North Korea and 'Hackers': Revisiting Some of The Film's More Obscure Electronic Music Contributors

The FBI came forward with one the year's most anticlimactic announcements today: Yes, North Korea, was responsible for the massive hack on Sony's websites that exposed boatloads of otherwise hidden information while simultaneously threatening American lives if The Interview ever made it to theaters. Hacking is a problem that the average internet uses is just barely familiar with, but events such as this and perhaps even future cyberterrorism will change that quickly.

The film Hackers gathered acclaim when it was released during 1995 because it focused what was then a relatively new concept, the internet. Even then the film made the potential for cybercrime seem intimidating, with a cast of high school students (including Angelina Jolie) extorting corporations with computer hijinks.

The film also featured a soundtrack that caught the eye, largely made up of electronic music that seemed to walk hand-in-hand with the plot considering both its "digital" nature and that most listeners weren't familiar with the form. All electronic music fans now recognize names such as The Prodigy and Carl Cox but it was fresh 20 years ago. Check out a few of the more obscure acts featured on the original Hackers soundtrack:

Josh Abrahams

Josh Abrahams, better known as Puretone, was just establishing himself within the Australian electronic music community when his track "Joker" made it onto the Hackers soundtrack. Her released his debut album on Cox's Worldwide Ultimatum label. Perhaps a little too subtle for the album to crack onto the dance charts in the United States or his homeland, "Joker" and its repetitive line made it ideal for background music for a film such as this. He hasn't released an album since 1998 but he's worked extensively in soundtracks, including co-producing Moulin Rouge with Baz Luhrmann during 2001.

Kruder & Dorfmeister

The most common mistake to make with regard to electronic music is assuming that all of it travels at a fast pace. Kruder & Dorfmeister, an Austrian duo, specialize in downtempo or "chill out." There's plenty of sex appeal in their track "Original Bedroom Rockers," in case the title didn't tip you off. While many parents today assume that house music is sex on the dance floor, they forget that the soul musicians of their era were among the sexiest performers of all time. This act definitely owes Marvin Gaye more than any electronic musician for its approach.

Machines of Loving Grace

The Hackers soundtrack ran the gamut of electronic styles, from slow jams like K&D to more aggressive fare favored by acts such as The Prodigy. That also meant including bands that walked the line between true electronic music and rock. Industrial music was near its commercial apex, thanks to Nine Inch Nails' Downward Spiral having started a fire during 1994, so the producers for this album included Machines of Loving Grace (remixed a touch by DJ Sank). The track "Richest Junkie Still Alive" sounds like a more mellow Marilyn Manson.

Plastico

Plastico is easily the most obscure act featured on the Hackers soundtrack. Pete Guzz, the founder of the band, seems to originate from Germany however the album the track "Communicate" was featured on dropped first in Sweden during 1995 in Sweden. This is more straightforward electronic dance music, apparently a hit in a variety of Asian markets after the release of the film.

Ramshackle

Ramshackle has one of the more interesting biographies among bands featured on this list, having worked with iconic rock musicians such as Steve Winwood in the past. The group's jazzier moments will have to wait as it was focused on more of a dub-influence for "Eyes, Lips, Body," the track featured on the Hackers soundtrack. Note to noobs: "Dub" is much less like dubstep than similar to the style of reggae-esque punk favored by acts such as Bad Brains later in its career.