If machines could talk, this fine specimen of Roland 808 would pull up a chair, pour a drink and let fly for some time on the quarter century it’s spent as one of Nina Walsh’s constant studio companions. After writing her first songs to its steady beat, Nina went on to compose ‘Plum Island’ and ‘Ghostdancing’ for The Orb’s 2001 album Cydonia – the latter described by Alex Paterson as “one of the best Orb tunes we’ve done.” Next it played a central role in the scabrous electronic squalls fired from C-pij, the label Nina launched around 2001 with the Wah/Fuzz/Swell album and several seven-inch singles. Recovering from that bruising, her machine friend helped Nina write songs for her poignantly evocative solo album Bright Lights & Filthy Nights, released on Malicious Damage in 2009, before settling into the succession of Facility 1, 2, 3 and 4 studios where she worked with old partner Andrew Weatherall for his last six years on this planet, including W.R.F.’s The Phoenix Suburb album plus countless other songs, tracks and remixes. Quite simply, this machine is a piece of electronic music history.***

It has been thoroughly checked by our 808 master tech ready for the auction, serviced where necessary, and is ready to roll. The KADI port will work with a KADI Pro-2000 or Pro-4, or of course the current Pro KADI MkII.