10 electronic music anthems of all time
In this first chart I want to talk about some of my favourite tracks ever. In the late 90s /early 00s (my early 20s), I started exploring a whole universe of new music with the help of the old good web forums. That was how my journey into electronic music started.
Some of these tracks are very special because I found them during that phase and the experience of listening to them for the first time was mind-blowing. Others are special because of the memories linked to the people that shared them with me. But all these tracks have something in common, they are atemporal, I could never get tired of listening to them, and would still get goosebumps whenever I listen to them again and again.
I could easily build a list of more than 100 tracks with all the music I discovered during these years. Indeed it would have been easier, I found difficult to cut the list to only 10, but wanted to keep it short.
And these are my 10 favourites, in no particular order.
Depeche Mode — Enjoy the Silence
Included in Depeche Mode’s seventh album, “Violator”, this song is one of their biggest hits ever. And it has one of the catchiest lines that Martin Gore has ever written, “…words are very unnecessary, they can only do harm”.
Massive attack — Unfinished Sympathy
Released as the second single from the band’s debut album, it has been always a signature tune for the band from Bristol. The iconic one-take video showing Shara Nelson street walk in L.A. is one of my favourite music videos ever.
With its glacial harp chords and atmospheric sounds, this song from the “Vespertine” album is a flawless masterpiece, and my favourite Björk’s song.
One of the most epic and powerful tracks of Underworld. I love the dirty synth and the ecstatic Hyde’s repetitive chant “I’m invisible, I’m invisible”.
Chemical Brothers — Out of Control
With its techno sounds and vocals from New Order’s Bernard Sumner, this track from “Surrender” is one of the biggest and most celebrated anthems from the Brothers.
This track from 1983 is a cult classic and one of the best known italo-disco anthems. My favourite cut is the original vocal version, full of woozy synths and wonky beats.
A French-house classic, initially released as a single in 1995, was later included on Daft Punk’s debut album “Homework”. Accompanied by a great video directed by Spike Jonze.
Released on “Kid A”, the 4th album of Radiohead. The track could be enjoyed as its best at live performances, with the wonderful energy the band was able to create, and Thom Yorke killin’ it with his vocals and crazy dance moves.
LCD Soundsystem — Someone great
A sleek, delicate, and effortlessly melodic sliver of electro, included in the 2nd album of James Murphy as LCD Soundsystem. One of LCD’s seals of quality.
This was the album’s title track of the 7th album of the grandfathers of Techno. This album was their definitive synth-pop moment.
For those eager to listen to these hits, I created a playlist on Spotify.
Thanks for reading, and for listening (:
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And if you would like to buy any of the records, you can find them all on beathunter.net, just follow the links on every track.
