For many years, I didn't have a specific music preference. Instead, I just listened to whatever happened to be playing at the time. Then, in 1995, a little movie called Mortal Kombat came out, and I discovered Techno. After buying the soundtrack, I started collecting albums from groups whose songs I'd liked, and collected soundtracks from a few other movies for breadth. Even though my tastes have drifted away over the years, I still pull out the Mortal Kombat soundtrack every now and then for nostalgia.
Techno
Orbital
Although clearly inheriting from House sensibilities, Orbital is difficult to peg as any one genre given how broadly their songs vary. It's my sincere opinion that they made some of the greatest music on the planet.
Some of my personal favorites:
- Green Album: Belfast, Oolaa, and Choice
- Snivilization: Forever, I Wish I Had Duck Feet, and Attached
- In Sides: The Girl with the Sun in Her Head, The Box (standard, radio edit, and vocals mix), and Halcyon (Live)
- The Middle of Nowhere: Way Out, Otoño, Nothing Left, and Style
- The Altogether (2CD American release): Funny Break, Oi!, Doctor?, Illuminate, Bigpipe Style, Monorail, An Fhomhair, and Beelzebeat
- Blue Album: Transient, Pants, Lost, You Lot, and One Perfect Sunrise
Recommendations: while vintage Orbital is nothing to sneer at, I believe that they really hit their stride around the time In Sides came out. Anything from Snivilization to The Middle Of Nowhere will probably not disappoint, and even their weakest release The Altogether is quite catchy (especially if you browse the bonus disc). Also, keep an eye out for the huge number of soundtracks out there with an Orbital cameo or two. But stay away from the soundtrack from The Beach; even Orbital can't improve the sound of Leonardo DiCaprio's voice.
Juno Reactor
Juno Reactor is, erm, interesting; this group jumps around often, with a core Trance/House sensibility (aside from the occasional Traci Lords collaboration, which tosses something vaguely rockish into the mix). This probably reflects the fact that the membership of the band has few constants from disc to disc, Ben Watkins excepted, and even he spends a lot of time on side projects.
Unfortunately, their real gems are widely scattered across their released albums:
- Transmissions: High Energy Protons and 10,000 Miles
- Beyond the Infinite: Guardian Angel, Feel the Universe, and Mars
- Samurai (single): Samurai and Labyrinth
- Bible of Dreams: God is God and High Energy Protons (Orion Mix)
They have two new albums that I haven't yet listened to: Shango (October 2000) and Labyrinth (October 2004).
Recommendations: generally older is better, but don't count the newer stuff out.
Honorable Mentions
- Underworld
- The Crystal Method
- Leftfield
- Moby
- The Orb
- Gravity Kills
Alternative
Alanis Morissette
A lot of people seem to have a harsh opinion of her, especially her singing voice, but she manages to capture something magical and bottle it.
- Jagged Little Pill: The entire freaking album
- Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie: Sympathetic Character, Unsent, So Pure
- Under Rug Swept: Hands Clean