Contractual hassles have kept musician/producer Bill Nelson hopping from one record label to another since the demise of Be-Bop Deluxe, yet he has still managed to record some exemplary albums using the facility of his 16-track home studio. Ian Gilby finds out how he put his new album together.

Since the break-up of his group Japan in November 1982, David Sylvian has been slowly widening the base of his music to encompass both ethnic and avant-garde sounds. Mark Prendergast gathers the facts on the change of style.

Chas De Whalley quizzes Fall guy John Leckie. Totally weird

The Story of the Guitar Synth

Learn the history of the guitar synthesiser and what the stars think of them.

Bill lays bare his recording techniques and reveals the innermost secrets of his home studio 'The Echo Observatory' which has recently been upgraded to 16 track status. Now being used to record tracks fora forthcoming Nelson masterpiece.

Nominated by Adrian Belew, Bill Nelson, Roddy Frame, Ted Nugent, Robert Smith, Dierdre Cartwright

rack guitar effects

Sessionmen Special

Behind the scenes stuff with ace players Ian Lynn (keyboards) and Dave Mattacks (drums).

CX5M/Roland Winners

One of the most successful, certainly the most consistent, of Britain's electronic musicians, Gary Numan has succeeded in taking his eclectic and compelling music into the mass market. Gary talks of his songwriting and recording techniques, his past career, and what he plans for the future

Then After A Few Years I Think I'll Be A Producer

making a career of knob twiddling

Vintage technology strikes back

...Including The A-Z of Analogue

September 1983 - January 1985

All articles ever featured in HSR from September 83 to January 85 listed for your delectation.

news from the musical front

Remember, you'll read it here first!

The conclusion of our in-depth look at Bill's home 16 track studio in Yorkshire.

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.

In his first-ever interview with the British press, the ‘musician’s producer’ lets Paul Tingen in on a few of his most heavily-guarded studio secrets.