First and foremost, the group responsible for every uber German techno automaton stereotype, Kraftwerk. The first video is the popular "Autobahn," released in 1974, with animation added by Roger Mainwood in 1979. It is credited as being the first popular song of electronica music. The second video is Kraftwerk's early 80's release "Tour de France." The video is a little dull (just cyclists, nothing else), but about 20 seconds in you hear what is probably electronica's most familiar melody. It was surprisingly a popular song with breakdancers.
On the topic of breakdancing, here's an 80's classic from Herbie Hancock with "Rockit." With its beats, shock pops, and the best scratching solo ever, it remains the anthem of the early 80's breakdancing movement.
If you prefer humans instead of robots dancing the robot, try Break Machine's "Street Dance."
The Art of Noise's "Moments in Love" is one of the most haunting and ethereal songs in pop music. The video is for the radio friendly four and a half minute version. I have a ten minute mp3 version that still doesn't seem long enough.
On the heavier side, Ministry's "Over the Shoulder" and Skinny Puppy's "Dig It."
This is what happens when you mix electronica with a hippie. The Orb's early 90's hit "Little Fluffy Clouds."
While "electronica" would become a sub-genre of the rave scene, electronica sounding music would become more mainstream with a greater presence on the pop charts. A few progenitors of the movement, Tricky with "Black Steel," Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin Beats," Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up," and Moby's "Porcelain."
With their unique grooves and pure pop melodies, my favorite electronica act is Air. I was hooked with these two songs from their debut Moon Safari, "Sexy Boy" and "Kelly Watch the Stars."
Here's another with an over-catchy pop melody, Ladytron's "Play Girl."
This one is just odd. Australia's the Avalanches with "Frontier Psychiatrist."
Had to include probably my favorite song when I think of electronica, the Chemical Brothers and the Flaming Lips with "The Golden Path."
And last a couple of freaky offerings from Sweden's Naked Ape. The first video, "Fashion Freak," was one of the inspirations behind this weeks electronica theme. They seem to like using sexy zombies in their videos. They do the same with the second video, the much weaker "Undo Redo."
