Mixing / Production

A surprise hit with the independent release of 'Chime' led to a record contract, numerous singles, two successful LPs and worldwide touring for brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Nigel Humberstone catches up with them to talk about good gear, punk ethics and the importance of being spontaneous...

According to producer Pascal Gabriel, product support in the UK can be patchy and often non-existent. However, there are ways in which a producer can help himself — here he explains how...

Does a band need a record producer? And can the producer also be part of the band? Mike Pickering — one third of M People, the deConstruction act that really came into its own in 1993 — is both a producer and an artist. He sees no conflict in his dual role, but he does feel that the role of producer is changing — here he explains how...

Considered by some to be a guru of the new dance, mixing driving beats with ecletic found sounds, Cabaret Voltaire's Richard H. Kirk remains an influential voice. Mark J. Prendergast tracks him down.

Wilf Smarties gets the word on remixing from DMC's illustrious Brothers in Rhythm team: Dave Seaman and Steve Anderson.

Mark Tinley tells Nigel Humberstone how he landed the gig as Duran Duran's programmer and what the job entails.

Beyond Records is a true example of an independent label, set up by Mike Barnett, an enthusiast keen to get ambient music out to the masses and with a roster of promising electronic acts, including the up and coming Higher Intelligency Agency. Nigel Humberstone talks to Mike about setting up the label and HIA about producing the music.

With the recent re-release of Loops & Reels, plus a new live album, Peter Hammill found time to talk to Paul Tingen about obscurity, crudeness, ADATs, and their place in his music today.

Recording music can, and should be, serious fun, according to producer Tony Visconti.

There's also life beyond Beyond, as WILF SMARTIES discovers from Toby Marks, one of Beyond's early artists, now graduating to independent chart success under the name Banco De Gaia.

After a period of record company hassles, Coldcut are back with a new album, a new singer and a new style. Wilf Smarties explores Philosophy with Jonathan More.

Nigel Humberstone accompanies aspiring band Necroscope to one of their gigs, to find out how they cope when taking technology onto the stage with no roadies or technical support.

The oft-neglected other half of New Order bounce back into the limelight with a joint album of particular charm. Nigel Humberstone tracks down Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris to talk about their working methods, their home studio, and their contribution to the growing EC gear mountain.

Most major record companies are now involved in manufacturing hardware as well as signing bands and this, says producer Tony Platt, is causing a huge conflict of interest. Can these two diametrically opposed aims be reconciled?

Will Mowat's career to date looks like a musician's dream come true. A routine programming assignment turned into full membership of Soul II Soul; now he's working with Godfather of Soul James Brown and producing a new album for rising African star Angelique Kidjo. Richard Buskin talks to Will about his approach.

Engineer Dave Meegan recalls how depression helped land him a plum position at Trevor Horn's Sarm West Studios. Chris Allison listened with great interest.