The best of Techno albums by 
guzguzgarbit 
Techno is hard to catch up with. Because it has always been an underground genre, its boundaries between other genres are thin; its key figures are numerous and often controversial. Techno spawned so many sub-styles, many remain unnamed and sparsely documented.
As with much of the underground electronic styles, Techno producers only rarely wandered in the land of long players, and even if we seem to be in a long awaited period of Techno album releases, there are many amazing producers who never released a satisfying album.
For those reasons making a techno album chart is quite a challenge. While looking online, most charts I found were either very short, of clearly focused on one particular sub-style. Because of this, I wanted to include the most possible variety in this chart, while trying to keep it as clear as possible of other genres.
I chose to select only one album by alias. It might sound restrictive, but du to the increasing number of albums in the waiting line, I simply couldn't do otherwise. You will also only see (except n°9 & n°50, look at the notes) true albums or albums that at least were composed with the intention of being played in their entirety. So no DJ mixes, no compilations and no EPs packed together to give an illusion of album (which was fairly frequent).
What you have here is the best of the best albums I've heard that can qualify as techno.Because I'm not perfect, there are obviously some overlap with House, IDM or others, and I've probably missed quite a bunch of important players, but hey, this is why I'm here anyway, find great music!
Styles/Current/Inspirations are only here to give a vague idea of the sound and are often pretty much made up and/or my interpretation, don't give them too much credit. The notes aren't always 100% accurate, but I'll do my best.
Enjoy!
(Chart still in progress / notes in the making)
Suggestions are much welcomed.
- Chart updated: 08/19/2021 19:45
- (Created: 03/27/2019 18:03).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 4 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and The best of Techno albums has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 3 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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Label: Blanco Y Negro
Style: Classic Detroit Techno with touch of synths strings that gives the usual laidback Carl Craig sound.
Current: Detroit 2nd Wave
Inspirations: Krautrock
Few producers can pretend having had as much influence and legacy on techno as Carl Craig. Spanned over his many aliases and collaborations, he released tracks and remixes on almost every techno label worth mentioning such as R&S, Transmat or Basic Channel while managing his own Planet E imprint. His most famous work might be the Paperclip People anthem "Throw", but his true artistical masterpiece certainly is his debut album released under his real name: Landcuising. Due to different issues, most notably an atypical choice of label (Blanco Y Negro having released almost no techno) and a puzzling lack of single release, the album never had the success it deserved. A shame, because it's the perfect cinematic showcase to Craig's many talents. Landcuising is packed with everything techno has to offer from club bangers to complex ambient soundscapes. It's also all created with a true album intention, a way that was almost inexistant for techno at that time. Craig later made an update in 2005 for anyone who would find the sound to have aged, but for me, it's best to hear it in its full '95 glory. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
Style: Classic Detroit Techno with touch of synths strings that gives the usual laidback Carl Craig sound.
Current: Detroit 2nd Wave
Inspirations: Krautrock
Few producers can pretend having had as much influence and legacy on techno as Carl Craig. Spanned over his many aliases and collaborations, he released tracks and remixes on almost every techno label worth mentioning such as R&S, Transmat or Basic Channel while managing his own Planet E imprint. His most famous work might be the Paperclip People anthem "Throw", but his true artistical masterpiece certainly is his debut album released under his real name: Landcuising. Due to different issues, most notably an atypical choice of label (Blanco Y Negro having released almost no techno) and a puzzling lack of single release, the album never had the success it deserved. A shame, because it's the perfect cinematic showcase to Craig's many talents. Landcuising is packed with everything techno has to offer from club bangers to complex ambient soundscapes. It's also all created with a true album intention, a way that was almost inexistant for techno at that time. Craig later made an update in 2005 for anyone who would find the sound to have aged, but for me, it's best to hear it in its full '95 glory. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
0
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Label: Inteam
Style: Proto-Techno
Current: Krautrock
Inspirations: ?
The inclusion of Göttsching's experimental Krautrock masterpiece so high up in a techno chart might disturb some purists, and it's easily understandable. But I couldn't restrain myself. E2-E4, in its own way, sound like techno: the drum kit programmation, the relentless loops and the sounds brings it closer to techno than most of its 80s counterparts. But searching for the oldest techno album never motivated my choice. Because even by being one of the oldest albums of the batch, it's very much one of the best, and certainly the most consistent one. Almost an hour of sheer progression and development around a few chords loop has never been so well executed, so much as if it would have been released yesterday, it would still hold this spot. [First added to this chart: 05/15/2019]
Style: Proto-Techno
Current: Krautrock
Inspirations: ?
