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Top 20 Techno 90s Rave Tunes

Written by Bill G

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5. Moby – Go (1991)

This is an atmospheric house tune from Moby that still stands the test of time. It was released on a 12″ in 1991 under the “Moby” name but an older version of the song was released the year before under the moniker Mobility, which was one of Moby pseudonyms when he was doing old school acid house for Instinct Records. The difference is that the official Moby release of Go featured an ongoing sample of the theme from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks TV series. The song itself isn’t that complex, but it’s spacey and hypnotic, with the Twin Peaks sample layed alongside chants of “Go”, somebody saying “Yeaahhhh”, and even some piano. Total classic.

4. Eon – Spice (1990)

He who controls the spice, controls the universe!

There’s this weird church in Orlando called H20. It’s completely bizarre, and it’s located in the building that used to be a country bar called 8 seconds. But before *that* it was The Edge, a club we all knew and loved. I saw many bands there, including Ministry and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult and Lords of Acid and Reverend Horton Heat. The best part was when midnight rolled around on Saturday and they changed the music to techno. Well, Eon’s Spice was one of the tunes they almost always played. It has samples from Dune (Lynch’s version – yes, techno artists love Lynch!): The Spice Must flow. And it’s got a futuristic electro feel with assorted bleeps and perhaps a Miami-bass feel. I had never heard a sound like that before, and I thank Ian B. Loveday (RIP) for that.

3. Human Resource – Dominator (1990/1991)

I’m bigger and bolder and rougher and tougher
In other words, sucka, there is no other
I’m the one and only dominator
Wanna kiss myself!

One-rave-wonders Guido Pernet, Johan Van Beek, Jasper Drexhage, Robert Mahu & Larenzo Nash dropped this massive acid track in 1990, and it’s pretty good, but what really made it popular was when Joey Beltram remixed it and turned it into a club smash. This is more of the harder rave sound (but nowhere near gabber/hardcore) and we all loved it back in the day. And show me a techno fan who doesn’t own the Strictly for the Hardcore CD – when I found out the first track was Dominator I was beside myself! There’s also a CD single with 13(!) mixes on it.

2. Orbital – Halcyon + On + On (1992)

The genius of Orbital (Paul and Phil Hartnoll) cannot be overstated. Halcyon is a beautiful song, that’s all there is to it. I like how they take the Kirsty Hawkshaw sample from Opus III ‘s “It’s a Fine Day” and twist it around. Sure, sure – “Chime” and “Satan” have their place in history but I think this song (and the whole “brown” album – Orbital 2) is where they hit their stride. Total bliss.

1. Future Sound of London – Papua New Guinea (1991)

Some people might not even call this song techno. I admit that it might fit under the more umbrella-term “Electronica” but let’s not split hairs. This song came out in 1992 and in 2007 it still sounds brand new. These guys were way ahead of the times and Papua New Guinea shows it. Breakbeat with an ambient flavor – far and away the best electronic tune of the early 90s. In closing I can only quote from this girl: “I remember coming up om an E when this song was playing and doing a back flip. I think my life changed from that moment onwards and I could only accept love and unity from that day onwards. I am so lucky to have been 22 at that time and able bodied.” Amen.

Runners Up/ Honorable Mentions

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182 Responses to “Top 20 Techno 90s Rave Tunes”


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  1. Garry says:
    July 17, 2012 at 7:40 am

    nice one top one get sorted……that’s a typical english type sayin
    ….nice one …well thanks mate….top one….sorta the same but also number 1….get sorted ….well sort of self explanatory…get wrecked, stoned, hammered, bolloxed, caned

    great times and great sounds

    Reply
  2. Edsel Arcibal Calamba Laguna Philippines says:
    September 7, 2012 at 11:27 pm

    Im so impress in the sound of the oldskool especially those sound that will surely catches your attention , Its amazing and make a big crowd of dancers going too hype………………………..Dj Academy Philippines…….

    Reply
  3. Samantha says:
    November 3, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    Bill, I also was at UCF in Orlando from 1991 – 1996! I know every song you posted in yr awesome article here. My good friends opened up the Abyss & that was our hang out for the time it was there. Just wanted to tell you thank you for the walk down memory lane!! With husband and kids now I sure needed it! Thanks again, Sam

    Reply
  4. Lainie says:
    November 11, 2012 at 2:57 am

    Hi – thanks for the trip down memory lane…I do a bit of dj work on the side – and have the lord of acid one in my mix. I like the momentary ‘what the f***’ face the clubbers get and then they get it. But there is one song on my old mix-cds from that time that I also play that people love and I can’t for the life of me remember who did it – can anyone help? I know it will all come to me when I know, but for the moment it’s alluding me – should have been more clear-headed in those rave years… ;)

    The two main lyrics are:
    I’m on a mission from God, listen all you suckas, and
    WHFD start the panic.

    Reply
  5. Haystack says:
    November 27, 2012 at 2:45 am

    These are some great tunes – I revisit the 90-94 techno stuff fairly often, but I totally forgot about Return of the Living Acid “Get Funky” – amazing! Does anyone remember a tune that started with the Roger Miller sample that would end up years later in that annoying Hampster Dance song? It was on a comp I had back in the day & would love to hear it again, even if it’s a cheesy novelty song!

    Reply
  6. Haystack says:
    November 27, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    Yes! That’s it – thanks Bill!! I guess I must have faintly recalled those tunes were on the same comp. Nice to hear them again all these years later …

    Reply
  7. Jay says:
    March 1, 2013 at 10:30 pm

    did i miss josh wink’s higher state of consciosness somewhere?

    Reply
  8. Kenneth says:
    March 25, 2013 at 6:09 pm

    We would like to introduce you to a little thing called STEREO.. First the bass… Then the hihat and snare osv osv. Can someone remember some of this lyrics ?

    Reply
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