PUNISHMENT OF LUXURY and THE PASSENGERS

Rich rock stars? Who needs 'em? We bring you exclusive interviews with reality: Newcastle's Punishment Of Luxury, and The Passengers from London. Adam Sweet T'ing sees, hears and tells.

Sophie and Peter Johnston

If the major labels let you down and you're writing sophisticated electro-pop, forming your own record company is one way of getting your message across. Annabel Scott meets a remarkable brother-and-sister duo.

Upbeat pop from down under

League leader and Moroder man talks tech to Tony Mills

Richard Elen's fact-extraction mission with engineer Phill Brown reaches its conclusion.

Tracking the progress of a DIY mix that went official

Beatfarm

The boys from Beatfarm Studios talk business, production, and new jazz funk

Paul Tingen takes a look behind the scenes with Mai Tai production duo Eric van Tijn and Jochum Fluitsma — and finds out about songwriting, recording and home-made samplers.

Ben Duncan brings us up to date with Adam's career.

England's North has consistently produced some of the most innovative electronic music. Simon Trask talks to a band set to take their place alongside New Order and Heaven 17.

808 State - Absolutely Gorgeous

Instrumental music doesn't sell, the UK dance scene is totally bereft of life, and dance bands never produce decent albums. Wrong, wrong, wrong — and 808 State are back with proof. Nigel Humberstone talked to Manchester's finest during the recording of Gorgeous, their third album.

808 State Live

Haying abandoned the independence of Factory Records in favour of the relative safety of a major record deal, ACR are back in the limelight with a new LP. Nigel Lord asks questions of commerciality.

Into The Nineties

Vie Marshall asks who is A Guy Called Gerald?

You can't discuss the Manchester dance movement without A Guy Called Gerald. Simon Trask talks success and setbacks to one of Britain's most influential young artists.

Dance music with direction

Will the new-look ABC find success as easy as 1-2-3? Or will their latest Lexicon of Love lose something in the translation? Philip Bashe finds out.

Alphabet Coup

the importance of being alphabetical

Whatever happened to Thomas Leer? What's become of Propaganda? If you've heard of a band called Act you already know the answers to these questions, if not, David Bradwell is right on cue with this interview.