Do you live in peace with your cassette recorder? Or is your life full of mangled tape misery and longings for lost high frequencies? Confirmed reel-to-reelie David Mellor explains the problems that bedevil the cassette format, and offers some advice to make the medium work for you rather than against you.

Fashionably minimalistic, America's premier avant garde composer recently visited the UK for an all too brief concert tour. He has been cited by many international stars as one of their first influences, yet commercial success has eluded him. Dan Goldstein listens to what he has to say

Brian Eno

Cover Versions

Why do them, how do them, when do them.

Software for the Atari ST

A new sequencer program for the Atari ST from British company Hollis Research sets out to be powerful and friendly without breaking the bank. Ian Waugh reckons it's on the right track (man).

The first part of a new series on recording and signal processing. This month we look at a few simple ways of making a vocal part sound more interesting.

From the New York roots of hip hop, KRS One talks about street-level production values and samples as the poor musician's alternative to real musicians. Simon Trask listens to the Music of the Spheres.

A chat with keyboard person Mick MacNeil about technology, touring and techniques.

Paul Nash relates the saga of Holly Community Centre Studio.

Formerly one half of Throbbing Gristle, Chris and Cosey have since leapt to the forefront of Britain's avant garde electronic music scene. Interview by Dan Goldstein.

The Digital Master

Casio's DA1 is the smallest and cheapest Digital Audio Tape recorder on the market, and an ideal addition to any home studio. Paul Ireson swoons in its presence.

In which the man behind the mask - Frank Tovey - explains his attitudes to playing, writing, and recording his own particular brand of idiosyncratic electronic music.

Food fans flip out! Forget recording — what do Pop stars eat while they're working? Lovable liquid-luncher and hardened drinker Trynka tucks in. Bon appetit!

Bo Diddley tells Max Kay a bed-time story

MIDI Performance Effect

The arpeggiator is still regarded by many as "the poor man's sequencer", but Oberheim may be about to change that with a small grey box called Cyclone. Simon Trask blows hot and cold.

After carving a career for themselves with their unique brand of anarchic funk, Shriekback have decided the time has come for a change. Barry Andrews tells David Bradwell about the importance of loving musical equipment.

Being a new section mainly for interesting and musical people of medium height: a little short for a feature but far too sturdy for a news item. Today, Weather Report refugee Alphonso Johnson and an instrument to gawp at and the curious Gruppo Sportivo (Q: Are we not Italian? A: We are Dutch).

What do you get if you cross a Fostex A-8 with two women and Chris Maillard?

Beyer's MCE81 condenser mic is their latest addition to a long line of sturdy, high quality studio and stage microphones. Gareth Stuart finds out just what it records best.

Take one of the most influential electronic composers of the current generation, a Fairlight, an entire library of vocal recordings from all over the world, and a few more-than-talented guest musicians, and you have the recipe for Zoolook, Jean-Michel Jarre's latest album. Here he talks about its creation.

History Of Producers

Just who are these people who get their names on record sleeves and their sounds in your speakers?

Mr & Mrs Mark E. Smith at home

A behind-the-scenes glimpse into who does what, and how, in the making of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe's classic synth-pop records.