Once leader of the seminal Weather Report, Joe Zawinul recently took his current project, The Zawinul Syndicate, on the road. Simon Trask talks with an acknowledged master of the synthesiser.

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.

Bill Nelson, Magma

In some ways this budget-priced drum machine from Kawai is a major improvement over its big brother, the R100, not least in its use of 8-note polyphonic sounds and its built-in digital effects. Ian Gilby was more than a little impressed. Find out why...

Turning their backs on pop notoriety to meet electronic experimentation head on, Sheffield's LFO are taking dance music into new areas. Simon Trask gets a new perspective on nostalgia.

unbeatable coverage of all the new gear at the year's most important instrument show. Don't buy ANYTHING until you've read it.

Trevor Horn considered

The annual pilgrimage to Europe's largest music fair is over for another year. Vic Lennard brings hot news of the latest hi-tech developments, innovations, launches, lunches...

News of some products to be released at the coming APRS exhibition, Acorn's new low-cost Archimedes computer, Akai's digital multitrack, and more.

After calling it a day with seventies’ supergroup The Band, and an interim period spent scoring soundtracks for Martin Scorsese films, guitarist Robbie Robertson has teamed up with Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel and U2 to create an impeccable first solo outing. Mark Prendergast lends the album an appreciative ear.

Frankfurt Musikmesse 1987

While for those with a taste for the European, we present a similarly in-depth account of the '87 Musikmesse. If it hit the headlines in Frankfurt, you'll read about it here.

Todd AO Studios

Simon Braund visits New York's busiest movie post-production facility

LA Synthesiser

Roland's latest keyboard combines two currently important concepts: the workstation and the company's own Linear Arithmetic synthesis. Simon Trask test drives the "multi-timbral linear synthesiser muhitrack sequencer".

Ensoniq EPS16 Plus Sampling Workstation

Ensoniq have transformed their 13-bit EPS sampling workstation with the addition of dynamically controlled 24-bit digital multi-effects, a much improved 16-track MIDI sequencer and full 16-bit sampling. The result is the EPS16 Plus. But does it pass? Kendall Wrightson invigilates.

The all-but-forgotten guitar synth is due to return to music shops with a vengeance this summer, in the shape of Roland's GR700/G707 system and a breathtaking new British design, the SynthAxe. Paul White puts both instruments through their paces.

The price guide to beat all price guides continues with a rundown of available sequencers, software packages and computer music systems.

Never mind avoiding presets and programming your own patches... how about rebuilding the whole damn synth? Richard James - aka Polygon Window, Caustic Window, Diceman, Soit PP, Blue Calx, AFX and The Aphex Twin - isn’t happy with his hardware till he’s had the toolbox to it. Phil Ward enters the twilight zone of the lad from Cornwall who’s spearheading the ambient onslaught.

It's the talk of Paris' hep musical set, Peter Gabriel set up a new record label for it and Ray Lema is one of its greatest exponents - Simon Trask discovers hitech ethnic music is about to make its mark on popular culture.

NAMM Winter Market, Anaheim

Paul Wiffen, hotfoot from California, reports on the machines that made headlines at the US music industry's winter shindig...

Gem S2 Music Processor

GEM's newest synth, with its polished sound and presentation, could be set to dispel the company's homely image. Martin Russ discovers the multi-faceted GEM S2.

The Secret World Tour

A behind the scenes look at how Gabriel steamed up Earl's Court with his hot new stage show.

People, Gear, Events, Gossip

happening people, gear, gossip, events

The Alternative MIDI Controllers Session

Electronic Percussion Buyer's Guide

If you can hit it or make it sound as if you have, you'll find it listed in E&MM's exclusive rundown of what's available in the world of drum machines and electronic kits.

The Beautiful People: If 60s Were 90s...