Almost 40 years ago, though, the most alien timbre any producer could imagine came from an unexpected culprit: the Roland TB-303 Bass Line. At that, it was discovered by accident. The device is responsible for the instantly recognizable squelch sound associated with acid house.

What does acid house sound like today?
The acid sound remains a mainstay of house and techno, cropping up on tracks and in DJ sets all over the place. Rough, raw and exhilarating – acid house sounds as otherworldly today as in 1985. 1. D16 Phoscyon
Which music group started the acid house sound?
1. “Acid Tracks” by Phuture: The music group Phuture pioneered the acid house sound with their 1987 song, “Acid Tracks.” Chicago DJ Ron Hardy debuted the song informally on live playlists until it got a formal release on vinyl via Larry Sherman’s seminal Chicago label, Trax Records.
How many beats are in an acid house song?
2. Dance tempos: Nearly all acid house tracks fall between 120 and 130 beats per minute, which makes them easy to dance to. 3. The Roland TB-303 Bass Line synthesizer: Acid house is directly associated with a specific piece of equipment—the Roland TB-303 Bass Line synthesizer.
What makes acid house a good dance music genre?
4. Strong ties to other dance music genres: The acid house scene blends seamlessly with other electronic music genres including big beat, Detroit techno, deep house, breakbeat hardcore, and psychedelic trance. A few songs paint a clear picture of the acid house sound.
Who is the father of acid house music?
Charanjit Singh
In the 21st century, attention was drawn to Charanjit Singh’s album Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat, featuring Indian ragas fused with disco. The album released as early as 1982, featured a TB-303 prominently, Singh being one of the earliest musicians to use it on a commercial release.
What is acid house music?
Acid house (also simply known as just ” acid “) is a subgenre of house music developed around the mid-1980s by DJs from Chicago. The style is defined primarily by the squelching sounds and basslines of the Roland TB-303 electronic bass synthesizer-sequencer, an innovation attributed to Chicago artists Phuture and Sleezy D circa 1986.
Does acid house have an origin story?
It’s rare that a musical genre has an origin story as compelling as any dreamed up by Stan Lee, but acid house might just stake the best claim. Usually genres evolve over time, making it hard to discern how or when they started.
Was ‘I’ve lost control’ the first acid house song?
“I’ve Lost Control” by Sleezy D and Marshall Jefferson: While “Acid Tracks” was circulating as a tape, “I’ve Lost Control” had already been issued on vinyl, making it potentially the first formally published song in the acid house style. The track was produced by Adonis, who also had a hit with “Lack of Love” by Charles B. 3.
What was the first acid techno song?
(Trax, 1986) If Pierre’s ‘Acid Trax’ was the first track to use the word “acid” and christen the style, the “Space Mix” of Sleezy D and Marshall Jefferson’s ‘I’ve Lost Control’ was the first proper acid house track on vinyl as far as I know.
What is acid techno & why is it so popular?
In recent years, Acid Techno had a comeback with artists of the younger generation such as Regal or Boston 168 releasing critically acclaimed Acid music and bringing the sound to big stages. The Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer provided the electronic squelch sounds often heard in acid tracks.
Where did techno come from?
Learn about the genre’s beginnings, growth and evolution through Red Bull’s vast archive of lectures and conversations and use the hyperlinks within to jump right to the moment of the quote. Techno begins in Detroit or, more specifically, in the suburb of Belleville, home to Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May.

When did Techno become a popular genre?
Techno DJs and producers were at superstar levels of notoriety as were the clubs they were playing at. Clubs in Ibiza and Berlin were falling victim to the rapid commercialization of the genre, to the point were many of the techno pioneers started to second guess the state of the genre throughout the late 90’s and early 2000s.
What is the difference between techno music and techno aesthetic?
Another distinguishing feature of techno music and techno aesthetic is the general embracement of creative use of music production technology . Use of the term “techno” to refer to a type of electronic music originated in Germany in the early 1980s. In 1988, following the UK release of the compilation Techno!
Why is it called acid techno?
Characteristics. The acid style was obtained largely through Roland instruments, most prominently the TB-303 bass synthesizer. The term Acid specifically refers to the harsh “acidic” squelching sound of the Roland 303.
What is acid techno?
Acid techno, sometimes known generally as ” acid “, is a genre of techno that was derived from acid house and developed in Europe in the late 1980s to early 1990s. It saw younger artists apply the “squelching” synthesizer sound of Chicago acid house to harder-edged techno material.
How did acid techno develop in London?
In London, the acid techno scene developed via illegal network of parties; the 1997 compilation It’s Not Intelligent…And It’s Not From Detroit…But It’s F**king ‘Avin It was subtitled “The Sound of London’s Acid Techno Underground” and helped to solidify the genre in the underground consciousness.
What is ACID Music?
Seeing you’re new to this type of music ill drop a little history on you ‘Acid’ started as a style of house music in Chicago in the mid 80s, the first Acid track was Acid Trax by Phuture which came out around 1985-86 when they bought a TB-303 and while making the track they started playing with the knobs to get these crazy sounds.
Is acid house still popular?
While it hasn’t hit the mainstream as a genre in it’s own right since then, the sound has remained popular and a healthy scene is still very much alive with artists such as Paranoid London, Luke Vibert & Posthuman.
When did acid house become popular?
Acid house hit the British pop charts quite quickly, with M/A/R/R/S, S’Express, and Technotronic landing huge hits before the dawn of the ’90s. By that time, the acid house phenomenon had largely passed in England and was replaced by rave music.
Are acid house motifs making a comeback?
Decoration The history of acid house motifs and why they’re making a comeback now In our February issue, which is out now, Ruth Sleightholme has created a scheme that harks back to the halycon days of the 1990s. Fiona McKenzie Johnston dives into the decoration and unpacks the motifs of joy that the movement brings with it.

