The Top 10 Techno Music Bands You Need to Know About

Techno music has taken the world by storm and these are the top 10 bands you need to know about if you’re a fan!

Introduction

Techno is a style of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1990s. Techno is characterized by a repetitive four on the floor beat, hypnotic soundscapes, and an uplifting or futuristic atmosphere. The genre’s popularity has grown exponentially in recent years, with techno festivals and clubs now operating in cities all over the world.

If you’re new to the genre, or just looking for some good music to dance to, here are 10 techno bands you need to know about.

1. Daft Punk
2. The Chemical Brothers
3. Fatboy Slim
4. The Prodigy
5. Justice
6. Underworld
7. LCD Soundsystem
8. Kraftwerk
9. Booka Shade
10. Modeselektor

The Top 10 Techno Music Bands

Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the mid-to-late 1980s. Techno is characterized by a repetitive four on the floor beat and a synthesized melody. The first techno bands were Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, and Yellow Magic Orchestra.

#10- The Chemical Brothers

The Chemical Brothers are an English electronic music duo consisting of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, who met in Manchester in 1989. They were one of the first groups to be associated with the rave scene, and their 1995 debut album Exit Planet Dust was one of the first albums of its kind to achieve mainstream success.

In 2019, The Chemical Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, becoming only the second dance music act (after Nile Rodgers and Chic) to receive the honor.

#9- Underworld

Underworld is a British electronic group formed in 1980 by Karl Hyde and Rick Smith. They were previously associated with the early rave/acid house scenes. Hyde and Smith began working together in the late 1970s after they met at art school. The duo had several name changes and lineup changes before settling on the name Underworld in 1987, and they released their debut album Change the Weather in 1989.

Underworld’s style has evolved over the years, but they are perhaps best known for their work in the early 1990s, when they released a series of singles that writer Simon Reynolds has described as “the most progressive music being made outside of America”. These singles included ” Cowgirl”, ” Mmm… Skyscraper I Love You”, and “Born Slippy .NUXX”, which was used in the film Trainspotting and became one of Britain’s best-selling singles of all time.

The band has continued to tour and release new music since then, including the albums Second Toughest in the Infants (1996), Beaucoup Fish (1999), A Hundred Days Off (2002), Oblivion with Bells (2007), Barking (2010), and Barbara, Barry & Brian (2019).

#8- Leftfield

Leftfield is a British electronic music band formed in 1989. The band was founded by composer and producer Neil Barnes and DJ Paul Daley. They are perhaps best known for their 1995 release, Leftism, which reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Leftfield’s music style has been described as electronica, techno, acid house, breakbeat hardcore, and dub. Their work has been influenced by artists such as Wicked Lester, James Brown, Augustus Pablo, Fela Kuti, Archie Shepp, and Miles Davis. Leftfield has also been credited with helping to pioneer the genre of big beat.

Leftfield has released three studio albums: Leftism (1995), Rhythm and Stealth (1999), and Alternative Light Source (2015). They have also released a number of singles and EPs, including “Release the Pressure” (1995), “Open Up” (1996), “Duster” (1998), and “El Dronegro” (2015).

#7- Orbital

Orbital is a British electronic music duo formed in 1989, consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. The duo’s name was taken from Greater London’s M25 orbital motorway, which was used as a setting in many of their early tracks. One of Orbital’s earliest tracks, “Chime”, became a UK top 10 hit.p>

The band’s sound is often described as techno, trance, acid house or electronica. They were influenced by early Detroit techno artists such as Derrick May and Jeff Mills as well as the rave culture of the late 1980s/early 1990s. Paul Hartnoll has stated that “the first time we ever heard acid house our minds were blown.”

Orbital was successful in the early 1990s with singles such as “Halcyon + On + On”, “Impact (The Earth Is Burning)” and “Satan”, which were often accompanied by innovative music videos directed by Phil Larson/Edge Design. The band achieved mainstream attention with their single “Belfast”, which was used in a 1993 Levi’s jeans commercial featuring Brad Pitt. In 1995, Orbital composed and performed the score for Julia Sasha Baron Cohen’s short film Themselves alongside David Adamson aka Father Funkenstecker aka Funki Porcini.

The duos last album, Wonky, was released in 2012 and featured guest appearances from Zola Jesus and Lady Leshurr. In October 2014 Orbital announced that they would be going on hiatus again after a short UK tour in November 2014.

#6- The Prodigy

The Prodigy is an English electronic music group from Essex, formed in 1990 by Liam Howlett. The line-up of the band has included Keith Flint (1990–present), Maxim (1990–present), Leeroy Thornhill (1991–2000), and Sharky (1991). Thornhill returned to the band in February 2018 after almost two decades. Their brand of breakbeat techno also incorporated elements of punk rock attitude, hip hop, and drum and bass, as well as typically aggressive vocals from Flint and Maxim.

#5- Fatboy Slim

Born in England in 1963, Fatboy Slim (real name Norman Cook) is a DJ, musician, and record producer who helped bring techno music to the mainstream in the 1990s. He is best known for his hit singles “Praise You” and “The Rockafeller Skank,” both of which were international successes. Fatboy Slim’s style is a mix of electronic dance music genres, including techno, house, and hip hop.

#4- The KLF

The KLF, who also went by the name The Justified Ancients of Mu-Mu, were a British electronic music band who were active throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. The group was founded in 1987 by Jimmy Cauty and Bill Drummond, and had no permanent members throughout its history, with Cauty and Drummond being the only constant members. The group’s name was derived from an acronym for “Kopyright Liberation Front”.

The KLF achieved international notoriety for their various stunts, such as burning one million pounds sterling on a bonfire, as well as releasing a album consisting entirely of silence. They also caused considerable controversy for their 1992 single “Doctorin’ the Tardis”, which was accused of plagiarism. The group’s final release was the 1995 album Chill Out, after which they retired from the music industry and deleted their back catalogue.

#3- Daft Punk

Daft Punk is a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. The two achieved significant popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement; they also had success in the years following, combining elements of house music with funk, techno, disco, rock and synthpop influences. They are known for their innovative and visually distinctive stage performances, leading them to be hailed as “the most successful electronic music band of all time” by NME magazine in a 2002 poll and placed 28th on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list. They were ranked second on Pitchfork’s Top 50 Albums of 2010s list. Rolling Stone listed Daft Punk’s song “Get Lucky” at No. 78 on their list of the 100 Greatest Pop Songs since 1963 while listing discovery as the fourth greatest dance album of all time.

Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and were one of the key acts associated with it. They also had success following this, combining elements of house with funk, techno, disco, rock and synthpop. The duo are known for their innovative and visually distinctive stage performances, often using elaborate costumes to increase their visibility during gigs or public appearances. Daft Punk were placed 28th on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list; they were also ranked second on Pitchfork’s Top 50 Albums of 2010s list and had “Get Lucky” listed at No. 78 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Pop Songs since 1963 list.

#2- Moby

Moby is an American DJ, producer, and musician who first gained fame with his 1992 album “Allesandro.” Since then, he has released a additional 15 albums and has become one of the most well-known techno musicians in the world. His music often incorporates elements of other genres, including punk rock, hip hop, and classical music.

#1- Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin is the stage name of British electronic musician Richard D. James. He is best known for his influential and idiosyncratic work in the techno and ambient genres in the 1990s. He is also a respected IDM artist and has helped shape the sound of that genre since its emergence in the early 1990s as a member of the band salad days. In addition to his solo work, he has collaborated with other artists and has released music under numerous pseudonyms, most notably AFX and Polygon Window.