808
August 8, 2008 1:28 AM Subscribe
Not a big fan of 808 State, but the TR-808 was the machine that introduced me to home recording. And for that, I owe my life..
posted by mediocre at 1:34 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by mediocre at 1:34 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
And since this is an Acid House thread, I should ask the people.. Are there any comps that are popularly thought to be definitive in the Acid House genre? I've been in love with the 303 squelch since I was a kid..
posted by mediocre at 1:35 AM on August 8, 2008
posted by mediocre at 1:35 AM on August 8, 2008
oh god i'm x'ing
Stop touching me, I'm trying to work.
posted by louche mustachio at 1:36 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
Massonix aka Graham Massey of 808 State. I enjoyed the aquatic-themed album on Skam.
posted by shortfuse at 2:00 AM on August 8, 2008
posted by shortfuse at 2:00 AM on August 8, 2008
Nothing will ever top the 808 bass drum sound for straight up phat thumpin'. Some clones, like my Xbase09, are close (and the Xbase is different in that it's more a musical instrument than a straight drum machine), but the 808 still stands alone. It, like its brothers/cousins the 909 and 303, the Mini Moog, Leslie speakers, etc. are in that rare class of analog technology that digital emulation will never fully match. Plus, that awesome cowbell that sounds nothing like a cowbell.
And speaking of clones, check out the MB808 - a kit clone that recreates the analog sound component-for-component, with modern improvements such as an improved sequencer, more memory, etc. It's the newest part of the awesome MIDIBox family of DIY custom instruments/sequencers/controllers, the first public firmware release just came out a few days ago.
posted by DecemberBoy at 2:07 AM on August 8, 2008
And speaking of clones, check out the MB808 - a kit clone that recreates the analog sound component-for-component, with modern improvements such as an improved sequencer, more memory, etc. It's the newest part of the awesome MIDIBox family of DIY custom instruments/sequencers/controllers, the first public firmware release just came out a few days ago.
posted by DecemberBoy at 2:07 AM on August 8, 2008
Big fish, little fish, cardboard box. Big fish, little fish, cardboard box....
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:08 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:08 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
8
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:10 AM on August 8, 2008
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:10 AM on August 8, 2008
Are there any comps that are popularly thought to be definitive in the Acid House genre?
Pretty sure everyone used Ataris running Cubase that controlled their synths, samplers and romplers. I was a Mac person, so I didn't know anything about those lame-ass cheapo Ataris, but all the serious musos that I knew had them.
But never mind that. Lets get back to some of this.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:13 AM on August 8, 2008
Pretty sure everyone used Ataris running Cubase that controlled their synths, samplers and romplers. I was a Mac person, so I didn't know anything about those lame-ass cheapo Ataris, but all the serious musos that I knew had them.
But never mind that. Lets get back to some of this.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:13 AM on August 8, 2008
What? No 909? No 909? No 909? No 909090909? No One After 909?
Related, previously.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:13 AM on August 8, 2008
Related, previously.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:13 AM on August 8, 2008
Nothing sounds quite like the 808.
posted by mullingitover at 2:14 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by mullingitover at 2:14 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
808 State blew my mind when I first heard their stuff. I'm a house music lover because of 808 State.
Are there any comps that are popularly thought to be definitive in the Acid House genre?
Wipeout!, Wipeout, Wipeout XL!
posted by gen at 2:17 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
Are there any comps that are popularly thought to be definitive in the Acid House genre?
Wipeout!, Wipeout, Wipeout XL!
posted by gen at 2:17 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
Pretty sure everyone used Ataris running Cubase that controlled their synths, samplers and romplers. I was a Mac person, so I didn't know anything about those lame-ass cheapo Ataris, but all the serious musos that I knew had them.
lolpwnd..
I meant compilation albums.. mixed or not.
posted by mediocre at 2:28 AM on August 8, 2008
lolpwnd..
I meant compilation albums.. mixed or not.
posted by mediocre at 2:28 AM on August 8, 2008
One of my favorite bands of all time. Unbelievably innovative and underrated in their time - they're still the standard in my mind for 4/4 dance music with tons of subtle little flavors and diversions. Other stuff is so dull by comparison. Lots of fun, thanks!
posted by mykescipark at 2:41 AM on August 8, 2008
posted by mykescipark at 2:41 AM on August 8, 2008
I meant compilation albums.. mixed or not.
Right. I have to say, I was struggling to figure out how you'd managed to do Home Recording on a Tandy TRS-80.
I've just fallen out of bed. What can I say?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:52 AM on August 8, 2008
God, Cubik still sounds fucking great. Were the guitars on the original mix? If so, my brain had edited them out.
Re: comps - Soul Jazz put out quite a good Chicago-specific double LP recently.
posted by jack_mo at 3:29 AM on August 8, 2008
Re: comps - Soul Jazz put out quite a good Chicago-specific double LP recently.
posted by jack_mo at 3:29 AM on August 8, 2008
That birdlike sound from Pacific State is an absolute aural touchstone for me. It marks the start point of a lifetime love of House, Electronica, and Trance. I think it was on maybe the second or third CD I ever bought.
