Seven years old and still going strong, Ultravox discuss writing, recording and performing with Dan Goldstein. They also explain why they've got four OSCars...

Ultravox: New improved formula

A monumental meeting?

'Hymn' music to play — we've linked the music to an exclusive interview with Midge Ure and Billy Currie on E&MM cassette, discussing and playing the instruments for this new Ultravox single

Andy Summers & Midge Ure Go To Rockschool

A day's filming for TV's Rockschool reveals Andy and Midge's playing tricks.

Lyceum Ballroom, London

John Foxx at the Lyceum.

Two sparkling summer concerts, by Ultravox and Michael Nyman.

Helden, Laurie Anderson, Fad Gadget, The Enid

TWO BOOKS TO DEMYSTIFY THE SYNTHESISER

Geoff Twigg and Neville Unwin cast a critical eye over two books aimed at taking the mystery out of synthesisers, and come to vastly differing conclusions.

Simmons SDS7 and SDS8

In a special report, Ultravox drummer Warren Cann takes a look at two new electronic drum-kits from Simmons - the people who started it all. One is a straight forward 'Simmons-sound-on-a-budget' model, the other a sophisticated modular system employing both analogue and digital sound-generation, as well as versatile user-programmability.

Part 5: Two-measure patterns

You have the questions, we have the answers - Casio FZ1 sample disks, Atari vs Amiga, the latest news on Ultravox - all in MTs exclusive advice column.

MT readers get their chance to see their own synth sounds in print. Instruments featured this month include the Juno 106, Poly 800 and DX21...

The Fall and Rise of Technology in Music

Steering this magazine through the '80s made Dan Goldstein a prominent character in the music industry. Putting aside 90 Minutes he gives a personal view of the last decade in music, technology and Music Technology.

This month, owners of the Ensoniq ESQ1, Roland Alpha Juno 1, Casio CZ101 and Yamaha DX7 offer their sounds for public consumption and personal distinction. Have you submitted a patch yet?

Part 8

Ian Gilby looks at how you can programme that 'human feel' into your drum patterns or sequences using another clever device from the Bokse company - the MIDI Humaniser.

Italian-designed keyboards have received mixed success over the years. Elka's old Rhapsody string synth was a popular instrument in the seventies but their main polysynth, the Synthex, failed to set the world alight. That may well be about to change with the release of their impressive 9-voice, multi-timbral, DX7-soundalike, the EK44, and the 6-voice analogue EK22. Or is it? Mark Jenkins offers his views.

Sky's keyboardist was one of the first musicians to take the Yamaha DX7 on the road for the band's last tour, here he explains how it stood up to the rigours of the road.