Recommendations for Techno: From Classic Masterpieces to Popular Tracks of the 2000s and Beyond

Don’t Laugh (Agent Orange DJ Re-Work)Winx

Don’t Laugh (Agent Orange DJ Re-Work)

A classic Chicago house track featuring an endlessly looping crazy male laugh—Winx’s “Don’t Laugh”—has been given a modern update 20 years on.

It’s tailor-made for peak time, with a massive kick that works in big rooms, a minimal drop, and a deep, mysterious reverb that stands out.

By the way, Winx is an alias of acid house maestro Josh Wink, which makes perfect sense once you know it, doesn’t it?

Energy FlashJoey Beltram

Energy Flash

A monumental masterpiece released in 1990 on R&S Records, one of the most important labels in the history of techno music! This is an undeniable techno classic by Joey Beltram, the legendary techno musician born and raised in New York, USA.

Considering the context of the time—techno’s formative years and the heyday of the so-called rave sound—the overwhelming originality of the track Joey Beltram created, a precocious talent who had been immersed in club culture since his early teens, is truly shocking in how it belongs to no existing category.

Anchored by a powerful beat, fearlessly crafted sonics let freewheeling electronic sounds dart in every direction, yet the overall impression remains cool—surely a feat made possible by his New York roots.

Third WaveWehbba

Wehbba — Third Wave — Drumcode — DC202

If you like music with a dark atmosphere, Wehbba’s “Third Wave” is highly recommended! Wehbba is a Brazil-born DJ who’s active worldwide, and fans also know that his wife is ANNA, one of the top female techno DJs.

He’s especially popular among proper techno aficionados.

This track, produced by him, has strong support from mainstream DJs as well.

It made waves when Oliver Heldens played it at Ultra in 2019.

Fragile (Original Mix)Joseph Capriati

Fragile (Original Mix)

A relatively early popular work by Joseph Capriati, a DJ from Naples, Italy who is active around the world.

His early productions were minimal techno.

Crossing the boundaries of various genres—hard techno, tech house, and house—he has stayed true to his own style and is known locally as the King.

FlashGreen Velvet

Green Velvet – Flash (1995)

Green Velvet, also known as Cajmere.

His real name is Curtis Jones.

He established his signature style by laying mysterious, speech-like vocals over rough, minimalist beats.

Coming out of the Chicago house scene, his style later came to be called “hard house,” further energizing the scene.

Listening now, the bass heft and stripped-down approach of this track feel very techno.

It’s still an anthem you often hear at major outdoor festivals, and you could say it contributed to the rise of tech house into the mainstream.

With that in mind, let’s shift the perspective a bit and present it as a techno track.

The same can be said for Lil’ Louis.

AtmosphereGesaffelstein

Atmosphere

The techno scene’s prince who achieved charismatic popularity.

Gesaffelstein emerged when French electro was fading and became a figure who, in what could be called post-electro, propagated a techno sound that swept up the entire scene.

At the time, his productions and DJ sets were seen only as hard, stoic electro, but as he began influencing the mainstream, his techno-minded approach started to gain recognition as well.

Your MindAdam Beyer & Bart Skils

Adam Beyer & Bart Skils – Your Mind [Drumcode]

A massive hit released by Adam Beyer on his own label, Drumcode.

It’s a distinctive track with earth-shaking low end and a striking use of vocal samples.

While showcasing a spacious, Nordic sense of atmosphere, the synths and rhythm section interwoven with the four-on-the-floor beat are incredibly groovy—perfect for big rooms.

It was the anthem most frequently played at peak time at festivals in 2018.