Electronic

Electronic music on vinyl: labels, styles and what collectors look for

In short: The Vinyl Room currently has 2,073 electronic records. Unlike jazz or soul, the focus isn’t on the seventies but spread across five decades – from eighties synth-pop through nineties house, techno and ambient to new pressings of today. A particular strength: the London label Mute, with Depeche Mode and many UK pressings.

What counts as electronic music?

Anything made mainly with synthesizers, drum machines and samplers – and that covers a lot. Synth-pop took electronics onto the radio (Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Yazoo). House developed in Chicago from the mid-eighties, techno in Detroit – two scenes that influenced each other. Ambient is music for listening rather than dancing; Brian Eno coined the term in 1978 with “Ambient 1: Music for Airports”. Add downtempo, electro and plenty of experimental music. The roots reach back to Germany: Kraftwerk, Cluster and Hamburg’s Sky Records.

Why electronic music on vinyl?

Because this music was played on records in the clubs – and a lot of it has only ever come out there. The 12-inch single is the DJ’s working format: wide grooves, lots of punch, often longer versions and remixes you won’t find on any album. With synth-pop and ambient, records are worth it for the artwork and the often lavish editions. And since many runs were small, some pressings sell out fast. An example from our Plattenparty stream: a Kraftwerk compilation drawn from the first albums (“Kraftwerk 1 and 2 and Ralf and Florian”), a 1980 reissue according to Thomas. ▶ Plattenparty video at 1:47:05 ▶ Plattenparty video at 1:49:01

Which labels matter to collectors?

• Mute – London, founded by Daniel Miller in 1978. Our biggest electronic label: Depeche Mode, Erasure, Yazoo, Nitzer Ebb. Its techno offshoot is NovaMute.
• Warp – Sheffield, from 1989: techno, electronica and much of what was later called “IDM”.
• Ninja Tune – London, founded by Coldcut in 1990: downtempo, breakbeat, The Cinematic Orchestra.
• Parlophone – home of the Pet Shop Boys, among others.
• Sky Records – Hamburg: krautrock and early electronics.

From our stock

Mute & NovaMute

Synth-pop

House & techno

Ambient

Browse by style: House · Techno · Synth-pop · Ambient · Downtempo · Electro · Experimental

FAQ

What is the difference between house and techno? House comes from Chicago with roots in disco and soul, often with vocals. Techno comes from Detroit and is cooler, more machine-like and mostly instrumental.

Why do DJs love 12-inch singles? Because the bigger disc leaves room for wide grooves and a higher cutting level – more punch – and many remixes only came out on 12-inch.

What is synth-pop? Pop music with synthesizers as the main instrument – big in the eighties with bands like Depeche Mode, Erasure or the Pet Shop Boys.

Where does the term “ambient” come from? From Brian Eno: his 1978 album “Ambient 1: Music for Airports” gave the style its name.

Do you have new, still sealed electronic records? Yes, some are still factory sealed. You’ll find them under the condition “Mint / Sealed” in the filter.

→ Grading explained · How to spot a first pressing · The Collector’s Room · Plattenparty on YouTube