After calling it a day with seventies’ supergroup The Band, and an interim period spent scoring soundtracks for Martin Scorsese films, guitarist Robbie Robertson has teamed up with Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel and U2 to create an impeccable first solo outing. Mark Prendergast lends the album an appreciative ear.

Like many keyboard aces of the Seventies, Rod Argent too has turned his talents toward writing music for films and television, his most recent venture being the music for the highly acclaimed BBC TV series 'Soldiers'. Here he explains to Ian Gilby the procedures involved.

After an apprenticeship under the wing of the Frankies' Trevor Horn, Simon Darlow spreads his own; he talks to Paul Tingen about the hazards of writing, playing and producing your own album.

Mission In Action

Instead of recording their latest opus in expensive pro studios, the Mission have been laying tracks in a rural barn. It might seem they've fallen from grace; Robert Michael finds it ain't necessarily so.

Now at last, it can be revealed! The veteran producer spills the beans about those 70s Genesis albums... and updates us on work in progress

Wings Tour USA

Waiting In The Wings

Part 11. Dave Stewart explains the recording of one of his songs and passes on a few tips into the bargain.

Adam Asiz

Sounds, samples, & software upgrades for the modern studio

Disks, gadgets, samples and bits for the computing musician

An overview

Mark Prendergast presents a general overview of record labels, artists, and recordings that make up the exciting area of new electronic and experimental music in the late 1980s.

RS205, RS100

Two new six strings of familiar heritage from the Ibanez stable.

I used to work with this prat once who thought that I'd mis-spelt compleat when I used it in an article - sometimes you just can't win, can you? Dave Hastilow, however, is well sussed and brings you sound at a stroke.

The backstage view of the mammoth Tull operation from Tony Freeman, one of those without whom... nervous times among the cigarette stubs.

Cheap Electrics

Guitars from Sakura, Vox, Westone, Hondo...

GuitarCheck

Dave Burrluck flies the flag with a close look at the British-made Manson guitar...

BassCheck

Dave Burrluck back again with Manson's other new baby, the KahlerTrem-equipped Kestrel.

Find out everything you need to know about life on and around the average guitar neck

Introducing MT's unique encyclopedia of analogue synthesisers: part 1, Akai to ARP

Legal raves demand state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, and Fantazia are the experts. Dave Arcari reports from the dance floor

Printing the Part

David Ellis concludes his survey of music-transcribing devices. Among the products featured this month are units from Fairlight, New England Digital, Con Brio and Xerox.

Mint Jam Studios

A new breed of studio is emerging, ignoring the major record companies and putting their own product out there... Mint Jam is one of them

Another instalment of our column devoted entirely to Steinberg software, written and compiled exclusively for SOS by Steinberg's experts.