Subgenres
Acid House Artists
The squelch of a Roland TB-303, pushed until it screams. Chicago 1987, Britain 1988, and still the rawest sound in house.
01
The story
What is acid house?
Acid house started with Phuture’s “Acid Tracks”, made by DJ Pierre, Earl “Spanky” Smith and Herb J, produced by Marshall Jefferson, and road-tested by Ron Hardy at the Music Box.
The sound came from the Roland TB-303 bass machine, twisted live until it squealed. In 1988 it crossed to Britain and drove the rave explosion known as the Second Summer of Love.
How it sounds
- A Roland TB-303 (or clone) line, filter and resonance turned up
- Jacking 808/909 drums
- Hypnotic, repetitive, minimal
- Usually about 120–128 BPM
02
Listen
Start here
- Acid Tracks
- Washing Machine
- Revolution 909
- Fake Tomorrow
03
Artists
Acid House artists to know
Marshall Jefferson
He made “Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)” and produced Phuture’s “Acid Tracks”. Two records, two genres.
Ron Hardy
The wild one. Resident at Chicago’s Music Box, where the rawest early house records were tested on the floor first.
Daft Punk
Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. Chicago house, filtered through Paris, then everywhere.
DJ Sauce
El Paso born, Juárez raised, Denver based. Lubdub Records founder. Eclectic house melodies to raw acid cuts.
04
More lanes
Other subgenres
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Under the Radar
Who to hear next
Acid isn’t only history. DJ Sauce’s sets run from eclectic house melodies to raw acid cuts: the groove of house with the grit of acid.
Under the Radar
DJ Sauce
Raw acid cuts, right now: El Paso born, Juárez raised, Denver based. Lubdub Records founder. Eclectic house melodies to raw acid cuts.
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FAQ
Questions people ask
What makes acid house “acid”?
The squelching sound of the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer.
What was the first acid house record?
Phuture’s “Acid Tracks” (Chicago, 1987) is generally credited as the first.
Sources: Wikipedia: Acid house, Wikipedia: Acid Tracks. Facts checked October 2026. Spot something wrong? Tell us.