The Best 90s Techno Music Artists
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A look at the best techno music artists from the 1990s. From the early days of Detroit techno to the European rave scene, these are the artists that defined the genre.
The Prodigy
The Prodigy is one of the most well-known and influential techno music artists of all time. They rose to fame in the early 1990s with their groundbreaking album, Music for the Jilted Generation. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it cemented The Prodigy’s place in the history of techno music.
Their History
The Prodigy is an English electronic music group from Braintree, Essex, formed in 1990 by Liam Howlett. The line-up of the band has included Maxim (MC and vocalist), Keith Flint (dancer and vocalist) and Leeroy Thornhill (dancer). Along with The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and other artists, The Prodigy are credited as pioneers of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s. They have sold over 30 million records worldwide, and won numerous music awards throughout their career.
The group’s brand of aggressive rock-tinged techno also proved to be influential, with acts such as Pendulum, Chase & Status and Knife Party either being inspired by them or featuring members of the group.
Their Music
Prodigy’s music has been described as several genres, including breakbeat hardcore, rave, techno, and electronica. Their style of music uses many sampling techniques from different genres of music, which has helped them create a unique sound. The band’s music is also known for its use of time signatures that are not common in other styles of music.
The band’s debut album, Experience, was released in 1992, and it contained their famous track “Charly”, which samples a public information film from the United Kingdom about a talking cat. The album was a huge success in the UK, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and selling over three million copies there. It was also successful in other countries, reaching number two in Ireland and number five in Australia.
The band’s second album, Music for the Jilted Generation, was released in 1994 and reached number one in the UK and number two in Australia. The album contained the singles “Voodoo People” and “Poison”, both of which were huge hits in the UK.
In 1996, the band released their third album, The Fat of the Land, which reached number one in fifteen countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, France, and Australia. The album contained the singles “Breathe” and “Smack My Bitch Up”, both of which were massive hits worldwide.
The Chemical Brothers
Formed in 1989 by Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, The Chemical Brothers are one of the most iconic and well-respected techno groups of all time. Hailing from the UK, The Chemical Brothers helped to pioneer the big beat genre with their signature sound of heavy basslines and distorted breakbeats. Over the course of their career, The Chemical Brothers have released eight studio albums and won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards.
Their History
The Chemical Brothers are an English electronic music duo composed of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, originating in Manchester in 1989. Along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, and other acts, they helped to pioneer the big beat genre in the early 1990s. In 1999, they received five MTV Video Music Awards for their work on the surf film Blue Crush.
The pair also won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for “Block Rockin’ Beats” at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards. They have released eight studio albums which have peaked at number one in the United Kingdom albums chart and have sold more than 15 million albums worldwide as of 2015. Their first three albums formed what is commonly referred to as their “experimental” phase, a period of more abstract musical creation that culminated with the release of Exit Planet Dust in 1995; this was followed by their “big beat” phase which produced Dig Your Own Hole (1997) and Surrender (1999). The duo’s fourth album Push The Button (2005) was notable for its mix of grime sounds with acid house elements; it topped both charts upon release and led to their being nominated as joint winners of that year’s Mercury Prize.
Their fifth album, We Are The Night (2007), released to generally positive reviews topped the UK Albums Chart on 16 June 2007. It was nominated for 2007 Album of the Year at the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony, losing out to Foo Fighters’ Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. In 2010 they released Further; this topped the UK chart on 15 August 2010 and was nominated for Best Dance/Electronica Album at 54th Grammy Awards but lost out to LCD Soundsystem’s This Is Happening’. In 2016 they returned with their eighth studio album Born in Echo which entered at number two on 4 March 2016.
Their Music
Of the myriad techno producers playing in nightclubs throughout the world in the early 1990s, few had as significant or as long-lasting an impact as the Chemical Brothers. Blessed with a perfect sense of timing, a keen pop sensibility, and an innate understanding of how to translate their music to the big screen, Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands quickly became one of the most successful and influential electronic acts of their generation.
After a string of well-received singles, the duo released their debut album, Exit Planet Dust, in 1995. The record was an instant hit in the U.K., where it reached number one on the charts; in the U.S., it paved the way for countless subsequent techno and electronica acts looking to break through to a mainstream audience. The album’s follow-up, 1997’s Dig Your Own Hole, was even more successful, spawning several hit singles and cementing the Chemical Brothers’ reputation as one of electronic music’s most innovative and popular groups.
Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim is a DJ and electronic dance music producer who achieved mainstream success in the 1990s. His best known single is “Praise You”, which was a number-one hit in the UK. He has also achieved success with the singles “Right Here, Right Now” and “Weapon of Choice”.
