Although still very young, keyboard player Guy Fletcher has a long list of album/single credits already under his belt for such artists as Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger and Dire Straits. Paul Gilby finds out how Guy landed such plum roles and learns more about the way Dire Straits make use of music technology in their recording.

Where 'live' recording is involved, truth is stranger than fiction. Or is it?

It's no stay-at-home

Lexicon Reflex

MIDI controllable reverb

Line Inputs

It's Italian, it costs thousands, and it's not an Armani suit. Undaunted, Simon Trask tries it on for size, and discovers a new breed of keyboard incorporating new synth technology and a Farfisa beat.

Portrait of the artist as a (suffering) young man

Belgian sampling innovators Front 242 have been accused of encouraging a fascist following - where does the sampling stop and the politics begin? David Bradwell brings news from the front.

Building his career on productions of Jennifer Warnes, Malcolm McLaren and the Communards, Stephen Hague has found his greatest success with The Pet Shop Boys. David Bradwell talks shop.

Groove guru Wile Smarties reports on the latest sample CDs.

Steve Lukather talks to Steven Rosen

LUKATHER IN TOTO. Words by Steven Rosen.... Pics. (inc. front cover) by Glen La Ferman

twenty years after they invented heavy metal the seminal sabbs are back

Scott Davidson utilises the power of MIDI to provide the instrumental foundation for Bros' music, both on stage and in the studio. Julian Colbeck takes notes...

Software for the Atari ST

Son of TDM's Virtuoso ST sequencing software, the budget Prodigy retains many of its parent's best features. Ian Waugh checks out the fastest little sequencer in the west.

His time with Rainbow, Whitesnake and Ozzy Osbourne has made Don Airey a rock institution (rather than putting him in one). Tim Goodyer talks to him about music and machinery.

From Sheffield's tradition as the home of industrial funk, come the Fon Force. David Bradwell talks to the men behind the cream of modern northern dance music.

Band-In-A-Box Auto-Accompaniment Software

You've never had it so easy — Band-in-a-Box adds intelligence to auto-accompaniment, as Mike Simmons finds out in his look at the latest version of this popular software package.

Mark Prendergast takes a look behind the scenes at the recording of New Order's fifth LP, 'Technique'.

Renowned best for his keyboard/synth excursions in the jazz-rock field, Dave and partner Barbara Gaskin achieved several chart hits with re-workings of classic pop songs like 'It's My Party' back in 1982. Together they are presently completing their first album for release on compact disc. David Etheridge took a look behind the scenes.

Alligator 'Ebony' Series A175 Bass Combo

Ricky Gordon gets to grips with Mind men Burchill and McNeil. Strings and keys - simplicity!

MIDI sequencer and digital drums

Your Razor Blade

Steve Howell covers the basics of good splicing practice in preparation for next month's article on creative remixing.

Multireviews.

MSX Software

Is the Japanese computer standard a dead duck, or will the latest music and video software from Toshiba and Pioneer save the day? Annabel Scott has the answers.