Bonus music blog: 808 State
182 wordsThis won’t make it into the CD blogs, because I only own this on Vinyl (and MP3 copied from Vinyl).
The other night I put on 808 State’s 1990 album 90. I’ve owned it since it was new, and hence it’s 18 years since I’ve really, properly, listened to it.
It was during track 2, Anacodia that I realised this isn’t just good; it’s brilliant. It’s not clear to me whether 808 State’s music was so unusual because they were unschooled, or whether they were “properly” trained musicians innovating. Regardless, the result is something really special.
Dance music always risks falling into the “tyranny of fours”, in which everything is a multiple of four - but on 90 808 State seldom fall into this trap. Things come in when you least expect them. Cliched drum patterns are uncommon. There’s harmony, but it’s unpredictable harmony.
It’s damn close to jazz, without that nasty preciousness jazz can have.
There is a downside - some of the solos are a little bit noodly. You can’t have everything.
And no, there’s no Amazon link because they don’t seem to have it.