Wasn't that a mad time when you had to choose between cassette, vinyl, and CD versions of the same album? Do you get the tape so you can listen to it in the car immediately, or buy the CD and a couple of über expensive Metal tapes? Ahhhh memories.
posted by pivotal at 3:38 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
Wasn't that a mad time when you had to choose between cassette, vinyl, and CD versions of the same album? Do you get the tape so you can listen to it in the car immediately, or buy the CD and a couple of über expensive Metal tapes? Ahhhh memories.
posted by pivotal at 3:38 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
Nice timing on the post. Been waiting long for 8/08/08 to roll around?
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:44 AM on August 8, 2008
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:44 AM on August 8, 2008
Been waiting long for 8/08/08 to roll around?
Sadly not... I did have some thoughts about it earlier in the year then totally forgot about it.
Then Moyles played 808 State at 08:08:08 this morning. Although he talked all over it so I can still throughly hate him (I only still listen to Radio 1 because it's the only station I can decent reception of on my radio alarm)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:56 AM on August 8, 2008
Sadly not... I did have some thoughts about it earlier in the year then totally forgot about it.
Then Moyles played 808 State at 08:08:08 this morning. Although he talked all over it so I can still throughly hate him (I only still listen to Radio 1 because it's the only station I can decent reception of on my radio alarm)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:56 AM on August 8, 2008
Here's some more on Jeremy Deller, the Williams Fairey Band and Acid Brass - damn, I totally forgot they covered 'Cubik' until a few minutes ago
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:00 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:00 AM on August 8, 2008 [1 favorite]
And here's 808 State in a gr8 (sorry) documentary on the Madchester scene
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:10 AM on August 8, 2008
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:10 AM on August 8, 2008
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who kept thinking of these whenever they were going on about the date for the Olympics.
posted by biffa at 5:07 AM on August 8, 2008
posted by biffa at 5:07 AM on August 8, 2008
808 State blew my mind when I first heard their stuff. I'm a house music lover because of 808 State.
Likewise. Between 808, Orbital and Aphex Twin, the indie music I'd been into previously all seemed a little drab and tame. I did come back to guitar music pretty quickly but 15 years later and I still love electronica. Still can't dance, mind...
posted by dmt at 5:48 AM on August 8, 2008
Likewise. Between 808, Orbital and Aphex Twin, the indie music I'd been into previously all seemed a little drab and tame. I did come back to guitar music pretty quickly but 15 years later and I still love electronica. Still can't dance, mind...
posted by dmt at 5:48 AM on August 8, 2008
When I first heard Pacific State, it was clear to me that 808 State was named after the zip code for Hawaii. I now know that the zip code is named after the drum machine.
My 14-year-old son loves 808 State. That's my boy!
posted by lukemeister at 5:59 AM on August 8, 2008
My 14-year-old son loves 808 State. That's my boy!
posted by lukemeister at 5:59 AM on August 8, 2008
Is »Olympic« among those links? I guess so, but I haven't got the time to confirm. Very topical indeed, if that's the case!
Great post, BTW. I'll be coming back!
posted by soundofsuburbia at 6:14 AM on August 8, 2008
Great post, BTW. I'll be coming back!
posted by soundofsuburbia at 6:14 AM on August 8, 2008
Wasn't that a mad time when you had to choose between cassette, vinyl, and CD versions of the same album?
That wasn't the half of it. 808 State were signed to ZTT - the original home of fuck-you-over, "let's release different remixes and configurations on all different formats and sometimes even put them in the same sleeve so you can't tell the difference." Collecting anything on ZTT was a fool's errand back in the day - you had to buy not only the vinyl and the cassette of every maxi-single, but also sometimes editions from different countries or seek out quickly-withdrawn or limited-edition pressings or picture discs or whatever... it took me a decade to get all the Art of Noise remixes and "Diversions."
posted by mykescipark at 6:58 AM on August 8, 2008
That wasn't the half of it. 808 State were signed to ZTT - the original home of fuck-you-over, "let's release different remixes and configurations on all different formats and sometimes even put them in the same sleeve so you can't tell the difference." Collecting anything on ZTT was a fool's errand back in the day - you had to buy not only the vinyl and the cassette of every maxi-single, but also sometimes editions from different countries or seek out quickly-withdrawn or limited-edition pressings or picture discs or whatever... it took me a decade to get all the Art of Noise remixes and "Diversions."
posted by mykescipark at 6:58 AM on August 8, 2008
I was hoping someone would do something to mark 080808 day, thanks fearfulsymmetry!
My most-treasured record is a plain-sleeved 12" single, 'Let Yourself Go' by 808 State. I must have heard it on John Peel's show, sneakily staying up late, listening on headphones in the dark. I have never had an ear-worm like that, it was stuck in my head for days. I lived in a village in the Midlands and had to go all the way to Stafford to find one in a little record shop. I felt like I'd got hold of an alien artifact.
