Axxess mainman Patrick Mimran and one of the most remarkable custom-designed synthesisers ever built. Report by Dan Goldstein.

Away from the fickleness of the pop music world, Cabaret Voltaire have been quietly breaking the barriers of underground electronic music. Interview by Dan Goldstein.

A December vinyl overload, as releases from Chaka Khan, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Alison Moyet and others come under scrutiny.

Digital Rhythm Composer

What the world has been waiting for - Roland's first-ever digital drum machine. Exclusive review by Dan Goldstein.

Vangelis Speaks

Vangelis, one of the synthesiser world's most influential figures, reveals the long-hidden facts about his approach to modern music-making. Interview by Dan Goldstein.

Software Surplus

Preset Polysynth

They call it a computer peripheral and MIDI expander, you'll probably think of it as a preset version of the SixTrak. Exclusive review of SCI's new baby by Dan Goldstein.

Crying And Shouting With Bath's Finest

Messrs Smith and Orzabal explain how it can take a year to make two singles but only two months to make an album, among other things. Bits in between the chat by Dan Goldstein.

In which five of E&MM's writers pick their fave things of the year. If your personal preferences aren't there, don't take it out on us.

The case for education?

There seems no end to the creativity of New York performance artist Laurie Anderson. In an exclusive interview, she talks about her music, her lyrics, and life as a 'Diva' for artist Jean-Michel Jarre.

Take one of the most influential electronic composers of the current generation, a Fairlight, an entire library of vocal recordings from all over the world, and a few more-than-talented guest musicians, and you have the recipe for Zoolook, Jean-Michel Jarre's latest album. Here he talks about its creation.

Programmable Digital Waveform Polysynth

An intriguing new synth design that tries to combine digital waveform generation with analogue control. Does it achieve its objectives? Dan Goldstein thinks it does - just.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly at Frankfurt's Musical Fiesta

Five pages of glorious colour on the exhibition to end all exhibitions - the annual Frankfurt Musik Messe. Dan Goldstein comes hotfoot from Germany to report on the latest developments on the hi-tech music scene. And there are a lot of them.

The art of perseverance.

Liverpool's China Crisis are poised for their third album release this month. It shows a marked maturing of styles and attitudes, due partly to the intervention of producer Walter Becker. Dan Goldstein probes the matter further.

Tucked away in one corner of the Frankfurt Music Fair was an astonishing sound-sampling device with origins in Eastern Europe. Paul White and Dan Goldstein have managed to get their hands on the first model to appear in the West.

Tired of lurking in the shadows of the contemporary music scene, Keith Emerson, one of the synth world's most influential figures, is now on the verge of re-forming ELP, the band that earned him his reputation.

As Yamaha's 'X' range of hi-tech hardware continues to grow, Dan Goldstein and Trish McGrath present an exclusive appraisal of two of the range's most affordable additions, the TX7 FM Expander and QX7 MIDI Keyboard Recorder.

...was the title of The South Bank Show's much-criticised electronic music extravaganza of a couple of months back. Here the programme's musical consultant, composer Tim Souster, argues the case in favour of the show's content.

Severed Heads mainman Tom Ellard in conversation with Dan Goldstein - no one in the modern music industry is safe.

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.

First the BBC, then Shakatak, now a solo album: Bill Sharpe's list of Famous People is an impressive one. Dan Goldstein makes further enquiries.

Preset/Programmable Digital Drum Machine

Technics attempt to marry the home-organ drum machine and the digital percussion computer. Success or failure? Dan Goldstein tells all.

A new-look roundup of tapes, records and music in general takes to the air for the first time. You ain't seen nothing yet.