Hey folks, yes, despite the heat, we will be back again this Saturday evening at 6pm SLT for S12E4 of KattattaK! and it's another trip to Katt's Retro Arcade for a mix of synthwave, synthpop, retrowave, vaporwave and original 1980s tunes. Oh heck, you know by now, it's mostly whatever Katt wants to play and everyone seems okay with that too!
The 80s had a really distinctive sound: the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, released in 1980, revolutionized music production with its distinctive analog drum sounds. Created by Roland Corporation, the 808 initially faced criticism for its unrealistic drum timbres but gained iconic status due to its affordability and unique, deep bass and snappy snare. Despite being discontinued in 1983 due to a shortage of its transistors, the TR-808 left a lasting legacy, shaping genres like hip-hop, electronic, and pop. Artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Marvin Gaye, and later, Kanye West, utilized its sounds, cementing the 808's place as a cornerstone in modern music history.