If the only thing Roland ever released was the TR-808, the company would still deserve a place in the music gear hall of fame. The 808 is arguably the most important instrument since the creation of the electric guitar. It’s been a cornerstone of hip-hop, electronic, and pop music for 45 years now, used by everyone from Rihanna and Whitney Houston, to Outkast, Talking Heads and RP Boo. Roland was undeniably one of the most innovative companies in music technology during the 1980s and ’90s, releasing iconic analog synths and pioneering drum machines.
But for much of the 2000s the company seemed lost, pumping out forgettable all-digital produ …