I am planning a party soon with an electronica theme. I need ideas for some really great techno music. I already have some Moby techno remixes, but I am sorely in need of more. I admit that I am more of a listener than an explorer of techno. I have no idea where to start. Does anyone have ideas of what I could use? What are your favorite techno or trance tracks? I am looking for music with a very strong beat. It can also be combo, like Rammstein. Thanks!
Some ideas for music you can dance too (as opposed to sit back and just appreciate):
Fatboy Slim’s album You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby
Bentley Rhythm Ace’s eponymous first album
Primal Scream’s recent album Extrmntr (more of a rock/dance theme)
Other bands…(check here for allmusic’s big beat recommendations).
The Propellerheads
The Chemical Brothers
Groove Armada
The Prodigy
Lo-Fidelity Allstars
Monkey Mafia
Underworld
These are all kind of “big beat” electronica; lots of samples and more accessible. As for “proper” techno:
Early Moby
Orbital
Aphex Twin
The Orb (maybe)
Early David Holmes
Dave Clarke
Jeff Mills
A bit of LTJ Bukem or Goldie drum & bass never goes amiss, either, although it’s a bastard to dance to.
Try here for allmusic’s suggestions for techno classics and here for their electronica suggestions.
In answer to the OP - no you don’t.
But if you must then try Left Field
If you’ve got it, check napster. Occasionally you’ll find whole live sets of some pretty good techno there, which is probably the best sort of thing to find unless you want to be continually changing CDs and pausing between tracks.
Cloned, by Lassigue Benthaus. I heard one track off of it in the record store and immediately bought the CD, which is now known officially by me as ‘The Cool CD’.
I have napster and Winamp, and I will set up my computer to the mixer and sound system. It lets me set up play lists and mix it up, allowing me to get in the party. I just need more music on my computer! That’s why I have a cable modem…
Look for anything mixed by the following artists:
[ul]
[li]Bald Terror[/li][li]Charly Lownoise[/li][li]Darrien Kelly[/li][li]Disciples of Annihilation[/li][li]DJ Freak[/li][li]DJ K 2[/li][li]DJ Paul[/li][li]Dublin Gabber Force[/li][li]Lenny Dee[/li][li]Neophyte[/li][li]NTS[/li][li]Oblivion[/li][li]Omar Santana[/li][li]Rotterdam Killer Force[/li][li]Rotterdam Terror Corps[/li][li]Trickster[/li][/ul]
… just to name a few.
…go for any of those mentioned above if you wanted gabba or hardcore house. Not for the faint-hearted (and, as a rule of thumb, avoid any outfit with “Rotterdam” in the name - Rotterdam Termination Source, I still haven’t forgiven you for that bloody awful tune years ago).
That’s kind of beyond techno and trance. That’s all out hardcore, speedcore, and gabber. Might be a little too fast for what red_dragon is looking for.
Disciples of Annihilation puts out a good song called “Ya Mutha” though…
mattk and vandal: Hey, I can’t help it, I feel this need to “spread the word” regarding loud, earache-inducing noise. 
And yes, “Ya Mutha” is definitely a keeper.
Try “Block-Rockin’ Beats” and “Hey Girl/Hey Boy” by the Chemical Brothers.
The Matrix Soundtrack has a few really good techno songs on it.
Go to MP3.com and see if they are still letting you download for free songs by “Trance Control” - they were posting 5 or 6 pretty good free songs a while ago (“Atomic Dance Explosion” and “We Are No Strangers” are my faves). You can do it guilt free too!
Geez louise, does it matter if you have a variety? All that stuff sounds the same anyway…think anybody would notice?
Check mp3.com. I got some great electronica such as Atomic Pop and the certain crowd pleaser Nasty Girl.