His History
Fatboy Slim, AKA Norman Cook, is one of the most iconic techno artists of the 90s. He got his start in the music industry as a member of the band The Housemartins. After the band broke up, he started his solo career and found immense success with his second album, Better Living Through Chemistry. The album spawned several hit singles, including “Praise You” and “The Rockafeller Skank.” Fatboy Slim went on to release several more successful albums throughout the 90s and early 2000s. He remains an active touring artist to this day.
His Music
Fatboy Slim is considered one of the most influential figures in the electronica genre . He began his career as a jazz and acid house DJ in Brighton. In 1996, he released his debut album Better Living Through Chemistry to critical acclaim. The album spawned the singles “Santa Cruz” and “Gangster Tripping”.
In 1998, Fatboy Slim released his second album You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby. The album was a major commercial success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and spawning the hit singles “The Rockafeller Skank”, “Praise You”, and “Right Here Right Now”. In 2000, Fatboy Slim released his third album Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars. The album was another commercial success, reaching number two in the UK and spawning the singles “Wonderful Night” and “Sunset (Bird of Prey)”.
Fatboy Slim’s fourth album Palookaville was released in 2004. The album reached number three in the UK and spawned the singles “Slash Dot Dash” and “Don’t Let the Man Get You Down”. In 2006, Fatboy Slim released his fifth album The Greatest Hits – Why Try Harder. The album reached number one in the UK and spawned the singles “Champion Sound” and “That Old Pair of Jeans”. In 2010, Fatboy Slim released his sixth album Bem Brasil. The album reached number two in the UK and spawned the single “Weapon of Choice”.
The Crystal Method
The Crystal Method is an American electronic music duo formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland in the early 1990s. The Crystal Method’s music has appeared in numerous TV shows, movies, and video games. They have released five albums, with their most recent album, Legion of Boom, being released in 2014.
Their History
The Crystal Method is an American electronic music duo formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland in the early 1990s. The band’s music has featured in numerous TV shows, films, video games, and advertisements. They have released six studio albums, two compilations, and a remix album.
The Crystal Method’s first album, Vegas (1997), sold more than three million copies worldwide and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). After the release of their second album, Tweekend (2001), Kirkland took a hiatus from The Crystal Method to focus on his family life; he did not return to the group until 2005. Jordan and new member Tyler Bates continued to record and tour worldwide until Bates’ departure in 2010. Jordan has since returned to performing shows with other musicians.
In 2011 they announced a new album featuring Le Castle Vania, entitled DivisionARY (stylized as D/W/U/R/G/E). It was released on April 5th of that year to positive reviews. On October 28th of 2016 it was revealed that The Crystal Method would be touring in early 2017 with support from fellow electronic artist Hypnogaja.”
Their Music
The Crystal Method is an American electronic music duo formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland in the early 1990s. The duo’s music has featured in numerous TV shows, films, video games and commercials. They have sold over three million records worldwide. Kirkland died in January 2016.
The band’s first album Vegas was released in 1997 to critical acclaim and commercial success, selling over two million copies worldwide and spawning the singles “Don’t Hold Back”, “Keep Hope Alive” and “Busy Child”. Their second album Tweekend was released in 2001, followed by Legion of Boom in 2004, Division of Power in 2006 and the fifth album Self-titled The Crystal Method in 2008.
Leftfield
Leftfield is a British electronic music group formed in 1989 by Neil Barnes and Paul Daley. They are one of the pioneers and most influential acts of the 90s techno music scene. Their debut album “Leftism” is considered a classic of the genre and is still widely regarded as one of the best techno albums of all time.
Their History
Leftfield is a musical project formed in 1989 by Paul Daley and Neil Barnes. Primarily a duo until 1994, they were joined by former Deacon Blue drummer Dave Rowntree for the recording of their second album, Rhythmethod in 1995. Daley left after the release of the album, but Barnes continued to record and release music under the Leftfield name until 2002.
Leftfield’s debut album, Rhythm and Stealth, was released in 1999 to critical acclaim and commercial success. It entered the UK Albums Chart at number two and was certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Their second album, Rhythmethod in Dub, was released in 1995 and peaked at number six on the UK Albums Chart. It was certified gold by the BPI.
Their Music
Most of Leftfield’s music is instrumental. “Release the Pressure” is a notable exception, with Earl Sixteen providing vocals. Leftfield’s songs are often lengthy, and they frequently change tempo or direction about halfway through. A distinctive feature of many of their remixes is the use of distinct staccato rise sequences towards the end of each song, similar to the work of early Chicago house producers such as Liddell Townsell and Marshall Jefferson.