What is acid house?
Before we take a deeper look at what Acid House is we wanted to start you off with five of the best acid house tracks. Acid house originated in Chicago, USA around the 1980s, when producers began to mix sounds from Roland TB-303 bassline synthesizers with other instruments to create a new sound.
What synth is best for acid house?
Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer
Most acid house tracks feature mesmerizing, evolving synth lines, which are predominantly created using the iconic Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer.
What makes acid house a good music?
1. Steady, propulsive beats: Acid house is known for its 4/4 time and four-on-the-floor kick drum pulse. Electronic drum machines generate these beats, while off-beat hand claps give the music a funky edge. 2. Dance tempos: Nearly all acid house tracks fall between 120 and 130 beats per minute, which makes them easy to dance to. 3.
What is the best bass synth in a DAW?
Get the sound of everyone’s favourite bass synth in your DAW in no time. Roland’s TB-303 is a perennial favorite that’s capable of creating distinct and powerful basslines. It’s been used by myriad artists, from synth pop groups like Heaven 17 to modern techno masters like Charlotte de Witte.
What is the symbol of acid house music?
Since the beginning of the Acid House revolution, many digital and street artists have depicted the iconic smiling symbol and other key aspects of the genre such as the musical talents of the Acid house musicians and the psychedelic connotations linked with it.
Why is acid house called Acid House?
In America, acid house was one of music, heavy on warping Roland TB-303 lines. But in late-80s UK, it was adopted as the name for the entire scene, particularly after the May 1988 publication of features in both The Face and i-D about Shoom and related clubs. Other promoters began nodding to smiley as well.
What drum machine was used for acid house?
The year was 1985 and Chicago trio Phuture (DJ Pierre, Spanky and Herb J) were messing around with a newly acquired Roland TB-303 bass synth. Hooked up to Roland’s TR-707 and TR-727 drum machines, they put together 12 minutes of frenetic, hypnotic madness, which they named Acid Tracks.
Who made the first acid house record?
Together with his friends Earle Smith and Nathaniel Jones, Pierre formed the group Phuture, setting the 303’s basslines to the drum patterns of the burgeoning Chicago house scene on their landmark Acid Tracks, widely considered to be the first acid house record created and eventually receiving a release through Trax Records in 1987.

