I haven't really been listening to electronica/dance for very long, but three records I really like are:

1. DJ Shadow - Entroducing
2. Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album
3. Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children

Wondering what other albums people would rate highly and/or recommend

AIR - Talkie Walkie from this year is excellent, and i just bought Felix Da Housecat's album Devin Dazzle And The Neon Fever, it's excellent one of my fav's this year so far.

Boards of Canada's Geogaddi and Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works 85-92. Selected Ambient Works vol. 2, and I Care Because You Do from the artists you already mentioned.

Otherwise, there's so much... what kind of electronica are you talking about? Drill'n'bass? "IDM"? "Experimental electronic music"? Drone? House? (*shudders*)

I'd recommend the last two Fennesz albums to anyone, just to start- Endless Summer and Venice. Live in Japan is also great.

Prefuse 73 - One Word Extinguisher
DJ Shadow - ENDtroducing....
The Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land

I'm mostly into house and don't really listen to much of the other dance/electronica stuff.

these house albums comes higly recommended:

Kenny Bobien - Blessed

Masters At Work - Our Time Is Coming

Scott Grooves - Pieces Of A Dream

Bustafunk - Bustafunk

Adeva - Adeva (from way back in 1989 and a real history lesson in house music history)

Incognito - Future Remixed

Kerri Chandler - Tronisphere

MJ Cole - Sincere (probably the best UK Garage album ever released)

Blue Six - Beautiful Tomorrow

Miquel Migs - Colorful You


and I haven't even started listing the welth of quality compilations out there yet...

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Otherwise, there's so much... what kind of electronica are you talking about?

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Well, the problem is I'm not really too sure...what got me into the stuff in the first place was radiohead and reading about what they like (hence the aphex twin and dj shadow). That said, I have heard both of Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient recordings and, while I like them both, I'm more into the skittery drum'n'bass(?) beats on Richard D James. As vague as it sounds, I like things that are layered interestingly and that have good (not necessarily accessible) melodies. Also, danceability isn't really a factor. Given that, I guess I'm more into IDM or drum'n'bass.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: HappyTimeHarry,

I'm pretty new to dance/house music, but Daft Punk and Basement Jaxx have some great tunes in their catalogue.

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Originally posted by St. Ides Heaven:
Well, the problem is I'm not really too sure...what got me into the stuff in the first place was radiohead and reading about what they like (hence the aphex twin and dj shadow). That said, I have heard both of Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient recordings and, while I like them both, I'm more into the skittery drum'n'bass(?) beats on Richard D James. As vague as it sounds, I like things that are layered interestingly and that have good (not necessarily accessible) melodies. Also, danceability isn't really a factor. Given that, I guess I'm more into IDM or drum'n'bass.

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Try Squarepusher for a jazzy take on the Richard D. James drum'n'bass type outings. Feed Me Weird Things, Hard Normal Daddy, Ultravisitor, and his Miles Davis masterpiece Music Is Rotted One Note.

A bit in harder territory is Venetian Snares. Try Songs About My Cats for amelodic but insanely impressive drum'n'bass, or Winter in the Belly of a Snake for something far more melodic and highly interesting (though quite dark).

Of course, the populists' electronica, Boards of Canada, is always worth a look.

Have you tried the Prefuse 73 album? There's a reason for its critical acclaim. I don't really like his first one, Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives, much.

In Aphex Twin territory, listen to I Care Because You Do: it's essentially a prototype for Richard D. James. Also, I would recommend Drukqs, though no one else seems to like it.

I'd say Summer Make Good is pretty damn good, as well, but a lot of people just can't get over her voice- if that means you, I would STILL recommend their first album, Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK, which has no vocal presence and is very much like a kinder, gentler Aphex Twin, though still quite glitchy. I prefer their second, Finally We Are No One, though it does have vocals (albeit far less than on Summer Make Good.)

For more dark-dance territory, Two Lone Swordsmen's Tiny Reminders (I'm not sure yet how much I like their new one) and Trans Am's The Red Line (I most definitely do not like their new one) are good ones to check out.