The inclusion of Göttsching's experimental Krautrock masterpiece so high up in a techno chart might disturb some purists, and it's easily understandable. But I couldn't restrain myself. E2-E4, in its own way, sound like techno: the drum kit programmation, the relentless loops and the sounds brings it closer to techno than most of its 80s counterparts. But searching for the oldest techno album never motivated my choice. Because even by being one of the oldest albums of the batch, it's very much one of the best, and certainly the most consistent one. Almost an hour of sheer progression and development around a few chords loop has never been so well executed, so much as if it would have been released yesterday, it would still hold this spot. [First added to this chart: 05/15/2019]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,333
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Label: Kompakt
Style: Blend Tech House, IDM and Pop
Current: German New Wave*
Inspirations: Tech House, IDM
If you took a glance at my overall chart, you may have noticed that Chromophobia is a personal favorite of mine. For me it's no wonder, as this bit contains everything I usually seek when listening to techno: catchy beats, chip melodies and a killer sense of rhythm and progression. But this one contains even more... It starts as a usual Tech House collection of singles, and after the intro "Scene 1" are featured 6 of the usual dancefloor stompers. But then with "Malá Strana" (Little Side), it's time for an hypothetical side B to unveil. Then 6 mellower, closer to IDM tracks are played making the album something else entirely. I chose the first albums on this chart mostly for their originality, and in my point of view, I rarely heard something as atypical and refreshing as this.
*Note: What I call GNW is mostly the Tech House outburst that took part in the mid to late 00s mostly on German labels like Kompakt. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
Style: Blend Tech House, IDM and Pop
Current: German New Wave*
Inspirations: Tech House, IDM
If you took a glance at my overall chart, you may have noticed that Chromophobia is a personal favorite of mine. For me it's no wonder, as this bit contains everything I usually seek when listening to techno: catchy beats, chip melodies and a killer sense of rhythm and progression. But this one contains even more... It starts as a usual Tech House collection of singles, and after the intro "Scene 1" are featured 6 of the usual dancefloor stompers. But then with "Malá Strana" (Little Side), it's time for an hypothetical side B to unveil. Then 6 mellower, closer to IDM tracks are played making the album something else entirely. I chose the first albums on this chart mostly for their originality, and in my point of view, I rarely heard something as atypical and refreshing as this.
*Note: What I call GNW is mostly the Tech House outburst that took part in the mid to late 00s mostly on German labels like Kompakt. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
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Label: Harthouse
Style: Acid Techno / Acid Trance
Current: German Techno
Inspirations: Acid House
For me, something happened during the turn of the 90s with techno, not that there was nothing before, but that pretty much everything changed since. And it was partly due to a few germans like Basic Channel or Hardfloor. Formed in 91 as an Acid/Hard Trance combo, the duo of Bondzio and Zenker started adding elements of techno to their creations and quickly obtained a never equaled Acid Techno sound. But while they could have, like most producers of the time, continue to produce dancefloor-killer singles they decided to settle on the edgy choice that was making an album. It's certainly fueled by the outstanding landmark that is Acperience 1, but make no mistake, there are no filler here. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
Style: Acid Techno / Acid Trance
Current: German Techno
Inspirations: Acid House
For me, something happened during the turn of the 90s with techno, not that there was nothing before, but that pretty much everything changed since. And it was partly due to a few germans like Basic Channel or Hardfloor. Formed in 91 as an Acid/Hard Trance combo, the duo of Bondzio and Zenker started adding elements of techno to their creations and quickly obtained a never equaled Acid Techno sound. But while they could have, like most producers of the time, continue to produce dancefloor-killer singles they decided to settle on the edgy choice that was making an album. It's certainly fueled by the outstanding landmark that is Acperience 1, but make no mistake, there are no filler here. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
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Label: Internal
Style: Breakbeat / Techno
Current: ?
Inspirations: Electro/Ambient
Orbital was one of the first band I got to when I started listening to techno. It was their early hit Chime that blew my mind, but their first album, as good as it was in 91, never managed to bring me as much satisfaction as the second did. Orbital 2 is simply flawless. It's more experimental than almost any techno record from the time, but it's still perfectly well executed and produced, while managing to give a real full-length experience rather than the average collection of tracks. Along with the two on top of this chart, these are the three I really consider essential. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
Style: Breakbeat / Techno
Current: ?