When did Acid Tracks come out?
Acid Tracks wasn’t the first acid track to make it onto vinyl. I’ve Lost Control by Sleezy D (the duo of Adonis and Marshall Jefferson) had that distinction, released in 1986, before Acid Tracks finally got pressed the following year.
What does acid techno sound like?
Acid techno has an exceptionally fast tempo because it combines a pounding, relentless beat with brief, quick repeats. As mentioned above, the major sound source is the 303 synthesizer, which produces the squelchy, alien-like noise that defined the genre.
What BPM does acid techno play?
The genre typically plays at a fast 135+ BPM. Because of this, German trance, hardcore, and rave music largely influenced it. Acid techno is a subgenre of techno that developed in the 1990s. The term Acid generally refers to the use of the Roland TB-303.
What influenced acid house music in the ’80s?
When the squelch of mid-’80s acid house music was given time to sink into the minds of impressionable youths, they became quite influenced by the sound. Many who began to make music in the early ’90s applied the sound to harder techno instead of the warm sounds of classic Chicago house.
Why does house music sound so good?
Rhythm and repetition are central to how our human brains function. The repetitive rhythms in house music can be appealing due to the fact that they mirror the repetitive, rhythmic circuitry of the brain. This repetition also makes house music effective in deepening concentration and support memory.
Why is house music so popular?
From its roots in the clubs of Chicago in the 1980s to its current status as a global phenomenon, House music has continued to evolve and influence other genres of music. Whether you’re a fan of classic House, Deep House, or more modern styles like Tech House and Progressive House, there’s something for everyone in this genre.
What does a house song sound like?
Unlike pop songs, which emphasize higher-pitched sounds like melody, in house music, the lower-pitched bass register is most important. House tracks typically involve an intro, a chorus, various verse sections, a midsection, and a brief outro.
How did house music change the world?
How house music changed the world: ‘It was freedom. It was our church’ | Music | The Guardian t was a few weeks back, late at night, I’m in bed, and my phone started pinging,” explains Robin S, the powerhouse vocalist behind Show Me Love, one of the most successful house records ever made. “I stayed half asleep.
How does house music affect your brain?
Considering the many subgenres of house and wider electronic music, it is not surprising that house music can affect your brain in many different ways. Ambient house, chillout and downtempo can help you focus. The repetitive patterns and ambient soundscapes are unobtrusive and stimulating, aiding concentration without distracting.
What are the 4 characteristics of house music?
In its most typical form, the genre is characterized by repetitive 4/4 rhythms including bass drums, off-beat hi-hats, snare drums, claps, and/or snaps at a tempo of between 120 and 130 beats per minute (bpm); synthesizer riffs; deep basslines; and often, but not necessarily, sung, spoken or sampled vocals.
What is DJ house music?
DJ House music is an electronic genre of music that emerged in the early 1990s in the Chicago club scene. It is a style of music that is heavily influenced by African-American music, such as soul, funk, and disco. DJ House music is characterized by its use of repetitive 4/4 beats, often with off-beat hi-hat cymbals and syncopated basslines.
What is house music based on?
House music is a particular music genre based on electronic dance music. DJs usually use house music to make the audiences feel more energetic and dance along with the music. The earliest type of house music developed during the 1980s when people frequented nightclubs every night. Nightclubs were the place where everyone regularly met.
What is jazz house music?
Jazz house is a style of house music closely related to deep house, which can be described as an attempt to translate the atmosphere of jazz music into an electronic setting. Larry Heard is called to be the first to layer his productions with jazz-based chords and atmospheres.
What is Dutch house music?
A subgenre of house music from the Netherlands, originating around 2006. Not to be confused with “Dirty Dutch”, which is a dance event from the Netherlands. Tracks are typically made up of complex percussion and drumbeats, dramatic buildups and short riffs of high-pitched synths. See also: electro house.
Which Chicago club first played Phuture’s Acid Tracks featuring the new signature sound for the Roland TB 303 base line?
Jones was predominantly making break-dancing music, but changed styles after Spanky took him to a club called the Muzic Box, where DJ Ron Hardy performed. Jones described it as being “baptized into real house music by going there, I’d never seen anyone yell for a DJ before Ron Hardy.
Who invented the TB 303?
Phuture, a group founded by Nathan “DJ Pierre” Jones, Earl “Spanky” Smith Jr., and Herbert “Herb J” Jackson, is credited with having been the first to use the TB-303 in house music (the instrument had been used earlier in disco records by the earlier mentioned Charanjit Singh in 1982, in hi-NRG, Alexander Robotnick in 1983).

What LP did DJ Pierre write about acid house?
Volume 1: Chicago Acid & Experimental House 1985-1995 (liner notes). Soul Jazz Records. SJR LP111 VOL1. DJ Pierre (December 5, 2012). “The Story Of Acid House: As Told By DJ Pierre”. Red Bull Music Academy. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020. Salkind, Micah (2018). Do You Remember House?:
Is the TB-303 a real bass guitar?
The TB-303 is integral to the acid house story. Released in 1981 and originally intended as a bass guitar accompaniment for organists and guitarists, its only problem was that it sounded almost nothing like a real bass guitar.
When did transistor bass 303 come out?
The battery-powered and totally analogue Transistor Bass 303 was launched in 1981, alongside the TR-606 drum machine, to provide ‘realistic’ bassline accompaniments for guitarists. Sounding nothing whatsoever like a real bass player, and being less than intuitive to program, it only sold around 10,000 units and was discontinued in 1984.
When was the second summer of love?
1988
Although primarily referring to the summer of 1988, it lasted into the summer of 1989, when electronic dance music and the prevalence of the drug MDMA fuelled an explosion in youth culture culminating in mass free parties and the era of the rave.
When did the second summer of Love start?
The Second Summer of Love began in 1988 in UK, and rose from the house music British nightclubs dating from 1987 to 1988 Shoom (run by Danny Rampling) and Future (organised by Paul Oakenfold ), Trip (run by Nicky Holloway ), Slam (DJs) and The Haçienda (run by Mike Pickering and Graeme Park).
Is there a third summer of Love?
In 2017, event organizers in Amsterdam latched onto the 50th anniversary of the first Summer of Love to declare that the “Third Summer of Love” was underway, though it can’t be said that this has particularly entered popular consciousness.
What happened after the summer of Love?
In the years immediately following the Summer of Love, however, traces of the counterculture seeped into politics at every level. Hunter S. Thompson famously fought the “Battle of Aspen” in 1970, running for sheriff of the town on a “Freak Power” ticket.
Did the summer of Love exist in a vacuum?
What’s important to note, perhaps, is that those summer months, and what occurred in Haight-Ashbury in particular, did not exist in a vacuum. Rather, the Summer of Love stands as the high point of decades of countercultural activity in the US and beyond.