Essential Electronic Music of the ’90s [Playlist]

June 22, 2012 1:25 PM

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1990s, 4D, 90s, Playlist

As we all celebrate 40 years of 93XRT with the XRT 4D Flashback Weekend: The 1990′s, I reflected back to the decade and realized how music began to meld together starting in the 80′s when Run DMC and Aerosmith on Walk This Way and really came together in the 1990′s with the melding of Rock and Electronic Music as well as the continued influence of Hip Hop on not only pop music but rock as well. Most if not all of these songs you heard if you frequented Medusa’s, Smart Bar, Berlin or the hundreds of underground warehouse parties that were prevalent throughout the early to mid 1990′s.

Here’s a small list in no particular order of just a few of my favorite and essential Electronic Music of the 1990′s.

Massive Attack: A group started by a British Club DJ and a Trip Hop duo and utilizing various musicians and vocalists including Nenah Cherry, Tracy Thorn (Everything But The Girl) and Roots Reggae Singer Horace Andy.

Their 1st break out song which melded dance music, samples, scratching and a chill beat vocals by UK singer: Shara Nelson

Teardrop: Released in 1998, his track from the late 90′s launched the band into the mainstream with vocals by Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Frasier

808 State: A group formed in the late 80′s in Manchester England and specifically named after the infamous drum machine utilized by many electronic musicians, The Roland TR-808

Here’s a song from their 1991 album ex:el released in 1990 this track features New Order’s Bernard Sumner on vocals

Orbital: Consisted of the two UK brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll and were part of the early “acid house” scene in the UK. When they performed live, they often improvised with their music creating epic sound scapes that could last for 10 or more minutes of one song. Perhaps the 1st electronic music live jam band.

Here’s a their Acid House Anthem condensed to just under 3 minutes and 15 seconds for the BBC Pop TV Show Top of The Pops

The Chemical Brothers: Formed in the early 1990s by two childhood friends Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons.
These two along with a few other acts pushed what was known as The Big Beat Sound into the forefront of music. Like other electronic musicians The Chemical Brothers utilized various vocalists including Beth Orton, Noel Gallagher, Bernard Sumner, Hope Sandoval and others on their recordings.

Here’s the video released in 1997 that really opened the door to Electronic Music here in the United States.

The Crystal Method: Formed in 1993 by to former citizens of Las Vegas Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland who made their home in Los Angeles. Their music through the years has been used in hundreds of television shows, movies and video games and their influence on electronic music continues to be heard today.

This song was released in 1997 from their biggest selling albums called Vegas

90 385 Essential Electronic Music of the 90s [Playlist]
Come with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, and the constant strains of “Whatever!” It’s an XRT 4D Flashback Weekend devoted to the 1990′s. We’ll play your favorite songs – whether XRT Listener Poll favorites, guilty pleasures, or long forgotten obscurities. It’s the decade of the championship Chicago Bulls, the Clinton White House, the birth of Google, DVDs, eBay and Viagara.
Starting at 9am tomorrow (Friday), we offer you nothin’ but Nineties, continuing right through the weekend. Hope your memories are as pleasant as ours!