Inspirations: Electro/Ambient
Orbital was one of the first band I got to when I started listening to techno. It was their early hit Chime that blew my mind, but their first album, as good as it was in 91, never managed to bring me as much satisfaction as the second did. Orbital 2 is simply flawless. It's more experimental than almost any techno record from the time, but it's still perfectly well executed and produced, while managing to give a real full-length experience rather than the average collection of tracks. Along with the two on top of this chart, these are the three I really consider essential. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
Year of Release:
1993
Appears in:
Rank Score:
466
Rank in 1993:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Label: Boxer
Style: Techno with a slight touch of Tech House and Minimal Techno
Current: German New Wave
Inspirations: Various
Along with Chromophobia, A Raver's Diary is one of the centerpieces of the cultural evolution of techno from the rhythm-driven madness it was in the early 00s to the laid-back minimalistic crossover it is in the early 10s. Minimal Techno and Tech House can both be traced back to the late 90s with label such as Force Tracks or Playhouse, but again its entry into more mainstream audience of these late years certainly have something to do with Dusty Kid's debut. Again, not a weak track here, but instead a blend of blissful melodies, complex rhythmic phrases, state of the art production and calculated progressions. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
Style: Techno with a slight touch of Tech House and Minimal Techno
Current: German New Wave
Inspirations: Various
Along with Chromophobia, A Raver's Diary is one of the centerpieces of the cultural evolution of techno from the rhythm-driven madness it was in the early 00s to the laid-back minimalistic crossover it is in the early 10s. Minimal Techno and Tech House can both be traced back to the late 90s with label such as Force Tracks or Playhouse, but again its entry into more mainstream audience of these late years certainly have something to do with Dusty Kid's debut. Again, not a weak track here, but instead a blend of blissful melodies, complex rhythmic phrases, state of the art production and calculated progressions. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
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Label: F Communications
Style: Sample based/Acoustic Techno
Current: French Touch
Inspirations: Classic Techno/Free Jazz
Of course Laurent Garnier was already a key figure in 2000 when his third album came out, having released in 93 Choice's Acid Eiffel or his own Crispy Bacon in 97 and two artist albums. But only this one is really worthy of his talent. Unreasonable Behaviour continues Garnier's studio experimentations with darker ghostly performances that almost sound like freestyle improvisations. But the greatest part is the fusion of acoustic instruments with synthetic ones, as shown in "The Man With The Red Face" and its Saxophone parts. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
Style: Sample based/Acoustic Techno
Current: French Touch
Inspirations: Classic Techno/Free Jazz
Of course Laurent Garnier was already a key figure in 2000 when his third album came out, having released in 93 Choice's Acid Eiffel or his own Crispy Bacon in 97 and two artist albums. But only this one is really worthy of his talent. Unreasonable Behaviour continues Garnier's studio experimentations with darker ghostly performances that almost sound like freestyle improvisations. But the greatest part is the fusion of acoustic instruments with synthetic ones, as shown in "The Man With The Red Face" and its Saxophone parts. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
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Label: Sonar Kollektiv
Style: Deep House/Techno
Current: German New Wave
Inspirations: Chicago House/Detroit Techno
Even if the techno side of Âme is a slight one, I couldn't let one of my favourite, and often overlooked record go unnoticed. But much more than a whim of my behalf, I'll explain the reasons of its inclusion. First, because Âme is an incredible hommage to the pioneer of House and Techno in the form of the album they never released. Second, it's probably one of the earliest blend of Techno and Deep House I can think of in the form of an album, and if it's much more frequent nowadays, I'd like to think that Wiedemann and Beyer have something to do with it. And last, but not least, because these two made one of the most soulful electronic record ever made. Hiding in the absurd, often meaningless names of tracks like "Hydrolic Dog", "Sun Sugar" or "Shiro", I can feel the hundreds souls (Âmes in french) of the great artists that inspired the record... [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
Style: Deep House/Techno
Current: German New Wave
Inspirations: Chicago House/Detroit Techno
Even if the techno side of Âme is a slight one, I couldn't let one of my favourite, and often overlooked record go unnoticed. But much more than a whim of my behalf, I'll explain the reasons of its inclusion. First, because Âme is an incredible hommage to the pioneer of House and Techno in the form of the album they never released. Second, it's probably one of the earliest blend of Techno and Deep House I can think of in the form of an album, and if it's much more frequent nowadays, I'd like to think that Wiedemann and Beyer have something to do with it. And last, but not least, because these two made one of the most soulful electronic record ever made. Hiding in the absurd, often meaningless names of tracks like "Hydrolic Dog", "Sun Sugar" or "Shiro", I can feel the hundreds souls (Âmes in french) of the great artists that inspired the record... [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
