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

do you have to be a politician to have a hit

Three Guitarists

Tom Newman - tubular Tom raps with our own dread feller.

Brian O' Shaughnessy advises on recording acoustic guitar

Every Current Model Reviewed

All you need to know about choosing a cassette multitrack, plus concise reviews of every current model on the market.

Yesteryear's Gear: Roland Juno synths

classic analogue synthesizers for today's acid sounds

Commodore's Amiga computer is the beneficiary of this impressive - and colourful - sequencing package. Ian Waugh welcomes the illusion.

An innovative multi-instrumentalist both in and out of the studio, from Be-Bop Deluxe to 'The Love that Whirls'.

Roland D20 LA synthesizer

With its 8-track sequencer, rhythm composer, digital reverb and built-in disk drive, Roland's latest multitimbral LA synthesizer would be better described as a budget 'music workstation'. Paul Ireson reveals why ...

In a career spanning 30 years, including stints with Art Blakey and Miles Davis and a string of hit fusion albums, Lonnie Liston Smith has seen the changing role of the jazz pianist at first hand. In London for a rare live outing, Lonnie talks keyboards while Simon Trask clicks his fingers, shuts his eyes and goes "yeahhh"

Dean Markley Signature 'Pro 10' Practice Combo

A few simple rules to help you get professional-sounding vocal tracks every time.

Electronic Drum Kit

A British-built electronic drum kit for under £500. Sounds good, affirms reviewer Paul White.

funk and hi-tech facilities

Back to nature with Boris Blank. Tony Reed listens intently to technical talk about dripping water, talking drums and mountain ranges.

Bronski Beat reveal all in The Garden, as their new album, Age of Consent, storms the charts.

ICMC Report

Fresh from his exploits at Steim Studios, Ron Briefel takes a look at what last year's International Computer Music Conference had to offer in the way of new instruments, new music, and new ideas.

Not a household name perhaps, but this man is behind quite a lot of musical projects that you will no doubt recognise - as Janet Angus explains.

Software for the Apple Macintosh

Opcode's latest sequencing software for the Apple Macintosh aims to include all the facilities of other sequencers and add some more of its own. Carter Scholz believes he's seen the light.

how to sing them, how to mic them, how to treat them, how to tape them...

Take five and come alive - we show you how

With a Macintosh computer and Digidesign's new CD-quality digital audio system, you can cut, splice, and create extended remixes to your heart's content. Paul D. Lehrman discovers what it is like to go tapeless in the studio.