked. I'm convinced - thinking back to it - that it was actually terrible.
Yeah, I've started to notice that trend, but I saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D Imax, and I thought it was horrible! I was analyzing every aspect of where Disney just went "Fuck Lewis Carrol, fuck our 1951 version, just fuck it, let's make something that will appeal to the masses who just want to see a happy ending with a little bit of eccentric Johnny Depp mixed in (he did a revolting job of acting 'mad' by the way)" I felt so disgraced I needed to leave halfway thru, I felt embarrassed for everyone there. My friend said he thought the movie was okay, I said "what the fuck were you on?!"
Oh the irony.
Agreed. I was quite disappointed with that movie.
I have been gaining intel from this list for some time now. I feel like my taste of music has greatly benifited from it. Here are some of my favorite current electronic artists. I'm actually surprised none of them have been mentioned yet.
Eluvium - Copia/Talk amongst the trees are two of the most gorgeous ambient albums I have heard
Keith Fullerton Whitman - I find his album Playthroughs to be an essential electronic release
Oneohtrix Point Never - Very Dronish, and sometimes dark, but this is honestly one of the most creative artists in the genre and he is going to blow up within the next few years. I highly recommend rifts
DNTEL - he's more known for The Postal Servie, but his debut album Life is full of Possibilities is what I would call an ambient classic. Very engaging listen
William Basinski - There is not much I prefer to fall asleep to than The Disintegration Tapes
One last thing, what do you recommend listening to by Monolake after Hong Kong?
Respritorio -
You should check out Darktremor's other lists (like his Best Ambient Music of All Time list.)
As for his opinions on the artists you mentioned you will have to wait for his response :P.
I've heard none of that except for the last 2 (both good, but flawed enough that I didn't think they merited a spot), and will certainly check the others out.
The Disintegration Loops, while somewhat interesting, came across (to me) as gimmicky. It was entirely based on one simple concept that has been explored to some extent before (IE by Oval), though admittedly not in exactly the same way. I think much of the hype around it had to do with its backstory connecting it to 9/11.
Hello there again, darktremor.
First I would like to say that as much as I loved your top400 trance tracks, I don't agree with this one.
Second of all, I really don't know which are the criteria that you were supposed to follow in order to rank those albums. As far as I know, Northern Exposure is a MIX CD, being pretty impossible to rank it higher than, let's say, a time-defining album such as Kid A or Autobahn. Even Music for airports isn't Eno's best electronic album, it's pretty dull and overrated. My oppinion is that you should try Eno's "After The Heat"[1978] or the beautiful, majestic "Before And After The Science" [1978]. As for Bjork, "Debut"[1993], "Post"[1995], and even her earlier albums released as The Sugarcubes
In terms of importance, Autobahn and other revolutionary albums that created a new genre (like Massive Attack's one) should definitely be ranked higher.
In terms of quality, let's just say that Kid A, Loveless, Endtroducing, Music Has The Right To Children, Bricolage and maybe Faust/Autobahn/Amnesiac are to be considered one of the finest and most beautiful pieces of music ever written. You should also try Air France - No Way Down [2008]{balearic, i guess}, Girl Talk - Feed The Animals [2008]{mashup}, even Radiohead - In Rainbows [2007] / Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun[1999]/() [2002] if those can be counted as electronic albums. Take those as my recommendation.
The last, but not the least, it's a risky decision to make such a top as EDM being far mor eclectic than, let's just say, rock or jazz. As much as I hate him (or just his fans) isn't even Michael Jackson's Thriller ranked as one piece of good electronic music?
Northern Exposure was genre defining. It moved the mix-CD beyond mere collections of top hits and simulations of club nights, to an integrated listening experience of its own. That is - it took a large variety of interesting tracks from different genres, and synthesized them into something more like a coherent album. The mixing was beyond simple club beatmatching - Sasha & Digweed made the tracks sound like they were actually composed together, rather than just quickly blended. It made DJ mixes more than mere compilations. And on top of that, it's lovely.
As for Autobahn, it didn't really create anything new. It was really just another nice electronic disco/space pop album, with a few elements of musique-concrete thrown in, and didn't generate any new genres in its wake. That said, it is a lovely and ver interesting piece of music. Besides, I didn't go just for the influence of various pieces of music, otherwise there would be artists like Stockhausen near the top.
