The Techno Music of the 80s You Need to Hear

The 80s were a golden era for techno music, and there are plenty of classic tracks that you need to hear. In this blog post, we’ll be sharing some of the best and most iconic techno tunes of the 80s. So crank up the volume and enjoy!

Introduction

Techno music originated in Detroit, Michigan in the United States in the 1980s. The first techno music was created by African American DJs who were influenced by electronic music from Europe. Techno is a type of electronic dance music that is characterized by a fast tempo, repetitive beats, and synthesized instruments.

The sound of techno music was influenced by disco, new wave, and electro. In the early 1990s, techno music became popular in Europe, particularly in Germany. Techno parties were held in warehouses and clubs, and the music was often played all night long. The popularity of techno music declined in the late 1990s, but it has since experienced a revival.

Today, techno music is enjoyed by people all over the world. If you’re looking to explore the genre, here are 10 essential tracks from the 1980s that you need to hear:

What is Techno Music?

Techno music is a type of electronic dance music (EDM) that emerged in the 1980s. This genre of music is characterized by a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat, typically around 128 beats per minute. It often has a synthesized melody or chord progression, with sparse vocals.

The Birth of Techno Music

The first techno music was created in Detroit, Michigan in the United States in the 1980s. Techno is a type of electronic dance music that is characterized by a repetitive 4/4 beat. This beat is usually produced by a drum machine, and it often has a synthesizer playing a melody or chord over it.

The Development of Techno Music

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the 1980s. It is characterized by a repetitive four on the floor beat and often features synthesizers, drum machines, and vocoders. The first techno productions were released in Detroit, Michigan, by artists such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Eddie Fowlkes. These artists are often credited with developing the style of music known as Detroit techno.

The Techno Music of the 80s

The Techno music of the 80s was a time when the genre was just starting to take off. This was the decade that saw the birth of techno music and the beginning of its popularity. There are a lot of great tracks from this decade that you need to hear.

The Early Years

The techno music of the 80s was a watershed moment for electronic music. This was the era when artists like Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder were pushing the boundaries of what was possible with synthesizers and drum machines, and their influence can still be heard in today’s techno.

However, the 80s were also a time when many different styles of electronic music were being developed, and there was a lot of experimentation going on. This led to the development of numerous subgenres of techno, each with its own distinctive sound.

Here are some of the most important subgenres of techno that emerged during the 80s:

-New beat: A style of techno that was popular in Belgium and England in the late 80s. It was characterized by heavy use of samples, often from pop songs or film soundtracks.

-EBM: A style of industrial music that developed in Germany in the early 80s. EBM is characterized by its aggressive, often repetitive sound.

– Detroit techno: A style of techno that developed in Detroit in the mid-80s. It is characterized by its use of synth basslines and drum machines to create a rougher, more minimal sound.

– Acid house: A style of house music that emerged in England in the late 80s. It is characterized by its use of synthesizers to create “acid” sounding melodies.

The Golden Age

1980s Beirut was a very different place from today. In the midst of a civil war, the city was a cosmopolitan hub for the Arab world, home to a diverse range of cultures and music. Amidst the bombs and bullets, a new form of music was born: techno.

The first techno tracks were created by DJ Pierre, Juan Atkins and Derrick May in Detroit in the early 1980s. Influenced by futurist and African-American artist Afrika Bambaataa, they fused elements of soul, funk and disco with electronic instruments to create a new kind of music that was both futuristic and rooted in the past. As May said: “We wanted to make people move their bodies in a completely new way.”

The sound of techno quickly spread beyond Detroit. In 1986, May founded Transmat records, which released some of the earliest techno tracks, including his own “Strings of Life” (1987), which is still one of the most iconic techno tunes today. In 1987, Atkins founded Cybotron with Richard Davis, releasing the track “Clear” (1982), which is often cited as the first ever techno record.

While techno was developing in Detroit and other parts of the US, it also found its way to Europe, particularly Germany and Belgium. In 1988, Belgian duo Mortal Combat released “Acid Tracks”, which is widely considered to be the first acid house track. This laid the foundations for rave culture in Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

By the mid-1990s, techno had become one of the most popular genres in the world, with artists such as The Prodigy and Daft Punk achieving global success. Today, techno is still going strong, with new subgenres such as trance and minimaltechno constantly emerging. If you want to experience the sound that started it all, check out these 10 essential tracks from the golden age of techno:

Conclusion

In conclusion, the techno music of the 80s was a crucial stepping stone in the development of electronic dance music. The genre is still hugely popular today, and its influence can be heard in many current EDM subgenres. If you’re a fan of techno, or simply want to expand your musical horizons, be sure to check out some of the essential tracks and artists listed above.