what the famous want from St Nick

Is hip hop an unending stream of monotonous, empty rhythms, or the brightest star in the use of modern musical technology? Tim Goodyer cross-questions MC Tee and DJ Mantronik.

An in-depth dissection of electro-pop; how to create it, how to adapt it but not how to dance to it.

Music Synthesiser

The appliance of SYience

After spending four years recording The Seeds of Love, Tears for Fears are back and touring the world. Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal talk tears and technology with Dan Rue and Tim Goodyer.

You'll be hard pushed to find a UK studio that isn't choc-a-bloc with Japanese studio equipment, but have you ever wondered what they use? David Mellor takes a slow boat that bypasses China, and visits two Tokyo studios to find out.

Alphabet Coup

the importance of being alphabetical

Roland XP-50

Well-equipped new workstation

BassCheck, GuitarCheck

American from Japan and its guitar counterpart reviewed by Dave Burrluck

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.

Steve Cogan finds out just what Satan and Bugs Bunny have to do with this Cyberpunk band who swear by their ST

The maestro himself on rave, analogue classics, lasers, mice and Fellini