Wednesday, August 21, 2024
by Tat
Last month we explored some of the most sought after Hardcore Rave and records released in the 1990s. I heard from a couple of fellow record hunters who commented on how much they had enjoyed the article and how it left them mentally searching their collections to see which ones they owned. This time I have scoured Discogs huge database to see which techno records are selling for the highest prices from a scene that began four decades ago.
The usual rules apply in that records must have sold on more than a few occasions for over £100 and that the majority or all of copies for sale are listed at that price or over. It’s a bad mistake to think a record is worth a lot based on just someone’s listing. In reality, it is worth that price if multiple people buy it and continue to. The value of records change continually and yesterday’s bargain basement find might be tomorrow’s vinyl gold.
Below are ten records that have been classified on Discogs as techno but we all know that the genres and styles categories in Discogs are open to debate and criticism. The following tracks sound like techno to me, but then again we could all disagree as to what techno is, especially given all of the subgenres. I have made a point to avoid test pressing and white labels when a formal pressing has been released. Depending on how the marketplace fluctuates, the chances are that you will have to pay over £100 for any of these. The big question is, have you got any in your collections? If so, I will offer you £10 for it.
There are records that get better with age and this is one of them. Beautifully produced, uplifting British techno from the minds of the little known Mark Goddard and Bianca. There are copies on Ebay for over £500 and if you think that is a lot, then it has sold on Discogs for £800. The record has sold on multiple occasions for over £500 which backs up that a lot of people highly rate this. It is not surprising as it is arguably one of the most complete releases in techno’s long history. Only released as a promo, it begs the question why no further releases followed by the artist or label. Pure gold.
https://www.discogs.com/release/967958-Truth-The-End
Released across two clear vinyl 12s and 7 inch via the collective’s own imprint in 2010, it is a culmination of their ten year’s work. It is faceless techno by definition and takes in a broad range of influences with sparse tribal dancefloor killers alongside deep space anthems like Falling The Same Way. If cassettes are your thing, then you will be pleased to hear that you can pick up a copy with most of the tracks on for a fraction of a price.
https://www.discogs.com/release/2619151-Sandwell-District-Feed-Forward
It is a shame that Gerald’s seminal Voodoo Ray takes up so much bandwidth from his incredibly rich back catalogue of releases. Thankfully unlike so many we have featured in our lists, this one has been repressed by Velocity Press, the publishers behind so many authoritative books about the dance music scene. Trip City Mambo falls somewhere between house and techno, with having to wear the hat of tech house. Again this is a track that stands the test of time well with the flip side Valentines Theme also sounding good. Copies have gone for over £200 and the originals remain up there, so I suggest you go pick up a repress before their value goes through the roof.
https://www.discogs.com/release/227656-A-Guy-Called-Gerald-Trip-City
When you see a label called ‘Somewhere In Detroit’ you have to hope for their sake they have the music to back up the location. In this case, there is no cause for concern as Underground Resistance’s short run sub label delivered some excellent music between 1995-97 with a brief return in 2006. Holland’s EP is very much abstract, engaging in experimental activities with a high techno alongside ultra leftfield subterranean beats.
https://www.discogs.com/release/57362-Andre-Holland-Abstract-EP
F.U.S.E AKA Richard Michael Hawtin carved his own sound in the early 1990s via his co-run Plus8 label in Canada and this compilation is a history of those outputs. Whilst it might work out cheaper to buy both Dimension Intrusion (1993) and a handful of F.U.S.E 12 inches, it is clear that Dimensions is a much sought after artefact. Whilst only six copies have sold in four years on the platform, the cheapest one has gone for £200. If you have that kind of money then you might also be interested in the Plastikman styled Frenkenberger sweater that retails for £559. The triple and double albums are pressed on white vinyl, just in case you were wondering about the high value ;-).
https://www.discogs.com/release/13502955-FUSE-Dimensions
A second Somewhere In Detroit release to make it into our top ten and this one has all the hallmarks of a UR EP. Very much of its time when Mike Banks et al were at one of their creative highpoints. Subversive Communication stands out as the prime track with a tribal feel to it and everything you would expect from techno’s most militant group. This increasingly sells for over £100 and with over 1300 Discogs nuts having it on their wantlist, you will have to be quick to grab a copy less than the one currently on there for £280.
https://www.discogs.com/release/57354-Underground-Resistance-Radioactive-Rhythms
Like most in this list, coming out of the U.S. this is part techno, part breaks and part IDM. 5 Gal. has a hint of classic early 90s Sheffield feel about it in places before breaking into some kind of cosmic electronic jazz. There are also elements of acid and trance in the EP, so it is not as pure as some of the others in this list. Just a solitary release on this label and under this artist name, and whilst it might not be a stand out track for many, there is an appetite to pay three figures to own a copy by multiple buyers.
https://www.discogs.com/release/1398692-Hubble-Deep-Field-Untitled
One label that is often overlooked as being an important mover in the early UK techno and house scene was Smooth & Simmons’ Wax Factory Productions. The label may have only released a handful of records in the early 1990s but they were of a consistently high quality. The Authentic 1’s double header 12 inch is up there with anything that came out in that innovative period. Sub Hurts is the stand out track and is a throbbing, melodic example of proper UK techno that still sounds really good in 2024. This is one of the records that just increases in value over time, so hopefully one day it will get a re-release.
https://www.discogs.com/release/74841-The-Authentic-1-Sub-Hurts-Sweet-Thoughts
As I type this article, I do it in the knowledge that I have a Retroactive T shirt heading my way in the post. I also own a copy of this brilliant record, or at least one of the versions that came out. Featuring one of the best techno tracks of all time with Underground Resistance’s The Theory. Sampling one of the original Star Trek movies (The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few) it is a close companion to their incredible Jupiter Jazz record. Whilst it also features what I would consider a proto trip hop tune by Urban Tribe, although trip hop is just the rerun of cool 1970s smoker’s music. Interestingly, Urban Tribe would later go on to sign for Mo Wax. Whilst BFC’s Please Stand By is another atmospheric techno, breakbeat infused track that still sounds remarkably good. The EP does not stop there as Carl Craig drops his usual science with his Wrap Me In Its Arms, a live sounding futurist jam. Sarah Gregory’s track gets overlooked unfairly as it is a genuinely deep house jam that has not dated in the past 34 years. The most complete EP in this entire list. Not 100% techno but in terms of the artists, this is majestic, faultless and worth every penny.
https://www.discogs.com/release/4495-Various-Equinox-Nite-Day
Interactive Test is one of the most underrated labels of the 1990s for having a slightly leftfield and mature edge to its sound. This is another one in our list which got a repress in 2018 whilst original copies usually got for about the £50 mark, it has been known to break triple figures. Not the purest of techno outings and it might be debatable where this sits in the big scheme of things. The most continental Europe sounding release in our list and perhaps one that has not dated so well, it is still a much sought after record with nearly 800 Discogs collectors after it.
https://www.discogs.com/release/12060074-Farfability-Farfability
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