Who are "The Beatles" of Dance Music ?

[Karlos Santos]

We are on the same page mate. The Orbs first album was seminal. Mental but amazing all the same.

[lethal_pizzle]

I'd actually put Kraftwerk (and by association Africa Bambaata), Underworld, Orbital, The Orb, FSOL and Goldie and even The Wiseguys (no I'm not talking about THAT Budweiser advert) above The Chems in pushing the boundaries of dance music a bit.

But only Underworld really rivals The Chems in having. so. many. choons.

[lethal_pizzle]

@SirReal: you beat me to the punch, you naughty young trouser.

[lethal_pizzle]

'Bllththblhththblththblththbtltlthe, ah ha ha ha, ah ha ha ha'

Classic.

[SirReal]

I actually saw DJ Shadow open for the Underworld & Chemical Brothers, here in California. Amazing show.

[Karlos Santos]

Yeah all true (loving the FSOL check btw) but the special thing about the Chems for me at least is the way they galvanised (geddit) the dance and Indie crowd.
Yeah i know the Happy Mondays and the Roses did it but the Chems were out and out dance music for Indie kids.

the Chems didnt push the realms of dance music as much as they pushed and included the realms of Indie/Dance.

I suppose the Chems just appealed to a more varied audience.

[lethal_pizzle]

^word

Saw DJ Shadow in Brixton a couple of years back and what was cool about it is he was introducing all the tunes and telling about his inspiration, production methods etc. And the version of Organ Donor he played ROCKED.

[Fyoog]

If you look at it objectively out of all the people mentioned here I would still have to say that The Chems are probably more popular through every angle ie sold more records main stream, still packed stadiums for live tours, performed dj sets in dingy clubs, got into the charts, had their stuff used in film, tv and advertising the list goes on.

Therefore if we're looking at it that way then I would have to say the OP is right, Karlos was right with what he said about daft punk.

I saw The Chems live in Trafalgar Square with the royal college of art doing their VJing!! Was definitely one of the best live shows I have ever seen!!!

In summary for universal appeal like the beatles, I would have to say the op, and in my personal opinion, is right!!

No one has mentioned Prodigy yet?

[lethal_pizzle]

Prodigy: Music for the Jilted Generation is a classic, no fillers, hung together well, had the 'alienation by authority' theme down, 'The Narcotic Suite'. That rare beast: a great 'dance album'.

The others less so. Thought 'The Fat of the Land' even though it was glossy, lacked depth. A bit like a techno version of Blur's 'Great Escape' in fact.

[Fyoog]

The others less so. fact.

Actually yeah, you are right.