Those albums you mention are all very good - I've heard them all at one point or another. Some of them I'm actively considering (I haven't updated this much in a while). I would, however, in absolutely no way classify Sigur Ros as electronic - I don't think they even have electronic elements in their music, not even electronic distortions a la shoegaze.
I tried to avoid pop, simply because that would open the door to having to look through almost all 80's music, mainstream hip-hop, new-swing jack, and artists like Lil' Wayne. That said, you're correct about that album, it is very good. Drawing the lines around "electronic" was very difficult for me, and I don't think it can ever be done 100% accurately. I also had trouble drawing the line between "influence" and "listenability." For example, there are probably a lot of ambient albums released today that would be considerably more enjoyable to listen to were they released before Music For Airports, but are boring and derivative today, because of all the ambient that has come before (thus producing the effect of "I've heard this before, so this is dull").
A list like this (and my trance list, for that matter) is always going to be highly subjective, and it should be looked at more as a jumping point for exploring electronic music in general than a be-all and end-all of what is actually the best. One thing I can guarantee is that they're all very good, and highly fascinating albums that will expose a listener to a wide variety of electronic (sub?)genres. It's not like Scaruffi's lists, where he claims that his highest rated music is, in fact, objectively the best ever. I think that's a silly claim coming from anyone.
darktremor, I've enjoyed the quality and breadth of this list. Especially the stuff I haven't heard before, like Aglaia!
Here's a great album you've likely not encountered: "Calves Valves" by Jon Sheffield
Someone brought Jon Sheffield to the college radio station I was DJing at. I was host of an ambient electronic music show, and this guy who lived in some nearby small town in Missouri, of all places, wanted me to check out his cd. Only spoke to him a handful of times, but the album is really quite absorbing. He has another excellent cd called "shore hoses", but I favor the first.
If you can find it, I'd be curious to hear your opinion.
Hi darktremor,
This is a really cool list, and I've been discovering a lot of music through it that probably would never have come to my attention otherwise.
However It feels like many of the albums on this list are mostly made up of "studies" that are intended to showcase one or more new techniques, concepts or technologies. Kind of like Bach's 48 preludes and fugues for the Well Tempered Clavier, except that those were (mostly) really really good pieces of music regardless.
Also I think that's why there's so much minimalism going on here. What better way to showcase a new idea than to remove everything that isn't necessary for it to shine.
In short, there are a lot of tracks in this list that I wouldn't go as far as to call "good music". Still though, they seem to have profoundly influenced other musicians, and so are worthy of recognition.
Anyway I have two album suggestions for you to check out if you haven't already.
Telefon Tel Aviv - Fahrenheit Fair Enough
Hybrid - Wide Angle/Morning Sci-Fi
I especially love the songs here without vocals, but that's just my bias. These two albums (In my opinion of course) are worth a mention at least. Either way I'd like to know what you think of them.
New addition for anyone who still might read this:
Only Mountain - Take
Hi darktremor
A very interesting & special list indeed. I will check it out in detail time after time.
I am not such a big minimal listener. I do miss "Mathew Jonson" though eg. songs like "Marionette". But as far as I know his tracks are only available on EPs eg. Tyrope EP and not albums.
Another very special minimal (dub) album is:
Bandulu - Antimatters (You should really like this one)
And what do you think about William Orbit - Strange Cargo III? A little bit more mains stream but in my opinion a milestone nevertheless.
Luke Slater would be another artist which would fit in well. "Secret garden" on "92-94" (a collection album of his earlier works) is a great track and the rest of the album is brilliant too.
I would really like to know what you think of my recommendations?
Hi darktremor
Sorry, Strange Cargo III is on your list! Sorry I didn't see it at first.
Bye nja
My skew is definitely 70's analog and Berlin School but have you ever heard Radio Massacre International? UK band from early 90's to present in the vein of Tabgerine Dream but updated. Try Emissaries as an introduction.
Where is the LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver??
I know you like it, you said it yourself in an earlier comment. And it is electronic music, and it's just an awesome album!
Great list by the way!
I like this list...there is so much music I should check out now.
Despite my poor music experience I want to recommend Empty the Bones of You by chris clark.
Hi darktremor, love your list - I first started listening to music in the "Dance" section in my music store such as DJ Shadow, Aphex Twin, Massive Attack, etc which were recommended to me by friends. Since losing contact with them I have shifted towards trance for the last couple of years and love it but find it has many limitations and have recently been trying to get back into the more general "electronic" genre and am so glad I came across your list.
