In the 20 plus years since its conception, acid’s presence in electronic music has been nothing short of ubiquitous. Almost every memorable artist has used Roland’s famous TB-303 computer controlled bassline. If you are not familiar with the instrument, basically Roland created a box in the early 1980s that would allow performers to program basslines to accompany them. Unfortunately it was expensive, a pain in the ass to program and didn’t really sound like a bass.
Throughout the decade, as people began dumping these for well below what they were originally sold for, other producers began to pick them up and make sounds with them that were not meant to be heard. Through the 90s, the use of the instrument expanded from Chicago to around the world and with the expansion brought new ways of looking at the mysterious squealchy sound. The goal of this podcast was to show the evolution of the sound over the years.
These are some of my favorite tracks to use the 303, though some did not make it in, check below for the missing tracks. Enjoy!
1985- Phuture- Acid Trax
Considered one of the earliest acid tunes, though actually officially released in 1987, it is said that it was recorded as early as 1985. We needed a starting point, so here it is: a ten plus minute epic whose repetition hammers your brain into a hypnotic state. Most people like to think of house music as happy and uplifting, this tune is just downright evil.
1986- Mr. Fingers- Washing Machine
Another early acid tune that is built around a simple 303 line and drum machine pattern. While the track is more of a showcase of the percussion that thuds, stops, stutters and repeats, the 303 is what holds everything together.
1987- Tyree- Acid Over
Yet another Chicago acid house standard, while notably faster than tracks of the day, an addicting bassline and stuttering vocals makes this one of the most important acid tunes. Over 15 years later, Luke Vibert would ape the classic bassline on his track “Acidisco” from 2003’s “YosepH”
1988- 808 State- Flow Coma
1988 was an important year for acid house in the UK. Artists using the 303 were moving into the pop charts, most notably D-Mob for their tune “We Call It Acieed”. Meanwhile, Manchester’s 808 State produced “New Build” which is considered by many to be the definitive acid album, maybe not as popular as other acid tracks at the time, its influence certainly has lasted the longest. A total assault on the ears, the track’s layering of 303s on all range of frequencies reaches an orchestral nature, blowing away the simple solo basslines from before it. Flow Coma has been cited as a favorite song of Autechre and Richard D. James, who remixed the song under his AFX alias in 2001.
1989- A Guy Called Gerald- Voodoo Ray
A former member of 808 State, Gerald Simpson struck out on his own and created one of the biggest acid hits ever. Released in 1988, it fastly became a dance floor favorite, and is featured in Michael Winterbottom’s “24 Hour Party People”. Simpson’s self-produced, self-released album swept the UK and reached the pop charts in 1989.
1990- Joey Beltram- Jazz 3033
One of America’s most important techno producers, Joey Beltram’s “Energy Flash” is a ground-breaking techno tune. On the same 12 inch is this little forgotten gem that is pleasently 303 heavy.
1991- FUSE- Substance Abuse
One of Richie Hawtin’s earliest hits, this track follows the dark acid path carved by Acid Trax and Flow Coma. While very simple like its predecessors, this track builds and climaxes like no other when the 303 squealch in this track is in full effect, it sounds like it is heading toward self-destruction. Taken from his debut album and addition to Warp’s Artificial Intelligence album series, “Dimenesion Intrusion” which started to bring acid off the dance floor and into the arena of “listening techno”. Considered by many (ok, myself and the Chemical Brothers, if that means anything...) to be the perfect acid album.
1992- Hardfloor- Acperience 1
A hard hitting and epic acid tune straight from the heart of Germany. In ways parts of this track remind of Flow Coma. The various buildups and breakdowns maks this not only an essential acid track but also an early trance hit as well.
1993- Prototype 909- Acid Technology
Electronic music has always been considered a difficult thing to perform live, usually artists at this time were dj-ing or hiding behind mountains of keyboards and playing pre-sequenced material. Prototype 909 not only performed all their tracks live, but also were known for a heavy emphasis on improvisation. This ear-splitting track shows that the three great minds behind Prototype 909 know the 303 in and out.
1994- LFO- Tied Up (Acid Mix)
At this time, LFO was one of the most forward thinking techno groups, throughout the 90s they showed off their skill and versatiltiy. “Tied Up” was a hard electro track, a transition between their simple techno from “Frequencies” in 1991 and the more sophisticated electro sounds from 1996’s “Advance”. This is an acid remix from the Tied Up single that starts off simple but is a sonic onslaught by the end.
1995- Lausen- Dry Ray
Not exactly a chart topping acid hit, not even that original by any standard but good enough to be played out by Richie Hawtin for his Mixmag Live CD. “Dry Ray” shows that one could still get plenty of mileage out of the simple combination of a 1 bar acid loop.
1996- Mike Ink- Paroles
I think by the mid-1990s, acid was starting to be seen as a hackneyed sound, if it hadn’t already. Electronic music was becoming more complex, the simple four on the floor acid sound just didn’t seem to cut it anymore. This mid-1990s warp single combines a harsh acid sound with an up-tempo breakbeat sound.
