On completion of a new solo album and the soundtrack to the latest screen version of Wuthering Heights, Ryuichi Sakamoto finds himself centre stage yet again. Paul Tingen talks to the Renaissance Man of modern music.

session guitar from Heaven 17 to Art Garfunkel

DrumCheck

Bob Henrit reviews the new Ludwig acrylics.

From a clothes and record shop to an electronics company to a sound system to an excellent album and charting single, London's Funki Dreds are on the move. Tim Goodyer talks tech to Soul II Soul's Jazzie B.

Sound Workshop

Paul White takes you on a guided tour of the features and facilities of a typical multitrack mixer.

Responsible for establishing artists like Yazz and Lisa Stansfield, Coldcut also have a reputation for being one of the most innovative production teams around. Tim Goodyer learns about their new LP and the future of computer graphics.

Games Feature

Now that computer games are available on CD, they’re no longer restricted to naff sound effects and music. We talk to games producers Ocean and composer Debbie Wiseman about the arrival of serious sound for games...

Guitar Maker

Colin Hodgkinson visits the Brooklyn guitar maker who numbers Stanley Clarke's piccolo bass among his artefacts.

PART 3: What is it like to sit down at the Synclavier - the world's most expensive instrument - and create a piece of music? David Mellor finds out and tells the whole story.

Tony Horkins lays his hands on Tom, Alanna and Joe and squeezes out the technical secrets

trying to get on telly could be the most frustrating experience of your musical career; we pinpoint the pitfalls

Recording Peter Gabriel's Us

Drumcheck

The big, bold, beautiful sound of a wooden-shelled, craftsman-made piece of drumming perfection — Bob Henrit

"The most sensible interview I've every done," says Rick Parfitt, talking about musical success.

Really Big Men

The band tipped to make it BIG in '88. Tim Goodyer talks to a DJ/keyboard player with a unique place in rock 'n' roll and a singer/guitarist who's going to make Madonna and Lita Ford look like Dot Cotton and Hilda Ogden.

David Mellor unlocks the creative power of the reel-to-reel tape recorder.

can you tell a real drummer?

How To Save £54,800

Tony Mills makes a meal of the most interesting musical microprocessing around.

People, Gear, Events, Gossip

happening people, gear, events, gossip

Jethro Tull’s leading light opens the door to his new ‘home studio’.

Their trials and tribulations.

Equipment

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson part two

Jonathan Sorrell is one of a handful of session programmers working with the world's most sophisticated sampling keyboard - the Synclavier. Paul Gilby discovers how it came about.