The 10 Best 90s Techno Music Videos

The first techno music video was released in 1992 and since then they have become a popular way to experience the music. Techno music videos are known for their visually stimulating effects and their ability to take the viewer on a journey. The best techno music videos transport the viewer to another world and create an unforgettable experience. Here are the 10 best 90s techno music videos.

The Chemical Brothers – ‘Setting Sun’ (1996)

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, who would go on to make films such as Sexy Beast, Birth and Under The Skin, this sci-fi tinged promo for The Chemical Brothers’ first UK number one single is a visual feast. Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands are portrayed as androids who, after a hard night’s clubbing (check out the amazing effects work as they drive home), kidnap Noel Gallagher and force him to play guitar with them.

The Prodigy – ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ (1997)

An accompanying video for The Prodigy’s 1997 single ‘Smack My Bitch Up’, directed by Jonas Odell, features a first-person perspective of a night out in London, involving copious use of illegal substances and plenty of hedonistic clubbing culminating in a violent trip home. The video was badly received on its release and was even banned by MTV, but has since gone on to be regarded as one of the best examples of the medium, with its controversial subject matter and innovative visuals.

Fatboy Slim – ‘Praise You’ (1998)

The 10 Best 90s Techno Music Videos

1. Fatboy Slim – ‘Praise You’ (1998)

2. The Prodigy – ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ (1997)

3. Chemical Brothers – ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’ (1997)

4. Daft Punk – ‘Around the World’ (1997)

5. The Crystal Method – ‘Keep Hope Alive’ (1997)

6. Leftfield – ‘Release the Pressure’ (1996)

7. Orbital – ‘The Box’ (1996)

8. Underworld – ‘Born Slippy .NUXX’ (1996)

9. Aphex Twin – ‘Come to Daddy’ (1997)

10. Moby – ‘Go’ (1991)

Moby – ‘Bodyrock’ (1999)

Moby’s ‘Bodyrock’ was one of the most electro-influenced techno tracks of the 90s, with its distinctive bass line and staccato vocal samples. The song was released as part of Moby’s album Play, and the accompanying music video was directed by Jonas Odell. The video features shots of Moby dancing erratically in front of a blue screen, with his body being contorted and distorted using CGI effects.

Leftfield – ‘Release the Pressure’ (1996)

Leftfield’s ‘Release the Pressure’ was one of the biggest club anthems of the mid-90s, and the video perfectly captured the spirit of the time. Directed by Peter Duckworth, it featured a cast of hundreds dancing in a warehouse, with choreography by Tamsin Fitzgerald. The result was an intoxicating mix of hedonism and escapism, which has gone on to become one of the most iconic videos of the decade.

Underworld – ‘Born Slippy .NUXX’ (1996)

This track was made famous by its inclusion in the Danny Boyle film Trainspotting, and the video is just as iconic. It features a montage of footage from the film, including the famous toilet scene, set to the pulse-pounding techno beat.

The Prodigy – ‘Breathe’ (1996)

Released as the lead single from their third album The Fat of the Land, ‘Breathe’ was a full-on techno assault that featured an unforgettable video. Directed by Walter Stern, it saw The Prodigy performing in front of a throng of people in an abandoned warehouse, with the crowd growing increasingly wild as the song builds to its climax.

The Chemical Brothers – ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’ (1997)

The Chemical Brothers, or as they were originally known, The Dust Brothers, achieved worldwide success with their second album, Dig Your Own Hole, in 1997. The record featured the lead single, ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’, which was accompanied by an equally ground-breaking video.

Directed by Jonas Odell, the video features a series of rotoscoped animations of people breakdancing and roller skating set against a backdrop of urban decay. It was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards and won two for Best Special Effects and Best Editing.

Daft Punk – ‘Around the World’ (1997)

Daft Punk’s ‘Around the World’ was one of the first Techno songs to gain mass appeal, and the music video was a perfect accompaniment. It features the band’s signature robotic helmets and is set in a colourful, trippy world that was years ahead of its time.

The Chemical Brothers – ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’ (1997)
The Chemical Brothers are one of the most influential Techno acts of all time, and ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’ is one of their most iconic tracks. The music video is a perfect example of their mind-bending, visual style and features a cameo from actor Danny Boyle.

Fatboy Slim – ‘Praise You’ (1998)
Fatboy Slim took the world by storm in the late 90s with his unique brand of big beat Techno, and ‘Praise You’ was one of his biggest hits. The music video features a group of people dancing in a public square, and it became an instant viral sensation.

The Prodigy – ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ (1997)
The Prodigy were one of the most controversial Techno bands of the 90s, and their music video for ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ caused widespread outrage. It features explicit footage of drug use, violence and sex, and it was banned from many TV stations.

Underworld – ‘Born Slippy . NUXX’ (1996)
Underworld are one of the most revered Techno bands of all time, and ‘Born Slippy . NUXX’ is their most iconic track. The music video is a perfect example of their visually arresting style, and it features footage from the cult film Trainspotting.

The Chemical Brothers – ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’ (1999)

The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’ was one of the defining anthems of the 90s, a Techno track with a funky bassline, psychedelic production and a instantly catchy vocal hook. The accompanying video was just as iconic, directed bydom & nic it featured a group of androgynous ravers in Day-Glo outfits dancing in front of a series of rapidly changing patterns and images. The video perfectly captured the feeling of euphoria that came with listening to ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’, and helped to make it one of the biggest hits of the decade.

The 10 Best 90s Techno Music Videos