808

Quite an oddity in a way. It's a documentary about '80s music, which is absolutely my era, but at least two-thirds of the tracks they discuss I had never heard of before, because they were so niche and underground. This makes the film pretty inaccessible for a casual music fan like myself. Definitely a well made documentary, but very esoteric and with limited appeal for a wider audience. For example, they talk to some big players, such as Jellybean Benitez and New Order. However, despite the fact that Benitez produced much of Madonna's first album, they don't mention her at all, which seems strange. And then they don't mention Blue Monday, despite the fact that they were talking to New Order. Bizarre omissions, which I just can't fathom at all.

I'm sold on this right from the start, the opening titles are absolutely gorgeous. Sleek 3D that strides beautifully between retro chic and crisp cool. Narrated by Zane Lowe, this wants to be cool. Now that's only gonna land if you're at all interested in electronic music, but if you are, even if only as a fan, you'll know about the 808. Roland's revolutionary drum machine is iconic. Electrofunk & Hip Hop, Breakbeat & Pop, Indian Acid House & Detroit Techno. The 808 is genre hopping and genre defining. As a doc, it doesn't break any new ground. Talking heads in a mix of locations, close ups of dusty analogue kit, VU levels, bass bins and dials. Super-8 clips of 80s New York and muted live performance, all held together with a suite of vinyl themed graphics. It's the story told by some pretty big names that makes this work though and helps make it clear just how influential this machine was and is. New Order, Damon Albarn, Afrika Bambaatas, 808 State (obviously), Norman Cook, Mike D & Ad Rock, Pharrell Williams, Rick Rubin, Goldie (who is marvellous) and Phil bloody Collins all have their say. For me it does scoot over it's inception a bit too quickly. I'd like to have got inside the box a bit more and hear more from the creators of the machine itself. There is a nod to this side in the coda but I guess what people did with it is much sexier. Perhaps one for the music nerds, but considering we're talking about a machine, it's got a lot of heart.

A fascinating and awesome tour through the foundations of a huge chunk of essential music. Big names like Albarn and Beasties (rip MCA) make an appearance and lots of other artists and producers I either had a vague knowledge of or were complete unknowns to me. Not only fascinating but a cool introduction to some foundational genres and artists of a lot of modern music. A lot of pennies dropped. Respect to the 808