The Best Electronic Albums of the 1990s
Our pick of the essential electronic records released in the 1990s, ranked.
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1Dig Your Own HoleThe Chemical Brothers
Dig Your Own Hole
Big-beat at its peak, loud, psychedelic and built for festival fields, climaxing in the swirling 'The Private Psychedelic Reel'. Exhilarating. A defining 90s dance record.
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2MezzanineMassive Attack
Mezzanine
Dark, paranoid trip-hop that traded the warmth of their early work for dread and dub bass, anchored by 'Teardrop' and 'Angel'. Immersive and cinematic. A late-90s landmark.
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3DummyPortishead
Dummy
Smoky, cinematic trip-hop built from scratchy samples, spy-film guitar and Beth Gibbons's wounded vocals. Atmospheric and singular. A defining record of the Bristol sound.
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4Selected Ambient Works 85-92Aphex Twin
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
A foundational ambient-techno record, melodic and warm beneath its machine textures. Hugely influential and still beautiful. The gateway to Aphex Twin's world.
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5The Fat of the LandThe Prodigy
The Fat of the Land
A loud, aggressive crossover smash that took rave energy to rock audiences. 'Firestarter' and 'Breathe' lead it. A defining big-beat record.
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6HomeworkDaft Punk
Homework
The raw, club-focused debut that helped define French house, built from looping funk and acid lines. 'Da Funk' and 'Around the World' still fill floors. Grittier than what followed and hugely influential.
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7SurrenderThe Chemical Brothers
Surrender
A euphoric, song-focused big-beat peak, home to 'Hey Boy Hey Girl'. Polished and joyful. One of their best.
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8You've Come a Long Way, BabyFatboy Slim
You've Come a Long Way, Baby
Big-beat at its most fun and accessible, built from cheeky samples and huge hooks. Inescapable in its moment. A party staple.
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9DubnobasswithmyheadmanUnderworld
Dubnobasswithmyheadman
A landmark of intelligent dance music, hypnotic and emotional, stream-of-consciousness vocals over deep techno. Immersive and acclaimed. A 90s classic.
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10Orbital 2Orbital
Orbital 2
A landmark of melodic, emotional techno, home to 'Halcyon'. Lush and immersive. A genre cornerstone.
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11LeftismLeftfield
Leftism
A landmark of progressive house and dub-techno fusion. Deep and influential. A defining 90s dance record.
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12PlayMoby
Play
A blues-and-gospel-sampling electronica blockbuster that soundtracked an era. Warm and ubiquitous. A crossover landmark.
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13Moon SafariAir
Moon Safari
A lush, retro-futurist downtempo landmark of warm synths. Dreamy and beloved. A chill-out classic.
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14Music Has the Right to ChildrenBoards of Canada
Music Has the Right to Children
Hazy, nostalgic electronica of half-remembered childhood, woozy synths and found voices. Warm, eerie and beloved. A modern ambient touchstone.
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15Richard D. James AlbumAphex Twin
Richard D. James Album
A frantic, melodic drill-and-bass peak of beauty and chaos. Inventive and beloved. A genre landmark.
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16Music for the Jilted GenerationThe Prodigy
Music for the Jilted Generation
A dark, aggressive rave-to-rock pivot. Loud and acclaimed. A genre high point.
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17ViolatorDepeche Mode
Violator
The album that made them stadium-sized, marrying dark synth-pop to real songcraft on 'Personal Jesus' and 'Enjoy the Silence'. Sleek and brooding. Their peak.
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18DebutBjörk
Debut
A vibrant, eclectic solo debut blending pop, house and jazz. Inventive and beloved. A breakthrough.
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19PostBjörk
Post
An eclectic, adventurous record swinging from techno to big-band. Inventive and acclaimed. A creative peak.
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20HomogenicBjörk
Homogenic
A bold, beat-driven art-pop peak of strings and volcanic emotion. Singular and acclaimed. Her masterpiece.
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21Endtroducing.....DJ Shadow
Endtroducing.....
A landmark instrumental hip-hop record built entirely from samples. Cinematic and influential. A production milestone.
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22Blue LinesMassive Attack
Blue Lines
Often credited with inventing trip-hop, a slow, soulful blend of hip-hop, dub and soul that set a template for the decade. Smooth and innovative. A genuine pioneer.
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23MaxinquayeTricky
Maxinquaye
A murky, paranoid trip-hop landmark of blurred vocals and dread. Atmospheric and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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24Exit Planet DustThe Chemical Brothers
Exit Planet Dust
A grimy, funky big-beat debut. Loud and beloved. A genre landmark.
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25Better Living Through ChemistryFatboy Slim
Better Living Through Chemistry
A fun, sample-heavy big-beat debut. Bouncy and beloved. A genre highlight.
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26ExperienceThe Prodigy
Experience
A vibrant rave-era debut of breakbeat hardcore energy. Fun and influential. The start of their run.
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27Beaucoup FishUnderworld
Beaucoup Fish
A polished, melodic techno peak. Immersive and beloved. A high point.
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28In SidesOrbital
In Sides
A lush, emotional techno peak of melodic depth. Immersive and acclaimed. A high point.
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29SnivilisationOrbital
Snivilisation
A politically tinged, intricate techno peak. Immersive and acclaimed. A high point.
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30Tri RepetaeAutechre
Tri Repetae
A cold, intricate IDM landmark of machine rhythm and texture. Challenging and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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31AmberAutechre
Amber
A warm, melodic early IDM peak. Inventive and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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32Hard Normal DaddySquarepusher
Hard Normal Daddy
A frantic, jazzy drill-and-bass peak. Inventive and beloved. A genre highlight.
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33Songs of Faith and DevotionDepeche Mode
Songs of Faith and Devotion
A heavier, gospel-and-rock-tinged peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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34TimelessGoldie
Timeless
An ambitious drum-and-bass landmark of orchestral scope. Bold and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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35New FormsRoni Size
New Forms
A jazzy, ambitious drum-and-bass landmark that won the Mercury Prize. Bold and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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36...I Care Because You DoAphex Twin
...I Care Because You Do
A textured, melodic peak balancing ambient and acid. Inventive and beloved. A high point.
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37RemedyBasement Jaxx
Remedy
A vibrant, maximalist house debut of carnival energy. Fun and influential. A dance landmark.
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38The Orb's Adventures Beyond the UltraworldThe Orb
The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld
A sprawling, ambient-house landmark of cosmic drift. Immersive and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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39Orbital (Brown Album)Orbital
Orbital (Brown Album)
A landmark debut of melodic, emotional techno. Immersive and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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40Feed Me Weird ThingsSquarepusher
Feed Me Weird Things
A frantic, jazzy drum-and-bass debut. Inventive and beloved. A genre highlight.
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41IncunabulaAutechre
Incunabula
A warm, melodic IDM debut. Inventive and beloved. A genre cornerstone.