After three years out of the public eye, Scritti are straight back in the charts with a new LP and single. Green Gartside explains to Tim Goodyer why technology has replaced live performance.

Secrets of samples and songs

how Green is my new band and album

Fairlight screens, machines and Green. Interview by Adrian Deevoy

Question: What do Phil Collins, Howard Jones, Chaka Khan and David Bowie have in common? Answer: They have all recorded with Arif Mardin, one of the world's top record producers. Robin Tolleson chats to the man himself...

Ambient, techno and the internet

Session player, freelance producer and 1-Level keyboardist Duncan Bridgeman discusses what it's like to live in a recording studio for 11 months of the year. Interview by Dan Goldstein.

The man who brought computers to Frankie and programmed his way to chart infamy with The Art of Noise, fits in an interview before going out to play some very English sport. Paul Tingen fills in the scorecard.

Working Week take a break to chat to Tony Reed on the subjects of pop, politics, and the importance of dance.

and the wages of Jazz

talk the best of

The Camden Cowboys are back with a fresh outlook and a new IP on the way. Jonathan James investigates

More Scots before the eyes

Dance music should be about more than 'moaning samples and ecstasy' claims producer Arthur Baker. Simon Trask talks to the man behind 'Planet Rock'.

An Audience With Aziz

Leading session guitarist Aziz talks to John Harris about playing, recording, and hi-tech guitar processors.

From being early Fairlight programmers, Simon Climie and Rob Fisher have pursued their songwriting career into the pop charts. Nicholas Rowland conducts the occasional interview.

Q: When is a guitar not a guitar? A: When it's part of David Sylvian's music. Taking time out from a hectic schedule David Torn talks guitar textures and musical crossovers with Tim "pretentious, moi?" Goodyer.

DATA: Martyn Ware/new album/Synclavier keyboard/digital technique... HARD COPY

Information Society's combination of funk, hip hop, sampling and Star Trek give them a particular perspective on modern music making. Society spokesperson: Deborah Parisi.

Nobody has advanced the application of technology in music more than Peter Gabriel. His pioneering use of the Fairlight CMI helped popularise that instrument and give credence to sampling as a creative recording practice. Yet his music has never fallen prey to the technology trap - his latest album So remains a soulful collection of songs heavily reliant on technology but applied with subtlety. Ray Hammond talks to the great man about the album, new technology, Otis Redding, and his role as musician.

The Bahamas boy talks tunes and tides with Adrian Deevoy

Tony Reed talks to Somerville and Coles, the Morecambe and Wise of agit-Pop

The Sweetest Girl

The Sweetest Girl, the Coverage version

Chas de Whalley chews the fat with Howard Grey, the young turk behind some of UB40's and Scritti Politti's finest moments