CATEGORIES
فئات
Novation Launchpad Mini Mk3 £100
Launcher control surfaces continue their rise. Jon Musgrave asks if small is beautiful with this latest offering
Korg ARP 2600 FS $3,899
Having achieved acclaim for their recreation of the ARP Odyssey, Scot Solida is pleased to see that Korg have at last tackled the venerable 2600. But does it live up to the legend?
Morgan Page
From tracker software beginnings to top ten hits, James Russell finds out what makes EDM’s hardest-working producer tick. After dispensing production tips on Twitter, what’s his advice for actually working in the industry?
Modal Electronics Argon 8 £579
Modal always make interesting synths and the Argon 8 carries on that tradition. Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman tries their latest creation…
Bloody Mary
Rising from the ashes of the acid techno era, Berlin-based Bloody Mary retains her fascination for all things 303. Danny Turner questions the DJ/producer on her old-school approach
Creative Resampling
This month, we’re turning our critical eye to the creativity and inspiration which can come from resampling. We’ll explore exactly what this term means, what resampling can do and why it forms such a significant part of the production process for so many musicians, irrespective of the musical genres they favour. We’ll explore the pros and cons of using your DAW’s audio capabilities compared to triggering resampled sounds from dedicated samplers, as well as having a look at some of the latest software developments which are facilitating creative resampling in new and innovative ways. What we’ll discover is that resampling provides a means for sound creation which is different from programming synths, or loading pre-existing samples into sample playback engines. If personalizing the sounds you reach for – either by building them from the ground up, or modifying presets – is an important part of the creative process for you, there should be plenty of advice, technique and theory over the next few pages to take your tracks in new directions. As always, take what you read, see and hear as a springboard for your own creativity. Ready to go down the resampling rabbit hole? Off we go…
Beatrice Dillon
On her debut album, Workaround, Beatrice Dillon finds new ways to unlock electronic music’s often rigid parameters. Danny Turner learns about the process behind its creation
Arturia AudioFuse 8Pre £630
Rob Redman assesses Arturia’s venture into the domain of rack audio interfaces
Fatboy Slim You've Come A Long Way, Baby
Skint, 1998
Is The MPC One The Backpack-Sized Beatmaker You've Been Waiting For?
Akai have unveiled the MPC One, a new standalone production tool that slots in as the smallest – and most affordable – of the company’s current crop of hardware beatmakers
Boston Bun - Don't Wanna Dance
Universal/Island Records Ltd, 2019
Highway Star
BLACK MOUNTAIN’S NEW ALBUM IS A STOMPBOX-OBLITERATING GEM CALLED DESTROYER; GUITARIST STEPHEN MCBEAN LETS US LOOK UNDER THE HOOD
Good Times, Rad Times
JOHN NOTTO TELLS THE STORY OF DIRTY HONEY, THE LITTLE BAND THAT COULD (BECOME THE FIRST UNSIGNED BAND-EVER-TO HIT NUMBER 1 ON BILLBOARD'S MAINSTREAM ROCK SONGS CHART)
Schrodinger's Shredder
INSTRUMENTAL MASTER NICK JOHNSTON SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON HIS GEAR, HIS SONGWRITING AND HIS MAJESTIC NEW ALBUM, WIDE EYES IN THE DARK
A Garage Rock Hit
YOU MIGHT NEVER WANT TO LEAVE THE GARAGE, THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME’S NEWEST INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT
Hot Fuzz
Victory takes on USA boutique tone with a world-class EL84-powered head that’s compact and ready to take on any gig
GREG KOCH
Those of you who were lucky enough to see Greg on his recent UK tour will already be aware of his formidable six-string wizardry. For the rest of you, our exclusive video lesson should be proof enough of the man’s supernatural abilities…
ZILLA CABS
Look around any pro studio or stage set these days and you’re likely to spot a Zilla speaker cab. We tracked down the company founder, Paul Gough, to talk about the art of matching the right cab, speakers and finish to his customers’ varying musical needs…
Black Magic Box
Hughes & Kettner hits the floor with its latest amp, which combines digital control of analogue solid-state. A new benchmark? We plug in to find out…
Whatever We Want
They might be controversial, but aged relic guitars are here to stay, because that’s what more and more of us want. We talk taste and trends with World Guitars’ Julian White…
The Art Of Ageing
When a vintage instrument is out of financial reach, or simply too precious to leave its case, the new-old guitar answers the call. Guitar expert and author Tony Bacon traces the history of artificial ageing to today’s relics from big names and independent makers
STAND ATLANTIC
FROM TRIUMPHANT HEADLINE TOURS TO BOLD, BOUNDARY-PUSHING NEW MUSIC, 2019 HAS BEEN A YEAR TO REMEMBER FOR STAND ATLANTIC. BONNIE FRASER WALKS US THROUGH IT ALL FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE…
SUM 41
TEENAGE SUPERSTARDOM, NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES AND A LEGACY THAT’LL LIVE FOREVER. SUM 41 FRONTMAN DERYCK WHIBLEY TALKS THROUGH THE ESSENTIAL STORY OF THE NEW INDUCTEES TO THE ROCK SOUND HALL OF FAME.
SET IT OFF
FUELLED BY THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM MOST, SET IT OFF PULLED THROUGH ADVERSITY, UNCERTAINTY AND ISOLATION TO CREATE THE ALBUM OF THEIR CAREERS. CODY CARSON EXPLAINS HOW IT ALL PLAYED OUT...
YUNGBLUD
BUILDING A UNIQUE GLOBAL COMMUNITY AND SENDING A WAKE-UP CALL TO ALTERNATIVE CULTURE, YUNGBLUD HAS MADE 2019 HIS OWN. HE REVEALS HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN, FROM MOMENTOUS COLLABORATIONS AND DREAM SHOWS TO LIFE AT THE HEART OF A PHENOMENON.
The Maine
CANDID, EMOTIONAL AND DEEPLY HOPEFUL, THE MAINE’S SEVENTH ALBUM SHOWED US ALL A MUCH-NEEDED BRIGHTER SIDE TO LIFE IN 2019. THEY REVEAL HOW IT WAS BORN, AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT’S FORMED AROUND THEM.
FRANK IERO
IN CREATING BOLD, BRASH, IMPERFECT NEW ALBUM ‘BARRIERS’, FRANK IERO AND HIS BAND THE FUTURE VIOLENTS TURNED HEADS ACROSS THE GLOBE. THIS IS THE STORY OF A YEAR SPENT DOING THINGS ENTIRELY DIFFERENTLY.
ENTER SHIKARI
HUGE TOURING, ONE-OFF SONGS AND SOME UTTERLY MINDBLOWING FESTIVAL SETS MEANT ENTER SHIKARI STOOD HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST OF THE UK THIS YEAR. HERE’S HOW IT PANNED OUT IN THEIR OWN WORDS…
SIXTY SECONDS with...
A minute’s all it takes to find out what makes a great guitarist tick. Before he jumped into his limo for the airport we grabbed a quick chat with Royal Southern Brotherhood singer-guitarist and chart-topping blues musician, Mike Zito.
Rocking the blues Soloing masterclass
Kenny on how to weave classic blues influences into your soloing and unlock the fretboard.