The History of (Hypnotic) Techno:
Techno music as we know it today developed in the 80’s from various genres of music (Electronic Pop, EBM, New Wave, Electro, (Italo) Disco, House, High-Tech Funk, Detroit Techno, (Acid) House, New Beat, … in various parts of the world (Manchester, Leeds, Bern, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Berlin, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Ghent, Amsterdam, … )
The first time that was referred to this new style of music with the name “Techno” was by the German DJ Andreas Tomalla aka Talla 2XLC who in 1982 used “Techno” as a shortened label for the bins of his record store with “technologically created electronic music”. In 1983 one could hear the word “Techno” as a sample on the track “Hypnotic Tango” from My Mine. Also the word “Techno” was used in the title of Cybotron’s track “Techno City” from 1984. Andreas Tomalla (Talla 2XLC) also organised electronic music events in Frankfurt in 1984 under the name “Technoclub”. In 1988 a UK compilation album was released called “Techno! The New Dance Sound Of Detroit” compiled by Neil Rushton and Derrick May, which gave official birth to the name “Detroit Techno” to describe the “Techno” music coming from Detroit at that time.
Here is an overview of some essential (Proto-)Techno tracks that influenced and/or shaped the genre:
1980:
Joy Division : As You Said (Incubation 2)
1981:
Kraftwerk : It’s More Fun To Compute
Grauzone : Film 2
Liasons Dangereuses : Los Ninos Del Parque
1982:
Charanjit Singh : Raga : Bhairavi
1983:
My Mine : Hypnotic Tango (Original 12″ Mix)
Cybotron : Clear
1984:
Cybotron : Techno City (12″ instrumental)
Chris & Casey : Dancing Ghosts
1985:
Model 500 : No UFO’s (Instrumental Mix)
1987:
Phuture : Acid Tracks
Derrick May : Strings of Life
1988:
Mr. Fingers : I’m Strong (Track)
Ecstasy Club : Jesus Love’s The Acid
Blake Baxter : Sexuality
Inner City : Good Life (Radio Mix)
Bam Bam : Where’s Your Child ?
Armando : 100% of Disin’ You (Mike Dunn’s House Mixx)
1989:
Dr. Baker : Kaos (Mix1/Baby Mix)
Liaisons D : Future FJP
Petra & Co : Just Let Go (Dub)
Landlord feat. Dex Danclair : I Like It (Blow Out Dub)
A Guy Called Gerald : Voodoo Ray
1990:
Joey Beltram : Energy Flash
Cybersonic : Technarchy
LFO : LFO (The Leeds Warehouse Mix)
D.H.S. / Dimensional Holofonic Sound : The House of God (Unholy Version)
Robert Armani : Armani Tax (R. Armani Original Mix)
Subliminal Aura : Ease The Pressure (Mental Mix)
Fierce Ruling Diva : Whipped Kream
Quazar : The Seven Stars
Turntable Hype : Turntable Hype (Amsterdam Mix)
Price 2 Pounds : Curiosity (Wake Up Version)
Suburban Knight : The Art of Stalking (Stalker Mix) / The Worlds
Robert Armani : Circus Bells (Ful Length Original Mix)