1997- Daft Punk- Da Funk
While maybe not considered a pure acid track, the sound that dominates the second half of the song is unmistakingly a 303. “Homework” , Daft Punk’s debut album helped popularize electronic muisc in the United States, in the process they snuck some acid onto MTV. This was probably the first tune I heard where I really noticed the 303 in it...or maybe Claustrophobic Sting by Prodigy...can’t really remember.
1998- Plastikman- Psyk
Richie Hawtin’s Plastikman moniker became less about making dance floor friendly hits and more about experimenting with the limits of the 303. His albums “Sheet One” and “Musik” are absolute acid classics, but when Hawtin was kicked out of the United States, his sound began to change, becoming more abstract and minimal. This track is a throw back to his early 90s sound showcasing the low and high frequency capabilities of the 303.
1999- Squarepusher- Schizm Track #2 Mix
This is the point where the love of acid seemed to dry up and disappear, finding popular acid tracks from 99, 00, 01 was a difficult task. Maybe it was harder for producers to obtain the now insanely expensive second hand relic from the 1980s, or maybe it was because the sound was now mainstream as companies began to release synthesizers that tried to replicate the 303 sound. This squarepusher track is certainly not a standout from his catalog, but it is a blueprint of the where acid would be headed in the 21st Century.
2000- Speedy J- Balk Acid
There was great difficulty really finding a memorable acid heavy track from this year, I can’t explain the reason for this, so this pick is a bit of a stretch. There is no real 303 riffs at the forefront of this track, if Speedy J was using one, he was using it for a very different type of sound, but the title has Acid in it so I guess that’s good enough, right? No? Ok.
2001- Kosmik Kommando- Universal Indicator 5 (Ultraviolet)
The Universal Indicator series from Rephlex is a seriously underrated collection of albums that had different UK artists (including Richard D. James and Mike Dred) pushing the 303 to its limits. Most of these tracks were recorded in the late 1980s and early 90s and are notably much faster than acid house from that time. Ultraviolet was made up of tracks that Mike Dred had dug up and decided to release in 2001. They still hold up.
2002- Luke Vibert- Acid 2000
An incredibly versatile artist, Vibert has recorded under several different names for nearly every important electronic label. At the turn of the millenium, Vibert began to really show his love of the 303, eventually releasing two acid themed albums (YosepH and Lover's Acid) shortly after releasing this great single.
2003- Ceephax Acid Crew- Acid Le soken
Andy Jenkinson was born when he budded from a 303...or something like that. I don't know, the man lives and breathes acid, his tracks have a wonderfully old school sound but at the same time he makes sounds with this instrument that I don't think anyone else could ever make. To hear some great acid of his, check out his live set at terminaldusk.com
2004- Cylob- Acid Inseminoid
With over 10 years of making music under his belt, Cylob returned to the 303 with this gem from 2004. This is probably one of my favorite acid tunes ever, after listening to this podcast, head over to cylob.com and download his set from KandoFM in Budapest to hear some great acid tunes.
2005- AFX- Stepping Filter101
Like Richie Hawtin, Richard D. James was always about using the 303 in interesting ways. I probably could have had an AFX or Aphex Twin acid track for nearly every year in the 90s, but that wouldn’t be fair would it? This release from 2005 is James’ return to that addicting sound. Given that the art on the 12” claims that this is among several “MC-4 tracs”- meaning it was probably composed with a Roland MC-4 (sequencer) and Roland Sh-101 (synthesizer). Still, its got that lovely acid sound and almost 15 years from his hit Digeridoo he still makes it interesting.
2006- Kettel- Afwezig
Though we are only half way through 2006, there have been several acid heavy tracks, but then Kettel went and released an acid heavy album that will no doubt be a hit. This track is beautiful and that old 303 sound still fits in well.
Honorable mentions:
Aphex Twin- Digeridoo -Crazy, fast, an old school rave classic.
AFX- Analord Series -The whole damn thing is an acid eden.
Orbital- Fahrenheit 303 -Orbital was no stranger to the 303, and this is an old favorite of mine.
D-Mob- We Call It Acieed -It had to be on the list.
DJ Pierre- Box Energy (Also AFX’s 168 BPM Remix from 2001)
Tribal Rhythm- I Won’t Stop -Frankie Bones is unfortunately very absent from this list, but he deserves a lot of credit for making great techno with his trusty 303.
Ceephax Acid Crew- Acid Varsity -Anything by Ceephax is awesome. Period.
FUSE- Dimension Intrusion -In my opinion the perfect acid album.
Plastikman- Sheet One/Musik -Both albums are essential acid.
Wink- Higher State of Conciousness -An American acid classic.
Universal Indicator- Red -Intense and old school.
Universal Indicator- Innovations in the Dynamics of Acid -Great old school mix by Mike Dred.
Luke Vibert- I Love Acid -The name says it all.
Massive Attack- Protection -The 303 in a downtempo setting
Robert Babicz- Prism -Newish acid track from audiomatique that I really like.
Liddell Townsell- The Groove -Great old school track with a rumbling 303.
Maurice- This Is Acid -Another essential Chicago track.
Like a Tim- Little Acid Tracks -The name says it all, short little dittys showcasing the 303 in all its glory.
Secondo- We Got It 303 -Newish acid track from the Microsolutions to Megaproblems series.
