Is it possible to create music using only the natural sounds of the Earth? Robin Lumley says yes, having done just that for a forthcoming BBC documentary series with the aid of a Prophet 2000 sampler and some open-minded studio personnel. Read his fascinating tale.

producer of Sade, Everything But The Girl and more speaks acoustic-wise

Roland Report

Assorted items of news, nonsense and things people wish they hadn't said.

The Crusaders. Stix stix and Pops pops while Bacon sizzles gently into the tape recorder.

DREAM MACHINE: Washburn status bass

the washburn status bass: a designer label at a supermarket price

Deep Underground

Part 8: Deep underground, this month Dave Stewart tells how you can work within the pop medium yet still manage to create interesting music!

Chris Meyer takes an in-depth look at Oberheim's EPROM burner and reader, and considers its renewed significance in the light of continually evolving MIDI applications.

All the latest info on tomorrow's gear, and more free details if you need them.

Humbucker Music

Billy Punter travels to Humbucker Music in Leicester in the hope that he'll pick up a bargain

Guitarcheck

Plug in, lean back, legs apart — and sound like an accordionist. Tony Mills taxes the axe

and the wages of Jazz

Bill Nelson talks Synths Vs Guitars with Gary Cooper

Read all about IT!

Casio plug a gap in their range by introducing a CZS000 without the sequencer. Trish McGrath uses her fingers to see how it sounds.

Performance Synthesiser

If you'd begun to believe that you needed a degree to use any modern synth, think again: think JX1. Simon Trask discovers the truth behind the Japanese "Think SynX Concept" adverts.

At last, someone has come up with a sample-playing device that specialises in reproducing bass voices - from a double bass to a Moog synth. Brian Devereux reports.