Two ex-cats and an earl add more lines to the story of Rock and Roll. David Marx chronicles

They began the '80s as Japan, now they're starting over as Rain Tree Crow. Tim Goodyer catches synthesist Richard Barbieri and drummer Steve Jansen for a frank discussion of music and personalities ten years after Tin Drum.

Level 42's Svengali gets his comeuppance

...aka The Moody Boys, Voyager and Urban Jungle, and remixer by appointment to KLF, System 7 and many others. Phil Ward uncovers the real Tony Thorpe.

Keyboard player to Rainbow, Black Sabbath and now Ozzy Osbourne, Don talks to Tim Oakes about his keyboards, how to Bark At The Moon, and life on the road with a werewolf...

Vintage advice from the veteran vocalist and his experienced ensemble. Philip Bashe met the old hand in New York

Phil Ward Xplores the Real World of CD-ROM and multimedia

An ES&CM exclusive... At home with top synth pioneers Tangerine Dream, in their own recording studio - a three page special.

Steve Hackett and Paddy Kingsland set out to test the merits and demerits of the Roland GR-500 and ARP Avatar. Synthesise watches, lads.

MK 80 Electronic Piano

In its day the Fender Rhodes changed the course of musical progress; now Roland have resurrected and improved Harold Rhodes' classic electric piano. Simon Trask plays on...

The blurred fingers of the guitar star focussed by the blurred gaze of Richard Walmsley

Cutting a record

Make your own music, make your own record, make your own luck

From the profound to the downright silly, we wind up a year's chit-chat

Jim Betteridge investigates altered perception, or is it just too much lager?

Jon and Helena Marsh in their natural habitat

You're signed, and the big cheque arrives. What do you spend it on?

Producer of Style Council, The Jam and Comsat Angels explains his working techniques in the studio, production skills and the ins and outs of various effects.

Jazz - the final rhythm programming frontier; but if you treat jazz as an attitude (as the jazz greats all have), jazz patterns are just a state of mind away. Nigel Lord thinks cool.

David Kershenbaum lets rip on his affection for rhythmic mixes in a natter with Our Dread.

hear's to future days

Big Country's Mark Brzezicki tells how

The Rhythm Section

Landscape's bassist and drummer recount their reasons for choosing to form their own label to Ralph Denyer.