Introduce me to 'Electronica'., where to start? Options

[Ingram]

Always looking for new avenues of music to explore and although I have ripped off the "Introduce me to the Smiths" thread I think an entire genre should take a lot more time to get into and explain. So... educate me.

[Jessopjessopjess...]

Well, I can make you a CD to begin with! (Pots makes a good mix too, on the chilled side of things).

To begin with however, 'Electronica' is an awkward term, disliked by many artists. But rather than get into that debate, here are some recommendations encompassing many of electronic dance music's (often shortened to EDM) sub-genres, of which there are many.

Legends:

Kraftwerk: Trans Europe Express, Computerworld.
Tangerine Dream: Rubycon, Tangram
Brian Eno: music for airports

Classics:

Orbital: Brown, Snivilsation, In Sides
Underworld: Second toughest in the infants
Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient works 1 & 2
Global Communications: 76:14
Future Sound of London: Lifeforms
Biosphere: Substrata

Contemporaries:

Plaid: Rest Proof Clockwork, Not for Threes
Ulrich Schnauss: Far Away Trains Passing by
Autechre: (Can't think right now!)

There are SOOOO many people I have missed out, and entire sub-genres too, but if you investigate any of the above, they will inevitably lead you to other artists and sounds. Let me know if you'd like a disc putting together! That's probably the best way to go about discovering what you like...

[Ingram]

I knew I could count on you Adam, I'll pm you about a CD if that's ok.

[Jubei]

Fila Brazillia - crackin stuff

[Jessopjessopjess...]

No probs Dave.

Here are some more essential albums anyway:

The Orb: Adventures beyong the ultraverse
Hybrid: Wide Angle
Leftfield: Leftism
The Prodigy: The Prodigy Experience (yes, it's still the best)
The Chemical Brothers: Exit Planet Dust

And more names - Squarepusher, Banco de Gaia, Eat Static, Talvin Singh, Bent, The Egg, Lemon Jelly,

[kid_koala]

autechre, chicks on speed, venetian snares, four tet, coldcut, hexstatic, kid koala and amon tobin are all good 'uns.

generally, check the Ninja Tune and warp records web pages for hot stuff

[superfurryandy]

A good starting point could be compilations such as Orbital's 'Work' or the Chemical Bruvvers single collection.

Would people consider the likes of Depeche Mode & Human League to be electronica - the League Unlimited Orchestra version of Dare still sounds brilliant today.

The Prodigy: The Prodigy Experience (yes, it's still the best)

Certainly is.

[Ingram]

Certainly some musical food for thought, and with a jessop CD promised, all I can say is thankyou.

[ipse dixit]

Second toughest in the infants

My favourite album title ever.

four tet, coldcut, hexstatic,

Eeeee! I cannot wait for the Big Chill - Hexstatic are confirmed to be there again. Coldcut and Four Tet were awesome last year.

[pots]

you see i think 'electronica' is different to 'electronic' music or dance music.

i see bands like prodigy, chemical brothers, leftfield etc as being electronic music or dance music but electronica ( with the 'a' ) means slightly more leftfield or 'odd' - stuff that you listen to nodding your head rather than dancing.

so for me electronica is stuff like eno, four tet, autechre, aphex twin plus newer guys like dntel, album leaf, sybarite, blah de blah.

i don't know if thats what you meant, ingram, but thats how i see it.

and if you want i would be happy to burn you a copy of 'everything your heart desires, the electronica introductory extravaganza' featuring artists such as dntel, sybarite, ulrich schnauss, erland oye, four tet, can, album leaf, mum, arthur russell and howard jones. actually, i haven't got any howard jones but if i did i would stick it on there.

[ipse dixit]

Hmmm....I'm 100% shite at classifying music. I just know what I like.

[Ingram]

i don't know if thats what you meant, ingram, but thats how i see it.

Exactly what I meant pots.

[pots]

Exactly what I meant pots.

ah! tres bon

i knew being really anal about music would come in handy one day.

[philt]

Legends:

Kraftwerk: Trans Europe Express, Computerworld. I'd have Autobahn rather than Computerworld
Tangerine Dream: Rubycon, Tangram Phaedra is better than Tangram
Brian Eno: music for airports I think Ambient 4 On Land works better

Classics:

Orbital: Brown, Snivilsation, In Sides (mmm)
Underworld: Second toughest in the infants agreed
Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient works 1 & 2 Drukts as well
Global Communications: 76:14 - superb
Future Sound of London: Lifeforms - ditto
Biosphere: Substrata -  mmm

Contemporaries:

Plaid: Rest Proof Clockwork, Not for Threes - Nope
Ulrich Schnauss: Far Away Trains Passing by - not heard it
Autechre: (Can't think right now!) - Certainly not Confield though

Interesting although I wouldn't categorise Eno as Electronica (whatever it is) he belongs in to the minimalist school having more in common with Eric Satie, Claude Debussy and John Cage
A few other suggestions - Boards Of Canada "Music Has The Right To Children" is pretty much an essential purchase (more than say Plaid or Orbital),
DJ Shadow "Entroducing",
Terry Riley's "A Rainbow In Curved Air",
The Bladerunner Soundtrack
and the genre defining album "Chill Out" by the KLF.

[Sostie]

I'm very confused! What is Electronica? Never understood the term and with all the names mentioned so far it seems its just music thats "electronic" based - I've seen everything from Republica to Moby to Add N To X in Electronica sections in shops, but I wouldn't normally put them in the same group. When I used to buy my old Aphex Twin singles they were always in the Ambient/Techno section!

Would John Carpenter and early Simple Minds be considered Electronica? Death In Vegas? Lo Fidelity Allstars? Meat Beat Manifesto?(if so that's a few recommendations)

Please help. I am drowning in a sea of genre confusion.