The heady style is best known for its difficulty. Marked by tangled rhythms and twisted timbres, it grew out of the brow-furrowing, convoluted example set by artists like Aphex Twin and Autechre in the early '90s. It's ironic, then, that classic IDM is often so drenched in tear-jerking melodies. But it also makes sense that such aggressive crunch and soft-focus sentimentalism would go together so well; the silvery, sparkling leads are the spoonful of sugar that helps all that broken glass go down. These are the tracks tomorrow's androids may sing to themselves as they love, hurt, and reminisce.
http://pitchfork.com/features/pitchfork-essentials/9702-emotional-intelligence-a-guide-to-melodic-idm/

15 tracks