The first of three personal views of a nation that's revolutionised the development and manufacture of hi-tech musical equipment. Hugh Ashton checks out the gear and the music.

One man in search of perfection. Dave Burrluck gives his verdict on the state of the axe

The newest of the new percussive sounds emerge as our Eddie chats to cosmic Frank Perry, who applies lateral thinking to work out what to turn into an instrument next.

ATARI/P&G/CONTRIVER/MCS/MARCONI/KRAFT Trackballs

When you entrust your music to the sophistication of a computer and software, you may find yourself needing something more reliable than a mouse to control it. Vic Lennard has the balls - track balls.

Look no backing tapes! Sigue Sigue Sputnik play live without the aid of a safety net, Jim Betteridge fumbles for his ear plugs.

A look at some of the new products revealed at the Musik Messe '83

Question: What do you do when your synth blows a fuse and you blow your top? Answer: You take it along to London's new Synthesizer Service Centre set up by skilled repairmen Ron Lebar and David Croft. Matthew Newman reports.

Sorry! I mean drums (what else?) Peter Randall puts Premier in perspective with a glance at their production methods.

Sounds, samples, & software upgrades for the modern studio

New software, updates, sounds, and samples

AmpCheck

Bill Martin examines a new range of solidly-built, high quality guitar amps which have just arrived here from the States

The Tapeless Recording Market Survey

The tapeless recording revolution is in full swing, as technology that once was available only to the few develops in products that suit a wider range of applications and pockets. Yasmin Hashmi looks at the development of the technology, the current state of the market and how it is likely to progress.

Bob Henrit reminisces on a plethora of electronic drums and a naze of excess

'Now the Virgin returns,' quoth Virgil, and who are we to disagree? Mel Lambert takes a colourful look at Richard Branson's new London studio: a Town House for the Lord of the Manor.

Everything you didn't want to know and couldn't be bothered to ask

Tape Machines

Electronics at East Anglia

A report on the electronic music studio at the University of East Anglia.

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

Software for the IBM PC

Generic sample editors have been giving Atari ST users a lead in sample editing for a while; now IBM PC users have the chance to get ahead. Dennis Miller has a vision.

Tape machines, handsaws, welcome to Concept Corner

Dan Goldstein sifts through the stack of independent vinyl that landed in the E&MM offices following our appeal, and finds each record has a different tale to tell.

Helden, Laurie Anderson, Fad Gadget, The Enid

Positive superlatives all over the place as Dave Blake's rhetoric embraces a couple of Ibanez instruments.