The Top Techno Music Artists of the ’90s

A look at the top techno music artists of the ’90s and what made them so popular.

The Early Years

In the early ’90s, the rave and club culture in the United Kingdom was in full swing. The techno music artists of the time were influenced by the electronic music coming out of Detroit and Chicago. The sound was raw and the beats were hard. The top techno music artists of the ’90s were the ones who helped to shape the sound of techno that we know today.

The Prodigy

The Prodigy is an English electronic music band from Braintree, Essex, formed in 1990 by keyboardist and songwriter Liam Howlett. The line-up of the band has included MC and vocalist Maxim, dancer and vocalist Keith Flint (until his death in March 2019), dancer and live percussionist Leeroy Thornhill (who left to pursue a solo career in 1999), and dancer and vocalist Sharky.

Fatboy Slim

During the early years of the ’90s, Fatboy Slim was one of the top techno music artists. He was known for his high-energy live shows and his unique blend of genres, which included elements of hip hop, house and techno. Fatboy Slim’s debut album, Better Living Through Chemistry, was released in 1996 and quickly became a underground hit. His follow-up album, You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby, was even more successful, reaching #1 on the UK charts and selling over 3 million copies worldwide. Fatboy Slim has continued to be a prolific and successful artist throughout his career, with his most recent album, Palookaville, being released in 2004.

The Chemical Brothers

The Chemical Brothers are an English electronic music duo composed of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, who met in Manchester in 1992. They came to prominence with their second album, Dig Your Own Hole, which contained the singles “Block Rockin’ Beats” and “Setting Sun”. Other hits include “Leave Home” and “Hey Boy Hey Girl”.

The Mainstream

In the ’90s, a new sound was taking over the music industry: techno. This new genre was a mix of electronic and dance music that was perfect for clubbing and raves. The ’90s saw the rise of many techno artists who would go on to have successful careers. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the top 10 techno artists of the ’90s.

Moby

Moby is an American techno music artist who first gained prominence in the early 1990s. He is best known for his hit single “Go,” which was a major hit in the U.K. and helped propel him to international stardom. Moby’s music is characterized by its use of repetitive beats and samples, often from other sources such as film soundtracks. He has released 11 studio albums and has sold more than 20 million records worldwide.

Daft Punk

Formed in 1993, Daft Punk is a French house music duo composed of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. The duo achieved significant popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement and had continuous success in the early 2000s as well. They are known for their electronic music and their use of disguises while performing, which they refer to as “robots”.

Daft Punk’s first album, Homework, was released in 1997 to critical acclaim. The duo’s next album, Discovery, was even more successful, reaching the top 10 in several countries and becoming one of the most acclaimed albums of the decade. It included the singles “One More Time” and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”, which have become some of their most iconic songs.

Daft Punk’s third album, Human After All, was less successful commercially but was still well-received by critics. The group’s fourth album, Random Access Memories, was released in 2013 and was their most successful album to date, winning five Grammy Awards including Album of the Year.

The Crystal Method

Formed in Las Vegas in 1993 by Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland, The Crystal Method are one of the most well-known and respected names in the world of techno music. With hit tracks like “Busy Child” and “Keep Hope Alive”, The Crystal Method have continued to produce quality music and remain at the top of their game two decades later. If you’re a fan of techno music, you definitely need to check out The Crystal Method!

The Underground

In the ’90s, the techno music scene was booming. There were countless clubs and parties to go to, and the music was pumping all night long. The techno music artists of the ’90s were at the forefront of this movement, and they were creating some of the best music of the decade. Let’s take a look at some of the top techno music artists of the ’90s.

Leftfield

Leftfield is a name given to a style of electronic music characterized by an open-minded, experimental approach. The style emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was initially associated with the British rave scene. Leftfield artists often incorporate elements of other genres into their music, making use of diverse instrumentation and influences. This innovative approach has resulted in some truly unique and pioneering sounds.

Some of the most popular Leftfield artists of the ’90s include:

Orbital:
Orbital is a British duo who were one of the leading exponents of Leftfield techno in the ’90s. Their unique sound was characterized by complex, layered compositions and a liberal use of samples. Orbital enjoyed widespread critical acclaim and commercial success, with several of their albums reaching the top 10 in the UK charts.

Autechre:
Autechre are another British duo who helped to pioneer Leftfield techno in the ’90s. Their music is known for its abstract, futuristic soundscapes and intricate rhythms. Autechre have been cited as an influential force by many subsequent electronic artists.

Aphex Twin:
Aphex Twin is the stage name of Richard D. James, a British electronic musician who rose to prominence in the ’90s with his pioneering brand of Leftfield techno. His inventive use of samples and unorthodox production techniques led to him being hailed as one of the most innovative producers of his generation.

Orbital

Orbital are an English electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, Kent, consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. The duo’s popularity peaked in the mid-1990s, yet they continue to attract a cult following. They were initially influenced by early acid house and adopted the orbital alias while performing illegal parties around London during the late 1980s. By 1993’s self-titled release and its attendant singles Halcyon On and Sunday, they had begun to find favour with the rave review press developing a devoted live following until 1996’s In Sides confirmed their breakthrough into the mainstream album charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Orbital became widely known for their throbbing, techno influenced sound as well as their use of Angelic choirs, particularly on “Halcyon”.

Aphex Twin

Richard D. James, better known by his stage name Aphex Twin, is an English DJ and electronic musician. He is best known for his influential and idiosyncratic work in styles such as techno and ambient music in the 1990s. He is also the co-founder of Rephlex Records with Grant Wilson-Claridge.

Aphex Twin’s first releases were on 1995 on Rephlex Records. In 1992, James also founded the record label Apollo Records, where he released material under several aliases, most notably AFX and Polygon Window. His 1995 EP …I Care Because You Do was his first release under the Aphex Twin name and became a surprise hit in the UK club scene; its sound was downright hallucinatory, a feverish mélange of samples, blips, bleeps, whirrs and clicks that sounded like little else being made at the time.