Let’s not underestimate the power that techno has wielded since it’s early conception in the mid-80′s, back room clubs of Detroit during what was a wholly transitional time for music in the 20th Century. A driving force in the underground scene, the sub-genre has held steady it’s foothold in the dance music arena worldwide while many other styles have blossomed then withered away to obscurity.

Anyone who know’s me well will know that one of the things that bugs me most in life is misuse of the term ‘techno’. This is not musical snobbishness. Yes, it’s very true that todays crossover music blurs the edges between the sub-genres more and more – to the point that there is a great difficulty in labelling much of the dance music we hear. However, Techno, as a distinct and documented style of electronic music has been around for over 3 decades.

Let me rephrase that then – ‘abuse’ of the word techno. That’s more like it.

This term is currently bounced about and used to describe almost anything from an up-tempo Justin Bieber song to all that horrible trap shit that’s been infesting the kids brains and the airwaves.

Despite the many styles to have emerged over the years, techno has been around long enough to deserve absolute recognition for the part it has played in todays culture.

What is Techno?

Techno reaches back to the dark ages of dance music and has evolved into a vastly rich and multi-faceted genre, which alongside Chicago house and homegrown UK acid-house stands as one of the long-standing, dark forefathers of much of todays dance music – hell, all of it.

Let’s not underestimate the power that techno has wielded since it’s early conception in the mid-80′s, back room clubs of Detroit during what was a wholly transitional time for music in the 20th Century. A driving force in the underground scene, the sub-genre has held steady it’s foothold in the global dance music arena while many other styles have blossomed then withered away to obscurity.

Techno is one of the definitive, grounding forces of dance music but is destined for eternity to remain at least partially submerged in the underground.. because this is where it gains it’s power. What bubbles up to the surface from those grainy, heaving basement clubs – no matter how filtered or watered down, will always be directly influenced by the pulsating rhythms and throng of the underground techno scene.

So it is with great pleasure that I introduce our very first Get Acquainted playlist .. a hand-picked 60 track, 7 hour journey through the history of techno.. of classics, styles and iconic techno records and some so obscure but representative of that unstoppable sound evolution that you might never touch upon them again. Featuring – in no particular order – influential records that helped to carry the sound all the way from it’s roots in Detroit to Europe and then cement it as an unshakeable substructure for dance music worldwide; Detroit techno, German techno, minimal techno, acid techno, tribal, deep, Italian and everything in between.

Friends & music lovers .. lets kick back to hear 7 hours of the legends and sounds that have shaped 30 years of techno ..

You can also find the playlist here

Get Acquainted Playlist

Renato Cohen – Pontape
DJ Rolando aka The Aztec Mystic – Jaguar
Robert Hood – Minus
Sharpside — Space Cruising
Laurent Garnier – Crispy Bacon
Der Dritte Raum – Trommelmaschine
Plastikman – Spastik
CJ Bolland – Horsepower
Chris Liebing – American Madness
Rhythim Is Rhythim – Strings of Life
Dave Clarke – Southside (12″ Extended Version)
Joey Beltram – Energy Flash
Underworld – Rez
Aphex Twin – Digeridoo
Sven Väth – Ritual Of Life (The Tribal Acid Mix)
Fuse – Substance Abuse
D-Shake – Techno Trance
Speedy J – Red Shift
Public Energy – Three O’ Three
The Hypnotist – This House is Mine
Fix – Flash
3 Phase Feat. Dr. Motte – Der Klang Der Familie
Heartthrob – Baby Kate
Gaiser – Neural Block
Matthias Meyer – Reichenbach
Speedy J – Pannik
Speedy J – Tannga
Marco Bailey – Mojito
Marco Bailey & Tom Hades – Cartman
Agoria – La Onzième Marche (Phil Kieran Mix)
Martyn Hare – To the Grim (Valentino Kanzyani remix)
DJ Rok – Cycle Sluts
Pascal F.E.O.S. – I Can Feel That (Speedy J Mix Part 1)
Virgil Enzinger – Move Beyond
Samuel L. Session – Centrafrique Part 1
Raudive – Here – Len Faki Remix
Thomas Bangalter – Outrun
69 – Rushed
Where You At? – Derrick Carter
Reese & Santonio – The Sound
Juan Atkins – Thought Process
Kevin Saunderson – The Groove That Wont Stop
Kenny Larkin – Dark Disco
Dave Clarke – RED. 2 Wisdom to the Wise
The Martian – Star Dancer
Jeff Mills – The Dancer
Carl Craig – Science Fiction
Neil Landstrumm-Custard traxx
CJ Bolland – Nightbreed
The Aztec Mystic – Aguila
Luke Slater – Class Action
Dopplereffekt – Superior Race
Jeff Mills – The Bells
Damon Wild – Aqua
Underground Resistance – Adrenalin
James Ruskin – The Divide
Monolake – Index
Choice – Acid Eiffel
Latin Lovers – Monika Kruse
Joy Kitikonti – Joyenergizer

We’ve tried to cover as many styles, classics and notable tracks as we can here but could have made the list even longer. Which tracks would you suggest? Anything we missed out?