Four Tet's Rounds, of course, is terrific, and you should check it out if you haven't already. It's IDM, I guess. It's very pastoral-type electronica.

Chris Clark's Empty the Bones of You, which came out last year, falls into your stated territory as well, so I would check it out.

The Metamatics have churned out several quality albums that have a vague affiliation to the IDM aesthetic; I would check out Spook Tinsel Shoal and From Death to Passwords When You're a Paper Aeroplane.

I think a group you would definitely like is Autechre. They have had an interesting career that has seen them change their style significantly. Listen to Amber, Incunabula, Tri Repetae++, LP5, and Confield. They're all terrific.

I think you would also like Amon Tobin, another legend in this mid-electronica range that encompasses Autechre and Aphex Twin. Bricolage, Permutation, and Supermodified are top-notch, and Out From Out Where doesn't fall too much lower.

For great dance music, get Coldcut's 70 Minutes of Madness.

Of the other techno legends, the biggest one is probably the UK's Orbital. Their recording output has been somewhat spotty of late, however- pick up Orbital 2, In-Sides, and Snivilisation, and quit after that. Speaking of Orbital, Underworld's Dubnobasswithmyheadman and Second Toughest In The Infants are also great.

I've never liked Mouse on Mars very much, but they're very well-beloved. I'm told that Idiology is their best. Tread with caution.

That should give you plenty to start off with

Damn! Nicely done Vykromond, you could almost close this topic now after your excellent suggestions! I'd only add to check out Kid 606, especially Kill Sound Before Sound Kills You, as well as The Action Packed Mentalist Brings You The F***ing Jams if you can find it.

I'm sorry but do u guys really listen to electronica or dance songs on your free time or sumtin???

I thought they only played them in clubs!

Sorry just sounds weird!!

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Originally posted by Brian:
I'm sorry but do u guys really listen to electronica or dance songs on your free time or sumtin???

I thought they only played them in clubs!

Sorry just sounds weird!!

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Besides big beat, rave, happy, house, techno, etc., most electronic music feels just weird to dance to, but that's just me. Trip-hop's beats are way too slow to really dance to, for example, and despite drill 'n' bass' many, many BPM, it doesn't come off like good party or "dance" music. Elsewhere, turntablism (DJ Shadow, DJ Q-Bert) is too mellow to dance to. To be honest, relatively half of the electronic music out there is just very mellow and not good party music. And then the other side.

Anyways, what Vykromond said, plus µ-Ziq and The Orb. And then there's Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead, Goldie, Air, Bjork, and I second Fennesz.

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Originally posted by Monheim:
Anyways, what Vykromond said, plus µ-Ziq and The Orb.

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Did I really forget both of these? Shame on me! You're right, of course. Lunatic Harness and the early Orb records (U.F. Orb, Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld, etc.) are indispensable.

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And then there's Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead

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I could never file these into electronic, though I guess that's the only place that Portishead fits. I also have had mixed feelings about Dummy since the first time I heard it; part of me loves it, part of me doesn't at all. And I've actually never heard the s/t.

Tricky I've never really gotten into either, absolutely no idea why. Maxinquaye just feels... really, really dated these days, and I only heard it for the first time two or three years ago. It was dated then, as well. His other stuff isn't very good at all, though I've never listened to Pre-Millenium Tension (Millenial? sic?).

Massive Attack is genius: Blue Lines and Mezzanine are nigh-perfect (Mezzanine heartbreakingly so, because you feel as if with just one or two tiny changes it could be the best record ever, and it's so incredible as it is), and Protection has fantastic portions. I was left cold by 100th Window, and I don't think I'm alone.

To the long list I would add the entire new minimalist movement in electronica, which captivates me more than anything recently. Keith Fullerton Whitman's Playthroughs is the linchpin here, predated by Stars of the Lid's The Tired Sounds of... and followed by last year's Steel Wound by Ben Frost (one of 2003's best albums) and this year's Morals and Dogma by Deathprod. That's barely scratching the surface, but hey.

i would recommend Ellen Allien, a german electronica dj/producer. her album Berlinette was one of my personal favourites of last year, and her album of remixes realeased this year is equally as solid.

