As the band reach their greatest level of British success and release their third album, Talk Talk's Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene discuss the curse of the synthesiser and the blessing of the piano with Tim Goodyer.

An exclusive interview with the innovator of electronic music and mentor of today's stars, Karlheinz Stockhausen.

From artistic oppression under Stalin to contributing to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, György Ligeti has remained a true music pioneer. Simon Trask talks to a musical legend.

Mr & Mrs Mark E. Smith at home

This month, a specially extended Track Record looks at the making of two very different albums with one thing in common. The Stones' Dirty Work and Joe Jacksons' Big World were both recorded live

'Is this the one we have all been waiting for?' asks Julian Colbeck. Slotting neatly into the vacant sub-£1000 price bracket, Roland's new keyboard is a fast and easy to use sampler with plenty of attractive qualities. But how does it fare against the competition? Read on to find out...

Philip Bashe and Don McLeese stop a lone Stone stateside

the electric revival examined

The anti-christ of studio recording, Dave Goodman, talks to Chas de Whalley

In part two of this short series, David Etheridge looks at the role of effects and unusual chords in New Age music.

Digital drum machines may rule the waves in the R&D labs, but one obsolete analogue device is still the record producers' first choice. Tim Goodyer dissects the appeal of Roland's classic TR808.

Part 5 of our series for FM synth owners, in which Martin Russ gives away even more secrets of FM programming. Operators at the ready!

Robert Plant's right-hand man and technology-fiend talks to Tim Goodyer about samplers, studios and dischords.

Forsaking guitars and drums for a wall of keyboards and racked modules, Sub Sub turned a home studio into a hit factory. ‘Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use)’ peaked at Number 3 and took everyone by surprise - except Phil Ward, who heard the single pre-release and contacted the band immediately.

Universal Patch Librarian

Tired of rummaging through RAM cards and boxes of floppy disks in search of a particular synth patch? Greg Truckell checks out a far more convenient way to store and recall patches.

Marvel at previously unrevealed secrets of famous musical instruments and their inventors.

Where would Madonna, Giorgio Moroder or Stock, Aitken and Waterman be without sequenced bass lines? Rudi Cazeaux provides some guidelines and practical examples to help you create better bass lines.

The wonderful guitars that made the wonderful Midge the wonderful guitarist. That he is.

Multireviews.

all publicity is good publicity - and even with limited funds, your band can still have a great image

what exactly do promoters do, and are they worth the money?

ROCK WEEK

preposterous pop

Whitesnake's Jon Lord talks gear & Technique with Gary Cooper

David Mellor concludes his guide to this low-cost high-quality console.

Scanner I And II Radio Mic Systems