Keyboard player Tony Banks has been the foundation stone of Genesis' music for almost two decades now but has not experienced the same level of success in his work outside Genesis as past and present members of the band, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Peter Gabriel. With two solo albums and numerous film scores behind him, Banks is set to bounce back into the limelight with a fresh, new solo project. Brian Jacobs poses the questions...

Making up chords with the Gretsch collector.

In the second and concluding part of our review, Simon Trask gives the D50's sound potential a more in-depth listening, and has a go at programming, LA-style.

Tim Gentle Music

Yamaha TG100 General MIDI Tone Module

A lightweight multi-timbral module, with 28-voice polyphony and 192 sounds, which also acts as a MIDI Interface for your computer — where's the catch? Paul Wiffen looks hard but just can't seem to find it.

At last, a keyboard that presents FM programming in a more accessible way, and at an accessible price. Simon Trask previews the great new hope of digital synthesis.

Our man Chris Maillard meets the Men for a man-to-Men chat

30 memory programmable six note poly with sequencer

AccessoryCheck

Dave Burrluck's Strat gets active

From the first all-electronic record label to the first ARS Electronica concert, Hubert Bognermayr has been one of electronic music's pioneers. David Bradwell makes the Austrian connection.

BBC launches major rock tutor series

Auntie Learns to Rock — BBC to screen Rockschool. What's it all about?

An exclusive interview with Rick Wakeman plus music from '1984' for you to play.

A convenient arrangement

Dealer of the Month

Sound Centre, Newport (Monmouthshire), where Welshing on a deal has a different meaning.

Software Package

Voice Crystal SY77 Disks 1 & 2

Martin Russ takes a break from programming sounds and auditions someone else's instead.

Film and library music composer Mark Thomas is currently recording several albums worth of orchestral library music. We catch up with him at Battery Studios...

64 memory programmable poly with arpeggiator

The Who's bassist extraordinaire talks technique versus mystique

Keyboardcheck

More money means Mirage-mangling, maybe? Tony Mills sizes up the latest sampling supersynth

Programmable Dual Channel Polyphonic Synthesiser