Check out DJ Cheb i Sabbah, electronic producer/dj from India. There are lots of good groups mixing Indian/Asian rhythms with techno production, but I think he is the best. Tabla Beat Science are pretty awesome as well.

FOR HARDCORE FANS AND THE CURIOUS
some of my favorite electronic sounds:

album/title

The Books - Thought for Food

Aphex - 26 Mixes for Cash (at least as good as The Singles Collection)

Mu-ziq - In Pine Effect

Autechre - Tri Repetae++, EP7 or chiastic slide. the last is the most accessible

Squarepusher - Ultravisitor (latest)

Delarosa + Asora - Agony Pt. 1 (one of Prefuse 73's alter-egos)

FX Randomiz (if you can find it, only one album)

3rd Eye Foundation - haunting Canadian IDM

Add (n) to x - On the wires of our nerves - bombastic tongue-in-cheek German IDM

Godspeed You Black Emperor - lift yr skinny fists to the heavens - haunting orchestral IDM


Cex - Role model - idiot savant IDM like squarepusher + aphex. very good

Mum - summer make good - IDM for children

notwist - neon golden - German future-pop, highly highly recommended.

Cujo - Adventures in foam - jazzy IDM. Tobinesque

Clouddead - cLOUDEAD - IDM on cough syrup. very weird. excellent.

Mouse on Mars - Niun Niggung - organic IDM. the most accessible album.

Bonobo - Dial M For Monkey - funky IDM

Cornelius - Point - very good sample-heavy textured rock. recommended

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Originally posted by Hattoori_Hanzo:
FOR HARDCORE FANS AND THE CURIOUS
some of my favorite electronic sounds:

Godspeed You Black Emperor - lift yr skinny fists to the heavens - haunting orchestral IDM

Clouddead - cLOUDEAD - IDM on cough syrup. very weird. excellent.

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Godspeed You Black Emperor!'s Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven is post-rock, not IDM. This means that they have electronic elements and samples, but they are still more rock than electronic music. Besides, it's not even their most electronic-influenced album, as their debut album is way more loop-heavy with more ambience and such.

cLOUDDEAD are, I believe, experimental hip-hop, but I'm not too learned on the Anticon collective. I should wait for Vykromond to post, because he knows everything.

ok, but I was dumbing it down for the plebes. if you want, I'll go through and give painfully long-winded explanations of each and every group amd album and make sure everyone knows what a music snob I am. I'm sure you weren't more critical because you didn't know half the groups. I made several more errors. want to spot them?

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Originally posted by Hattoori_Hanzo:
I'm sure you weren't more critical because you didn't know half the groups. I made several more errors. want to spot them?

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I know The Books, Aphex Twin, µ-Ziq (though I have not heard In Pine Effect), Autechre, Squarepusher (though I have not heard Ultravisitor), Mum, The Notwist and Mouse On Mars. I don't consider myself an electronic music expert, but I know that Godspeed You Black Emperor! isn't IDM.

If there are more groups there who, despite having electronic elements, aren't electronic music, then you'd be right: I have not heard them, so I cannot be more critical of these errors you made... purposely... or something.

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Originally posted by Hattoori_Hanzo:
if you want, I'll go through and give painfully long-winded explanations of each and every group amd album and make sure everyone knows what a music snob I am.

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Well, uh, yeah. Isn't that why we're all here?

Making sure everybody knows what a music snob I am is the only way I can deal with the crushing emotional pain of knowing that someone, somewhere may think that I am a plebe.

Now Playing: Die Hard on FX. Action Adventure is not my usual cup of tea, so why is it I've seen this movie about a thousand times?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LinnTate,

because it's a sweet movie

and monhey I was sarcastic about spotting the rest of the errors. and about "plebes."

If you think of something else to say directly after posting, please edit your posting,rather than posting two messages one right after the other. Thanks!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KT,