Black 55

Secret Drum Sauce for Many 80s Legends Chances are that if you listened to electronic, synth pop, new wave, techno, and many other genres of music in the early 1980's, you have heard this little rhythmic rumbler. The Black 55 is based off of one of the first step-write-style drum machines in existence. It was highly underrated, as evidenced by its extensive use with The Cure (Pornography), New Order (Movement), and famously as the first "live" drummer of two seminal bands that defined the era: Depeche Mode and The Sisters of Mercy. Originally designed so that guitarists and bassists could have accompaniment, the Black 55 falls somewhere in-between a CR-78 and an 808. With simple controls and simple sounds, this small and easy-to-use machine was a tiny force to be reckoned with. From clean, warm, vintage, and lo-fi to punchy, clear, and beefy, the kicks are dynamic, the snares are accentuated, and the hi-hats are as crisp as a new dollar bill. The Black 55 has got your sonic arsenal covered and smeared in minimalistic goodness.