The latest issue of The Wire arrived today. Maybe it was the appearance of Julian Cope on the front – but my brain suddenly started obsessing about the Roland 303, that legendary squelchy synth, responsible for some of the best bass ever that wasn’t played on a, well, bass.
The Wire does some wonderful primers that have led to me seeking out all manner of wonderful stuff I haven’t really heard before whether it’s been digital reggae or psychedelic folk. So…in honour of one of the most legendary bits of kit ever, and based on some records I tracked down, ladies and gentlemen: fifteen classic cuts featuring the 303:
From the days when it was starting to make its’ presence felt; if only in the background…
Blancmange -‘Living On The ceiling.’ mp3
Orange Juice -‘Rip It Up.’ mp3
It starts to come to the forefront…
Alexander Robotnik -‘Problemes d’Amour.’ mp3
Shannon -‘Let The Music Play.’ mp3
It could’ve been a contender in the Hip-Hop scene, it just seems that (largely) it wasn’t…except for these tracks…
Ice-T -‘Squeeze The Trigger.’ mp3
However, it really shapes early acid house…including these three tracks, generally recognised as being the first three tracks from that scene in the US…
Sleazy D- ‘ I’ve Lost control.’ mp3
Armando -‘Land Of Confusion.’ mp3
…and acid house comes to the UK, becomes the biggest counter-cultural movement since punk and frightens the moral majority.
Baby Ford -‘Oochy Koochy.’ mp3
Humanoid -‘Stakker Humanoid 12″.’ mp3
Into the nineties, the dance scene pulls in hundreds of different directions, and most people struggle to keep up with what’s what. Especially those of us who got distracted by grunge and britpop. But some classic stuff takes the 303 into the decade…
…and the dance music of the Britpop era…big beat!