The young chart hopefuls share a few giggles with Jonathan James

Riding the ambient house wave, The Orb have released a concept album that mixes dance beats with new age textures. Tim Goodyer tunes in to Alex Paterson and Thrash as they chill out with technology.

In engineering and production - as in musicianship - flexibility and adaptability are precious qualities. Martin Rex has covered artists as varied as Neneh Cherry, Fela Kuti and Michael Nyman - Ollie Crooke listens.

It Came From Outer Space

The noise from the black stuff

Virgin veterans XTC are under pressure to pull off a Pop success with their latest album, Skywalking. So is it open season on Andy Partridge? Chris Maillard takes aim...

The original hurdy-gurdy man takes Tim Barr on an ambient perambulation through his current project, System 7

Engineer Dave Meegan recalls how depression helped land him a plum position at Trevor Horn's Sarm West Studios. Chris Allison listened with great interest.

...Is one of the producers responsible for the new wave of guitar-based pop. Paul Tingen finds he has plenty to say about modern music technology, not all of it favourable.

Profound thinker Trynka is back with chewed pencil for another month's diary, and the strain's beginning to tell...

Elgin Music

Billy Punter in the hip surrounds of Ladbroke Grove

Food fans flip out! Forget recording — what do Pop stars eat while they're working? Lovable liquid-luncher and hardened drinker Trynka tucks in. Bon appetit!

Mick Jagger at IM party? True! Fame, fortune and the low-down on what goes down.

Gossip From The Front

gossip, rumour, lies and so on

Show Reports

what we saw

and how to get on his show, honest

From the profound to the downright silly, we wind up a year's chit-chat

Ampcheck

Putting the balls back into electronic drums. Messrs Henrit and Francis begin the quest

what exactly do promoters do, and are they worth the money?

Battery Studios

Jive Records' own Battery Studio complex has to accommodate acts as diverse as Schooly D, Mark Shreeve and Samantha Fox. David Bradwell raps technology.

A complete history of record production accompanied by quotations and anecdotes from no fewer than 18 of the world's leading producers.

All the latest info on tomorrow's gear, and more free details if you need them.