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Label: Border Community
Style: IDM-ish Techno with kicks that kick hard
Current: The Border Community has one of its own
Inspirations: IDM/Progressive House
When I heard The Inheritors, I thought James Holden would never have an album worthy of inclusion, not that it was by any means bad, but because in 2013, his minimal/IDM oriented style of Techno was already loosing speed. Then, I remembered his mini-album released in 2006, and there it was, lying in a pile of dusty CDs, the gem. Full of interludes and more than 30 minutes long, it's easy to consider it as a real album, and when you do, it hits right the spot. It's in Holden hard-hitting kick, overtly synthetic sounds and calculated effects that a very special kind of beauty is found. There is nothing like it. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
Style: IDM-ish Techno with kicks that kick hard
Current: The Border Community has one of its own
Inspirations: IDM/Progressive House
When I heard The Inheritors, I thought James Holden would never have an album worthy of inclusion, not that it was by any means bad, but because in 2013, his minimal/IDM oriented style of Techno was already loosing speed. Then, I remembered his mini-album released in 2006, and there it was, lying in a pile of dusty CDs, the gem. Full of interludes and more than 30 minutes long, it's easy to consider it as a real album, and when you do, it hits right the spot. It's in Holden hard-hitting kick, overtly synthetic sounds and calculated effects that a very special kind of beauty is found. There is nothing like it. [First added to this chart: 03/27/2019]
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Label: R&S
Style: Heavy Techno
Current: Belgian techno
Inspirations: Detroit Techno/Chicago House
I often forget that Belgium had an important part in the techno of the early 90s. R&S was pretty much the label to watch at the time and CJ Bolland one the greatest to ever have emerged from this country. He made an excellent 3 part series of EP called "The Ravesignal" started in 1990 and The 4th Sign is supposed to be its culmination in the form of an album. Albums, this early on, are usually EPs, just longer than usual. But this one is not. It truly plays in the broadest range of techno possible and shows Bolland giving his absolute finest, from the heavy rhythmical "Thrust", the complex drums of "Jungle Man" to the loveable House-inspired anthem of "Camargue". [First added to this chart: 07/12/2019]
Style: Heavy Techno
Current: Belgian techno
Inspirations: Detroit Techno/Chicago House
I often forget that Belgium had an important part in the techno of the early 90s. R&S was pretty much the label to watch at the time and CJ Bolland one the greatest to ever have emerged from this country. He made an excellent 3 part series of EP called "The Ravesignal" started in 1990 and The 4th Sign is supposed to be its culmination in the form of an album. Albums, this early on, are usually EPs, just longer than usual. But this one is not. It truly plays in the broadest range of techno possible and shows Bolland giving his absolute finest, from the heavy rhythmical "Thrust", the complex drums of "Jungle Man" to the loveable House-inspired anthem of "Camargue". [First added to this chart: 07/12/2019]
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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The best of Techno albums composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1970s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1980s | 3 | 3% | |
| 1990s | 48 | 48% | |
| 2000s | 36 | 36% | |
| 2010s | 13 | 13% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| MRI | 1 | 1% | |
| Isolée | 1 | 1% | |
| Convextion | 1 | 1% | |
| Slam (UK) | 1 | 1% | |
| Benjamin Damage | 1 | 1% | |
| Hardfloor | 1 | 1% | |
| Drexciya | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
29 | 29% | |
 |
22 | 22% | |
| |
19 | 19% | |
| |
6 | 6% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
The best of Techno albums chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 35th to 34th Machine Make Noise by Harvey McKay |
| Up 1 from 34th to 33rd Wicker & Steel by Perc |
| Up 1 from 33rd to 32nd Dream Sequence by Blake Baxter |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 4 from 32nd to 36th Neptune's Lair by Drexciya |
| Down 2 from 29th to 31st The Secret Tapes Of Dr. Eich by Paperclip People |
| Down 1 from 36th to 37th Azimuth by Kenny Larkin |
| New entries |
|---|
 Elemental Assetsby Estroe |
| Leavers |
|---|
 Quality Exertionby Maetrik |
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89/100 (from 3 votes)
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Showing all 3 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 100/100  | 06/22/2020 17:42 |  LedZep | | 84/100 |
| 100/100 | 01/04/2020 13:44 |  Tha1ChiefRocka | | 96/100 |
| 100/100 | 04/05/2019 16:27 | Graeme2 | | 94/100 |
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100/100
From LedZep 06/22/2020 17:43
LedZep 06/22/2020 17:43
I know like 5 albums here, but the chart looks incredible. I'll definitely be checking some of those.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Tha1ChiefRocka 01/04/2020 13:46
Tha1ChiefRocka 01/04/2020 13:46
A fantastic resource. One I've been using recently.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Luigii 06/26/2019 18:42
Will give these albums a listen at some point. So far I am listening to Unreasonable Behavior and that record for the most part slaps. Almost done with it but could see it getting either an 85 or 90 from me.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From Graeme2 04/05/2019 16:27
Graeme2 04/05/2019 16:27
Great chart idea. Few favourites in there.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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