Rhythm machines

Posted by: Ralf2013 on 11 September 2013

Just listened to Stevie Wonder. I like him and his music very much. But.... in "I Just Called To Say I Love You" he uses a rhythm machine in a very uninspired and weird way.

After that I had to listen to Kraftwerk, The Mix, "Trans Europa Express - Abzug - Metall auf Metall".

THIS is a good example for the use of a rhythm machine...

Now that created the idea to ask you for other good examples of the use of rhythm machines.

 

Posted on: 11 September 2013 by fatcat

Bill Nelson's Empire Of the Senses from the album The Love That Whirls springs to mind.

 

The album is top notch, contains some excellent songs.

 

Posted on: 18 September 2013 by steveb

Can-Spoon from album Ege Bamyasi

Jaki Liebezeit was one of the first to use one to good effect-listen to Tago Mago and it is there but understated- the band reckoned his drumming was more like a rhythm machine than the real thing

Cannot not finish without a mention of Bentley The Drum Machine on Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come album -Journey

 

Steve

Posted on: 18 September 2013 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by steveb:

Can-Spoon from album Ege Bamyasi

Jaki Liebezeit was one of the first to use one to good effect-listen to Tago Mago and it is there but understated- the band reckoned his drumming was more like a rhythm machine than the real thing

Cannot not finish without a mention of Bentley The Drum Machine on Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come album -Journey

 

Steve

Jaki was/is also a human drum machine.

 

A really interesting example of the use of a rhythm machine is on Sly & The Family Stone's epochal There's A Riot Goin' On album, and the accompanying monster hit single "Family Affair". As far as I know this (autumn 1971) would have been the first time the majority of the public would ever have heard a drum machine - although Raymond Scott and other electronic music pioneers had been using them since the early 1960s.

 

 

Posted on: 18 September 2013 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Ralf2013:

 

After that I had to listen to Kraftwerk, The Mix, "Trans Europa Express - Abzug - Metall auf Metall".

THIS is a good example for the use of a rhythm machine...

Now that created the idea to ask you for other good examples of the use of rhythm machines.

 

On the original Trans-Europe Express album of 1977, that rhythm track is played manually, by Karl Bartos and Wolfgang Flur, on little pads with "knitting needles". There's no drum machine. Not sure about The Mix though.

 

In fact, from Autobahn in 1974 through to Electric Cafe in 1986, Kraftwerk rarely used a rythm machine. Strange but true! 

Posted on: 22 September 2013 by Ralf2013
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:
Originally Posted by Ralf2013:

 

After that I had to listen to Kraftwerk, The Mix, "Trans Europa Express - Abzug - Metall auf Metall".

THIS is a good example for the use of a rhythm machine...

Now that created the idea to ask you for other good examples of the use of rhythm machines.

 

On the original Trans-Europe Express album of 1977, that rhythm track is played manually, by Karl Bartos and Wolfgang Flur, on little pads with "knitting needles". There's no drum machine. Not sure about The Mix though.

 

In fact, from Autobahn in 1974 through to Electric Cafe in 1986, Kraftwerk rarely used a rythm machine. Strange but true! 

Hi Kevin,

that's very interesting. I always thought they played the rhythms with sequencers.

 

Posted on: 23 September 2013 by JBGWild

+1 Kingdom Come's Journey, played it for the first time in ages recently. A very original sound combined with 70s synths and Arthur Brown's unique voice.

 

Robert Calvert and Maximum Effect's live at the Stars and Stripes, Carlisle 1986 double CD has some really excellent drum machine throughout too (a Roland).

   

Posted on: 24 September 2013 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Ralf2013:
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:
Originally Posted by Ralf2013:

 

After that I had to listen to Kraftwerk, The Mix, "Trans Europa Express - Abzug - Metall auf Metall".

THIS is a good example for the use of a rhythm machine...

Now that created the idea to ask you for other good examples of the use of rhythm machines.

 

On the original Trans-Europe Express album of 1977, that rhythm track is played manually, by Karl Bartos and Wolfgang Flur, on little pads with "knitting needles". There's no drum machine. Not sure about The Mix though.

 

In fact, from Autobahn in 1974 through to Electric Cafe in 1986, Kraftwerk rarely used a rythm machine. Strange but true! 

Hi Kevin,

that's very interesting. I always thought they played the rhythms with sequencers.

 

I remember seeing KW on the "Computerworld" tour in 1981, and was quite surprised at how much "manual" playing and improvisation there was. Not really the case today, of course.

Posted on: 24 September 2013 by Martin_C

Also saw Kraftwerk in 1981 ...the live percussion was pretty awesome! 

 

Going back to the question: what about Frank the Bi-sexual drum machine used by genesis on duchess. (on tour frank got his own round of applause and, in case you're wondering, according to Phil Collins he's bisexual because he would play along with anybody).

 

Going a bit more modern: Melt by Leftfield?