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.

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1. (=)

Landcruising 

 Carl Craig

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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]

Year of Release:

1995

Appears in:

13 charts

Rank Score:

34

Rank in 1995:

430

Rank in 1990s:

4,158

Overall Rank:

26,562

Average Rating:

 75 (10 votes)

Comments:

0

17. (=)

My Sol Dark Direction 

 Suburban Knight

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[First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

2003

Appears in:

3 charts

Rank Score:

4

Rank in 2003:

1,759

Rank in 2000s:

17,612

Overall Rank:

92,516

Average Rating:

 72 (1 vote)

Comments:

0

20. (=)

Left Above The Clouds 

 Winx

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[First added to this chart: 04/03/2019]

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

4 charts

Rank Score:

14

Rank in 1996:

795

Rank in 1990s:

7,272

Overall Rank:

47,603

Average Rating:

 74 (3 votes)

Comments:

0

21. (=)

Deep Space 

 Model 500

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[First added to this chart: 02/11/2020]

Year of Release:

1995

Appears in:

15 charts

Rank Score:

20

Rank in 1995:

599

Rank in 1990s:

5,767

Overall Rank:

37,437

Average Rating:

 73 (12 votes)

Comments:

0

31. (29) 2

The Secret Tapes Of Dr. Eich 

 Paperclip People

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[First added to this chart: 04/19/2019]

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

9 charts

Rank Score:

32

Rank in 1996:

498

Rank in 1990s:

4,322

Overall Rank:

27,815

Average Rating:

 76 (5 votes)

Comments:

0

32. (33) 1

Dream Sequence 

 Blake Baxter

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[First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

3 charts

Rank Score:

3

Rank in 1991:

1,428

Rank in 1990s:

16,753

Average Rating:

 72 (1 vote)

Comments:

0

36. (32) 4

Neptune's Lair 

 Drexciya

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[First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1999

Appears in:

38 charts

Rank Score:

355

Rank in 1999:

56

Rank in 1990s:

668

Overall Rank:

4,042

Average Rating:

 78 (35 votes)

Comments:

2

37. (36) 1

Azimuth 

 Kenny Larkin

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[First added to this chart: 11/20/2019]

Year of Release:

1994

Appears in:

6 charts

Rank Score:

4

Rank in 1994:

1,211

Rank in 1990s:

12,420

Overall Rank:

84,064

Average Rating:

 72 (4 votes)

Comments:

0

42. (41) 1

X-101 

 X-101

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[First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1991

Appears in:

3 charts

Rank Score:

5

Rank in 1991:

983

Rank in 1990s:

11,319

Overall Rank:

76,274

Average Rating:

 74 (2 votes)

Comments:

0

60. (59) 1

Todayisthetomorrowyouwerepromisedyesterday 

 Stacey Pullen

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[First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

2001

Appears in:

2 charts

Rank Score:

2

Rank in 2001:

2,143

Rank in 2000s:

23,895

Average Rating:

 72 (1 vote)

Comments:

0

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Total albums: 19. Page 1 of 2

The best of Techno albums composition

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

The best of Techno albums similar charts

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
Electronic	Graeme2	Custom chart	2020
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s	guzguzgarbit	2000s decade chart	2019
Top 100 Albums of the 2000s	Resident Advisor	2000s decade chart	2010
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums	guzguzgarbit	Overall chart	2025
Best Techno albums of all time	panapsal	Custom chart	2020
Top 63 Music Albums of 1996	guzguzgarbit	1996 year chart	2020
Top 66 Music Albums of 1994	guzguzgarbit	1994 year chart	2020
Top 51 Music Albums of 2006	guzguzgarbit	2006 year chart	2020
Top 54 Music Albums of 1995	guzguzgarbit	1995 year chart	2020
Top 40 Greatest Music Albums	IDM	Overall chart	2014

The best of Techno albums similarity to your chart(s)

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The best of Techno albums ratings

Showing all 3 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
100/100  !	06/22/2020 17:42	LedZep	1,105	84/100
100/100  !	01/04/2020 13:44	Tha1ChiefRocka	54	96/100
100/100  !	04/05/2019 16:27	Graeme2	213	94/100

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The best of Techno albums favourites

Showing all 2 members who have added this chart as a favourite

NoisyBeast

Graeme2

The best of Techno albums comments

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Rating:  

100/100

From LedZep 06/22/2020 17:43 | #254168

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)

Rating:  

100/100

From Tha1ChiefRocka 01/04/2020 13:46 | #246404

A fantastic resource. One I've been using recently.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From Graeme2 04/05/2019 16:27 | #234535

Great chart idea. Few favourites in there.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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