One album I have really enjoyed over the last couple of years is "Sirens of the Sea" by Oceanlab, which includes the tracks you might already be familiar with: "Lonely Girl" and "On a Good Day". Really think it's an awesome album and you should give it a listen if you haven't already.
Anyway thanks again and keep up the good work!
I have a few suggestions.
Felix Laband (experimental, minimalist, collage)
- Donkey Rattle
- Dirty Nightgown
- Wisteling in Tongues (7:51)
- Run Alive Run
- Hopeful
(unfortunately the videos on youtube are not very high quality but you will get the idea)
http://www.mp3rocket.com/mp3/-1_00/Felix-Laband-Donkey-Rattle.htm
Sleep Party People
- I'm not human at all
- 10 Feet Up
- The Dwarf and the Horse
- A sweet song about love
The Knife - Silent Shout (Electronic, electropop, synthpop)
Caribou - Andorra (electronica, indielectronica)
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Ads (alternative, progressive rock, electronica)
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (Inditronica)
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Trentemoller - The Last Resort (progressive house, minimal)
Deadmau5 - Random Album Title (progressive house)
I like alot of the records on your list however, i do feel you have understated the importance of late 70's/early 80's synthpop which was a huge influence on the detroit techno scene of the mid to late 80's (derrick may, juan atkins, kevin saunderson), late 80's/early 90's industrial (NIN, Ministry, Nitzer Ebb) and the Electroclash sound of the early 2000's. Records such as Metamatic by John Foxx and Travelogue by the Human League were entirely electronic and boasted fantastic songs that still stand up today. I would also recommend some late 60's US albums such as Silver Apples debut and also the debut from a band called the United States Of America, both of which were a massive influence on bands such as Portishead, Broadcast, and Suicide. Both are very psychedelic but unlike, say, Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd, consist of predominantly electronic instrumentation. Also :-
1.Low by David Bowie
2.Number 1 Song In Heaven by Sparks (Sparks & Giorgio Morodors finest moment)
3. Sheep On Drugs Greatest Hits
How about Paul Oakenfold, Nick Warren, James Lavelle – Cream Live Two?
The list is really good, I actually don't even know a lot of the albums from the list, so it's a great resource! Thanks!
My recommendation would be anything from Chemical Brothers- "Surrender" or maybe "Further" (my personal favourite, and their most complete work, regarding an album as a whole)
Once again, great list, looking forward to the top 100!
Interesting list!
The total absence of The Residents is astounding. Their first couple of albums were non-electronic, but after that, their stuff was mostly electronic. They were pioneers of many electronic instruments and styles--very influential on a lot of musicians. Anything from about "The Commercial Album" on is worth your attention. It's so bizarre that it's difficult; it''ll require multiple listenings (or some good acid) to rewire your brain so you can appreciate this music. If you find their weird vocals off-putting (many do), try their instrumental stuff, such as their "Hunters" soundtrack, or their "Best Left Unspoken" series (all 3 volumes), or one of their soundtrack versions of albums (albums with the vocals removed). A list of best electronic music without the Residents is downright criminal!
Mother Mallard, the world's first live-performing all-electronic band, are also conspicuous by their absence. They lived near Robert Moog and he'd let them play with his new prototypes (starting in the late 60s). My fave is "Migration", but it's all good.
Lots of Faust's later stuff is of interest. Check out the amazing electronics on their collaboration with the rappers known as Dalek, "Derbe Respect, Alder". You may also like their keyboardist Hans-Joachim Irmler's solo stuff, or his collaborations with others such as Z'ev.
Classical musician/composer/conductor and electronic pioneer Eberhard Schoener deserves your attention. My faves by him include "Trance-Formation", "Bali Agung", and "Sky Music/Mountain Music". He has a unique style.
French electronic pioneers Heldon should also be on your list. Their style of stormy electronics mixed with hot electric guitar was very influential in some circles. My fave is "Un Rêve Sans Conséquence Spéciale". The solo works of their leader, Richard Pinhas, are also of interest.
While we're in France, check out the later, more electronic work of the band Art Zoyd, and the solo works of their leader, Thierry Zaboitzeff.
The lush orchestral sound of English progressive band The Enid may fit. If so, that opens up the field to other progressive rock bands ranging from early Genesis to Emerson, Lake and Palmer, to Yes, to The Moody Blues (best Mellotron band ever), etc. etc. Not to mention the various "Italian symphonic progressive" bands and other prog styles from various countries...
