This thread is pretty sick. I'm just gonna go ahead and call this thread more generally electronica as opposed to just techno, since techno to me has very specific connotations and there's way more electronic music out there than just techno. This might be one of my favorite threads.
There are a ton of artists on here I've never even heard of; I look forward to checking them out. However, no one's mentioned one of my favorite types of music that y'all should check out if you like live music:
"Livetronica" or "Jamtronica."
It's essentially electronica mixed with varying degrees of live instrumentation, and it's some of the most dynamic, engaging music I've ever listened to. Many artists belong to or are on the fringes of the jam scene, so it's a pretty tight community and a lot of these artists collaborate or tour together. They include:
1. Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9)
http://www.iclips.net/watch/sts9-11
http://www.iclips.net/watch/sts9-8
2. The New Deal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNa084o-TkI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaa5U5PJJq4&feature=related
3. The Pnuma Trio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVF9OXoFaCg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1lvvSvHSj4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VssyDAswM5Q&feature=related
4. Lotus
http://www.iclips.net/watch/lotus-1
http://www.iclips.net/watch/lotus-sonic-bloom-2008
5. The Disco Biscuits (Bisco)
http://www.iclips.net/watch/disco-biscuits-1
Those are just some of the bigger names. Also check out Tribe's label 1320 Records, has a lot of really good music. Closely related to all these guys is a legion of some really cool electronica. I don't have that much time to copy links, but I'll name a few artists worth checking out:
6. Simon Posford- aka Shpongle, Hallucinogenic, Younger Brother. Ambient trance with a world spin.
7. Thievery Corporation. Downtempo, lounge, world music
8. Bassnectar
9. Eliot Lipp
10. Sub-ID
11. Orchard Lounge- Really sick DJ collective.
I'm missing a lot of really great groups; I'll make sure to add more when I get the chance.
...I'm also really into a lot of chill-out music. If you like really nice beats you can dance to as much as you can chill with, check out DJ Mark Farina who's done several cool compilations called Mushroom Jazz. The OM Lounge Label and the Buddah Bar compilations are also pretty nice, and some volumes of Cafe del Mar are okay. bvDub is some of the most amazing ambient music I've ever listened to.
DJ Sasha is the real deal, but I'm sure you've all heard of him before. Gorillaz, anyone?
Edit: Forgot to mention the Chemical Brothers, the Crystal Method, and Bonobo. And like 100 other groups.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YIvueWPDNk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoiGDzWhTV0
Hope you guys dig it. Thanks for the posts, can't wait to share more music with you guys.