CATEGORIES

SONIC DESTRUCTION

From overdriven signal paths to rhythmic malfunctions, there’s plenty of creativity to be found by doing things just a little bit wrong

Feed Me

EDM producer Jon Gooch revives his cartoonish Feed Me moniker. Danny Turner finds out how the use of live instrumentation changed his production approach

Exploring Akai MPC

Leo Maymind takes a detailed look at an iconic groovebox whose influence helped shape modern hip-hop and much more besides

Liars

Dissolving the contours of rock and electronics, Danny Turner charts the making of Liars’ 10th album with Angus Andrew and Laurence Pike

Jean-Michel Jarre

The pioneering musician who introduced generations to futuristic sounds the first time around is at it again. He joins Matt Mullen to talk experiments in VR gigging, spatial audio and more...

Noise

With roots as far back as 1913, noise is the genre that’s also a state of mind

1010 Music Bitbox mk2 £549

Rob Redman finds out whether this updated sampler box of tricks contains any more surprises

Erica Synths and Sonic Potions LXR-02 £499

Rob Redman braces himself for another resurrected blast from the past

Modal SKULPTsynth SE £169

Modal are back with an update to their SKULPT synth. Bruce Aisher takes a listen to see if it can rustle up a big sound

Reason Studios Reason 12 £399

Now in both DAW and plugin realms, Reason gains a sampler and refreshed Combinator. Si Truss investigates

50 Studio Hacks ...To Help You Make Better Music

From creative ideas to mixdown advice, we’re here to make your music making life easier – one tip at a time!

Intellijel Metropolix £519

What a difference an ‘x’ makes. Rob Redman explores this sequel to the jammers’ favourite Metropolis sequencer

James Hurr Love Together Toolroom, 2021

Low-key industry titan James Hurr has a CV most producers would give up a limb for, including collaborations with the likes of Todd Terry, Mark Knight and Basement Jaxx, and remixes for Beyoncé, Nile Rogers and Kylie amongst others. We caught up with James to find out more about his love of dance music and how he creates his tracks.

DJ Seinfeld

Known for spearheading the lo-fihouse scene, DJ Seinfeld’s new album Mirrors offers an entirely new sonic fidelity. Danny Turner talks to Armand Jakobsson about his reinvention

Sequential Prophet-5 Rev 4 £3,000

With Dave Smith back at Sequential’s helm, a new version of this ’80s icon was nigh-on obligatory, says Andy Jones

LoneLady

Exchanging grey Manchester for a basement studio at London’s Somerset House, Julie Campbell (aka LoneLady) broke out the machines and got started on her third album.

Hardcore

Springing from house and techno, this is a sound to be taken just as seriously. Hardcore: do you know the score?

Ten City Foundation Atlantic, 1989

After dropping his groundbreaking single, Move Your Body in 1986, Marshall Jefferson was “hotter than fish grease”. Sensing the heat, chum and vocal powerhouse, Byron Stingily, picked up the phone and got his hustle on, calling every major label, dangling the hottest name in house music in front of them.

“It's really important to spend time away from the studio and do other things” Sebastian Plano

Argentinian-born, Berlin-based musician Sebastian Plano is a man of many talents – an accomplished cellist, classically-trained composer and electronic producer. He puts all these skills to work on his latest album, Save Me Not, a beautiful concoction of delicate piano lines, haunting vocals, luscious strings and electronic atmospherics. We caught up with him to find out more...

Refresh Your Live Setup

As worldwide restrictions begin to ease and the live music sector eyes a tentative return, it’s time to refresh your live rig – we’ll help you get gig-ready with essential tips and must-have gear

Sub Focus Sub Focus RAM Records, 2009

FM | CLASSIC ALBUM

Bitwig Studio 4 promises to unlock ‘new musical timelines'

Version 4 brings new sequencing and probability tools, plus native support for Apple Silicon

BEC Trusting The Mystery

Second State Audio, 2021

Elkka

Rising UK house producer Elkka has evolved from struggling singer/songwriter to creating a truly distinctive sound. Danny Turner discusses her metamorphosis and newly released EP Euphoric Melodies

Hitting the road with modular gear

Rob Redman delves into the forgotten world of live music, exposing some key tools and techniques to help you win over the gigging masses

Trap

A genre? A movement? A key element of hip-hop? This month we explore the roots of the modern trap sound

Erika de Casier

The Portuguese-Danish singer-songwriter and producer with a flare for ‘feelgood’ chats to Kate Puttick about the joys of learning

Sunroof

Sunroof duo Gareth Jones and Daniel Miller have finally released their debut electronic album 40 years after they first became friends. Danny Turner reveals how the iconic producers’ modular jams finally saw fruition

“My studio wouldn't be complete without at least a couple outboard synths or keyboards” MNDSGN

LA-based producer Ringgo Ancheta, aka Mndsgn, is a perfect fit for lauded underground hip-hop label Stones Throw.

Black Lion Audio Revolution 2x2 £399

Quality audio is at the heart of this firm’s ethos. Jon Musgrave tests their first fully fledged audio interface