Lovely to have you here Joe. You always stood out, with your brilliant analysis and juicy firsts.

But neither of them gets anywhere near the DMX in punchyness. Imagine New Order / Blue Monday played with an 808? Or a Linn? Forget it.

Have a listen to how punchy this MF is in The Beach (instrumental version of Blue Monday)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcA9...

The TR808 was much softer, and I can't help thinking of it as a candlelight drum machine. The programming on Gaye's Sexual Healing is a brilliant example. And the Linn Drum? Boy did that sound gooood. Acts like Frankie Goes To Hollywood even succeeded in making it sound pretty rough and hard...

It had a remarkable punch in the bass drum, and combine the snare with a clap, and you'd end up with a literal slap in your face. Every sound in this box was more direct and hard-hitting.

It was introduced hot on the heels of the Linn Drum LM-1 and the Roland TR808. All three of them in 1980...