# Basic classic techno library? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 4, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-classic-techno-library/665357 "2013-08-04T23:33:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-classic-techno-library/665357/1 "2013-08-04T23:33:59Z")
I’ve been in a situation where I can dial up YouTube techno mixes for work music, and I find that I hate most of them - the newer techno cuts seem to be all whining (both instrument and vocal) and complaining when they’re not just plain irritating. Are there, say, six to ten albums that present the very best of techno at its height (late 80s or so); that is, if all other techno were deleted from the Matrix, those albums would be enough for you? ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-classic-techno-library/665357/2 "2013-08-05T03:20:11Z")
A good place to start might be the back catalogues of [Warp Records](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warp_records) or [FFRR Records](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFRR_Records). If I were to select my own Techno desert island discs I’d probably select a list like this… The Orb – “Orbvs Terrarvm” Orbital – “Snivilization” Wild Planet – “Blueprint” Eon “Void Dweller” Goldie – “Saturnz Return” Squarepusher – “Hard Normal Daddy” Goldie and Squarepusher are a little later than the late 80’s, but I really love those two albums. And I was never a big fan of the Aphex Twin or Autechre myself, but they probably belong on a basic, classic list as well. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-classic-techno-library/665357/3 "2013-08-05T03:33:51Z")
Moby : Moby Art of Noise : The FON Mixes Yello : Hands on Yello ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-classic-techno-library/665357/4 "2013-08-05T11:04:30Z")
[Carl Cox - F.A.C.T. Vol 1 [1995]](http://www.discogs.com/Carl-Cox-FACT-Gold-Edition/master/44414) - classic mid-1990s techno mix, acknowledged as a ground-breaker [Tresor Retrospective](http://www.discogs.com/Various-True-Spirit/master/981) (compilation rather than a DJ mix, classic German techno) Also a [Low Spirit retrospective](http://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Age-Of-The-DJ-Mixer-10-Years-Of-Low-Spirit/master/4917) compilation (more German techno) Personal faves: mixes by Dave Angel, Trevor Rockliffe and Craig Walsh from [Dreamscape 20 [1995]](http://www.discogs.com/Various-Dreamscape-20-The-Big-Outdoors/master/200715), captures the energy of an outdoor techno session in the mid-90s (youtube: [Craig Walsh / Dave Angel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsZli3xcPL0)) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-classic-techno-library/665357/5 "2013-08-05T12:24:00Z")
Was techno really a thing in the eighties? I thought it was more of a nineties thing. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-classic-techno-library/665357/6 "2013-08-05T12:51:31Z")
Thanks. I will listen in on some of these. FWIW, my interest in techno was re-sparked by (1) a loathing of almost all music of the last ten years (2) a getting-tired of the limited library of “classic rock” and (3) walking down the line of old-city techno bars in Dusseldorf last year. I’ve been poking at various samples since then but can’t seem to find an overall groove I like. These suggestions should help. As techno was one of the major strands of DNA for Max Headroom in 1986-88, I’d think of it as an established 80’s genre. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-classic-techno-library/665357/7 "2013-08-05T21:41:37Z")
Dubnobasswithmyheadman - Underworld Homework - Daft Punk Exit Planet Dust - The Chemical Brothers The Fat of the Land - Prodigy Leftfield - Leftism