[Dr Thrumpkinz]

(2005) A 20 minute documentary about the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer. The tiny unit costing almost $400 in 1981 was seen as highly retarded by most, and was considered a failure by the time of its discontinuation in 1984. However, today an authentic original 303 usually costs between $3000 & $5000, when they can be found at all. The 303's rarity has made them scarce, which in turn has created a boom for analog clones and replicas of the 303, or of just its infamous filter unit from all manner of strange sources from all over the world. Roland has now even released a digital recreation of it, as well as several of its other retarded 1980's synthesizers (such as the 808 & 606).

Many people think that Acid Techno, Acid House, etc. is making reference to the widely adored, and thoroughly excellent 25th formulation of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, or LSD--I did. But like the 303 in 1983, those people are all retarded--and even I was mildly wrongheaded in thinking this same thing that makes everyone else retarded. The Acid they were/are referring to is the adopted name given to the sounds produced by the TB-303, most especially the sound of its filters. Those sounds' symbiotic inclinations with LSD are apparently purely happenstance.

Included is the relevant song Funky Acid Stuff by Luke Vibert, which I find particularly good, and was my introduction to his music some years ago. As well as the new unreleased song by him 165 303--worth including, if only for it's use the junglistic 'Amen Break' drum samples in addition to the TB-303. Nate Harrison, the producer of this documentary also created another short documentary that specifically focuses on the short segment (the Amen Break) of an old recording of drums being played on a Winstons song called Amen Brother. So it only seemed fitting to include it.

[RiversEdge]

a great baseline in a song is incredibly cool...