Few producers begin their careers with experimental bands, become world-renowned for their work with electronic pop, and then turn their attention to traditional rock music. Paul Tingen talks to Mike Howlett, a man of many talents.

After releasing an album consisting entirely of human vocal samples, Claire Hamill reintroduces the synthesiser to her music. David Bradwell listens to the singer's tale.

First the BBC, then Shakatak, now a solo album: Bill Sharpe's list of Famous People is an impressive one. Dan Goldstein makes further enquiries.

How To Save £54,800

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

Ambient Corporation

Forget the Fairlights, ditch the D.D.L.'s — ES&CM reader Graeme Robinson shows how you can beat it with the big boys, using just a couple of multitracks.

Pete Shelley talks about XL-1

A British-built keyboard combo to compete with the world's best comes under Paul White's enquiring gaze.

Part two of this series on combining live instrument performances and MIDI recording looks at a typical session in the studio of Ollie Crooke and Simon Thomas.

I.M. looks at two bands from the Essex area.

Readers' synth patches for the Bit One, Yamaha DX7 and Casio CZ series, plus a review of some new DX ROM packs from Japan.

Recording Peter Gabriel's Us

In an exclusive interview, this longstanding keyboard hero and Miami Vice music maestro discusses keyboard technique, and what it’s like to achieve mass recognition after years of obscurity. Annabel Scott takes note.

Software for the Atari ST

The latest version of the industry-standard Atari ST sequencing package. Simon Trask finds out if software is fulfilling its promise to keep abreast of the times.

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.

AccessoryCheck

Kahler turned tremolo design on its head to make their fortune — and now they've produced a traditional fulcrum. What's going on? Dave Burrluck has the answers

and the wages of Jazz

Improvisation. You know, making it up, off the top of your head. Of course you can do it.

The phenomenal rise to success of Gary Stevenson came about through his dynamic production work on the first Go West album. Ralph Denyer extracts the details of the saga and discovers what Gary has planned for the future.

through the year darkly with One Two

He was once electronic drummer with jazz-rockers Landscape. Now he's a successful producer for the likes of Spandau Ballet and Colonel Abrams, but the search for new ways of using new gear goes on.

More than a decade and a half after they first fell out of Manchester, New Order's most married couple are still at the nerve-centre of the band's activities. Helping them come to terms with it all - Phil Ward