i feel the need to remind everyone of the fact that techno was originally all about synths and melodies! you don't get more melodic that rhythm is rhythm. the stripped-down, 100% percussive stuff is new by comparison.

that said, another problem melody-aspiring producers fall into is the "i want to sound like my detroit records" syndrome. that's why i don't think aril brikha's album on transmat really did it for me.

i think the most innovative melodic techno i've heard in past years is the mr. barth album on svek. of course, that was 5 or more years ago...