The early 80s band Wall of Voodoo had a unique synth sound. I'd recommend either of their first two LPs, "Dark Continent" or "Call of the West".
Steve Hillage's pioneering ambient album "Rainbow Dome Musick" also deserves your attention.
I'll be interested to hear what you think of some of these artists, darktremor.
Thanks for this list darktremor, and everybody else in the comments. It helped me a lot to create the collections of electronic music in the library where I work !
darktremor,
Boy am I happy I found your lists. I've been a huge electronic fan for 20+ years. Your knowledge of the various genre's of the music we love blows me away. I love finding new music and the other day I started googling for top electronic music lists and came to this link pretty soon. I started playing the albums via spotify.com starting with #1. I love Music for 18 Musicians and was blown the hell away by DJ Shadow's Endtroducing. Why had I never heard of this??? Holy hell! Bought it yesterday and I'm sure it's the only album that's gonna have playtime on my iphone for awhile! Thank you!!!!
So my all-time favorite artist is Orbital, which I'm glad to see make this list. My top 2 albums are Insides and Snivilization and happy to see those two on top. I think I like Insides a tad bit better than Sniv... but that's sooooo tough to call. Maybe I prefer Sniv...? I of course have all their albums and am anxiously awaiting their new one just announced last week that is due out in April '12. I...can...not...wait! The Hartnoll brothers to me are the best thing ever to come from music.
With that said, here's some of my favorite albums (excluding Orbital of course cuz they're #1 as already mentioned) along with some that I'd suggest you check out.
Favorites (in no particular order other than alphabetically):
Air France - No Way Down
Amorphous Androgynous (FSOL) - Tales of Ephidrina
Aphex Twin - Selected Works 85-92
Autechre - Amber
Autechre - Incunabula
Biosphree - Microgravity
Caribou - Swim
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing (thanks to you)
Electric Skychurch - Knowoneness
Future Sounds of London - Dead Cities
Future Sounds of London - Environments 1 (have you heard this series?)
Future Sounds of London - Environments 2
Future Sounds of London - Environments 3
Future Sounds of London - Lifeforms
Future Sounds of London - Dead Cities
Long Range - Madness & Me (Phil Hartnoll compilation work)
Nestor Torres - Dances, Prayers & Meditation (he's a Puerto Rican
flutist) - if you never heard him, please listen to "Lotus Sutra
of a Wonderful Law" and tell me that doesn't blow you away!
Paul Hartnoll - The Ideal Condition (his solo piece after the brothers
tool a break from making music as Orbital after the Blue album).
Track 1 & 7 are simply amazing.
Plastikman - Musik (haven't heard Sheet One yet in it's entirety though I
do love Plasticine.
Seefeel - Quique
Pi - Soundtrack
Spacetime Continuum - Sea Biscuit (Pressure just might be the best track
I've ever heard)
System 7 - Golden Section
Thievery Corporation - Everything they put out!
Various Artists - Barramundi: Introduction to a Cooler World (this is one
of my favs but I'd guess it wouldn't make your list since it's V.A.?
Various Artists - Barramundi: The Spirit of Wandjina
Various Artists - Excursions in Ambiance: The Fourth Frontier
Waterbone - Tibet (check it out!)
Various Artists - United States of Ambiance, Vol 1
Single songs only:
Aphex Twin - Surfing on Sine Waves - If it really is me
Aphex Twin - Classics - Polynomial C
Djam Karet - Recollection Harvest - Open Roads
John Dahlback - Olympia/Matterhorn - Olympia
Ozric Tentacles - Strangeitude - Sploosh
Photek - Modus Operandi - 124
Photek - Modus Operandi - Modus Operandi
Plaid - Double Figure - Porn Coconut Co
Ray Lynch - Deep Breakfast - Celestial Soda Pop
Robert Miles - Children (don't kill me...haha)
Sounds from the Ground - Terra Firma - Planted
The following albums I have yet to hear but will be acquiring shortly so in case you heard them, what are your thoughts:
G.O.L. - Sensation of Tone (this is no longer available to the public but
can be found online of course and via ebay for like $150-200, which
is ridiculous. I will be getting this in the next week or so.
A.D. Series - One, Two, Three, Four, etc. (I want these badly. Have
heard great things about them...)
I know this is a big intro post so whenever you have time to reply, I'd love to see what your thoughts are.
Later...