It's stuck in my head again now...
posted by BinaryApe at 7:25 AM on August 8, 2008
My most-treasured record is a plain-sleeved 12" single, 'Let Yourself Go' by 808 State. I must have heard it on John Peel's show, sneakily staying up late, listening on headphones in the dark. I have never had an ear-worm like that, it was stuck in my head for days. I lived in a village in the Midlands and had to go all the way to Stafford to find one in a little record shop. I felt like I'd got hold of an alien artifact.
It's stuck in my head again now...
posted by BinaryApe at 7:25 AM on August 8, 2008
it took me a decade to get all the Art of Noise remixes and "Diversions."
It wasn't you that I promised my Frankie Say: Arm the Unemployed T-shirt to, was it?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:59 AM on August 8, 2008
It wasn't you that I promised my Frankie Say: Arm the Unemployed T-shirt to, was it?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:59 AM on August 8, 2008
Here's an online 808 simulator in Flash, with some stompies to play with:
http://www.hobnox.com/index.1056.de.html
posted by Cantdosleepy at 8:00 AM on August 8, 2008
http://www.hobnox.com/index.1056.de.html
posted by Cantdosleepy at 8:00 AM on August 8, 2008
What? No 909? No 909 ? No 909 ? No 909090909? No One After 909?
In the comments on the second link, EggyChuffer makes a very insightful point.
But I can't quote it, because he uses the C-word.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:10 AM on August 8, 2008
In the comments on the second link, EggyChuffer makes a very insightful point.
But I can't quote it, because he uses the C-word.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:10 AM on August 8, 2008
BrotherCaine,
Thanks. I should know better than to comment before coffee.
posted by lukemeister at 8:30 AM on August 8, 2008
Thanks. I should know better than to comment before coffee.
posted by lukemeister at 8:30 AM on August 8, 2008
808 State - their rhymes truly did bite.
But seriously. How about the reality show about Hawaii's hyperviolent asshole surfer culture?
posted by alexwoods at 8:51 AM on August 8, 2008
But seriously. How about the reality show about Hawaii's hyperviolent asshole surfer culture?
posted by alexwoods at 8:51 AM on August 8, 2008
My friend's grandmother is turning 88 today. There is going to be one hell of a party.
posted by jessamyn at 10:30 AM on August 8, 2008
posted by jessamyn at 10:30 AM on August 8, 2008
808, 808, what about the (Infiltrate) 202? Or LFO.
Man, I miss it. Is it time for official nostalgia yet?
posted by grapefruitzzz at 4:50 PM on August 8, 2008
Man, I miss it. Is it time for official nostalgia yet?
posted by grapefruitzzz at 4:50 PM on August 8, 2008
jessamyn,
That's great that your friend's grandmother is into Acid House :-)
posted by lukemeister at 6:22 PM on August 8, 2008
That's great that your friend's grandmother is into Acid House :-)
posted by lukemeister at 6:22 PM on August 8, 2008
In the comments on the second link, EggyChuffer makes a very insightful point. But I can't quote it, because he uses the C-word.
Not sure which link/comment you're referring to, Peter (can't find it), but if he's dissing the 909, he STOOOPID! Cause the 909 kick is also indispensible. Been used every freaking where.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:47 PM on August 8, 2008
Not sure which link/comment you're referring to, Peter (can't find it), but if he's dissing the 909, he STOOOPID! Cause the 909 kick is also indispensible. Been used every freaking where.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:47 PM on August 8, 2008
Hello Metafilter user Mediocre.
I would like to humbly suggest some albums that define the Acid House sound.
If you just want pure silver box squelch the I recommend Acid: Can you Jack.
Much as it pains me, this compilation has most of the classics on too, but it is a major label cash in.
If you want a broader history, Flux Trax is awesome - all the songs on there are ones that blew minds on first listen, back when surprises could still happen.
(As an aside Flux Trax 02 is a good document of what came immediately after too, on the house front.)
Hope this helps.
posted by debord at 6:11 AM on August 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
I would like to humbly suggest some albums that define the Acid House sound.
If you just want pure silver box squelch the I recommend Acid: Can you Jack.
Much as it pains me, this compilation has most of the classics on too, but it is a major label cash in.
If you want a broader history, Flux Trax is awesome - all the songs on there are ones that blew minds on first listen, back when surprises could still happen.
(As an aside Flux Trax 02 is a good document of what came immediately after too, on the house front.)
Hope this helps.
posted by debord at 6:11 AM on August 9, 2008 [1 favorite]
808 State - their rhymes truly did bite.
Oh god, can we please not confuse 808 State with MC Tunes?
posted by mykescipark at 11:16 AM on August 9, 2008
Oh god, can we please not confuse 808 State with MC Tunes?
posted by mykescipark at 11:16 AM on August 9, 2008
debord: "I recommend Acid: Can you Jack."
Seconded! I have it and I looove it! Actually, I think I'll put it on right now.
posted by sveskemus at 11:27 AM on August 9, 2008
Seconded! I have it and I looove it! Actually, I think I'll put it on right now.
posted by sveskemus at 11:27 AM on August 9, 2008
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