Mixing / Production

With Portishead's much acclaimed Gold selling debut album, Dummy, riding high in the charts, the West Country finally have an act to make a song and dance about. Jonathan Miller gets the low down on fame, fortune and M16 from co-producer and band member Adrian Utley, a man of many talents.

French musician Hector Zazou's quest for sounds and songs with a difference took him North, to find ethnic drumming from Siberia, joik chanting from Lapland, and the disappearing folk music of the World's northern tribes — which he combined with contributions from himself and world-famous artists, to create a unique musical experience. Paul Tingen gets some Northern Exposure.

Today, back catalogue sales account for much of the revenue generated by record companies. Here, producer Martyn Ware considers what will happen when there is no longer any back catalogue left to exploit...

Fancy owning an instrument which used to belong to keyboard legend Keith Emerson? Gordon Reid gets a sneak preview of part of Keith's collection, now up for sale, and chats to Keith about his spring clearout and his current projects.

Nigel Humberstone gets a rare glimpse inside Mute Records' in-house studio, talks to Mute band Nitzer Ebb and Renegade Soundwave, and interviews the label's elusive and influential founder, Daniel Miller.

Some record producers may object to having their work remixed, yet according to producer Charlie Mallozzi and Marco Sabiu — better known as the Rapino Brothers — remixing is an acceptable alternative way of viewing a track. Here they explain why there will always be room for the remixer...

Ann Dudley first came to fame as one of the shadowy figures behind the seminal Art of Noise. But she refused to be confined by the boundaries of pop, and has since exercised her considerable talents in album arranging and composing for film and TV. Richard Buskin talked to her about her musical history and forthcoming album.

Though Mark Russell's work includes writing for film, TV and commercials, as well as big-name tour arranging and musical backup, he's probably best known currently for his lavish music for Radio One super-hero series, Batman, Superman, and Spiderman. Nick Magnus was invited to Mark's home studio to talk about his gear and working methods.

Despite a long string of hit singles and albums throughout the 1980s, The Human League entered the '90s having fallen from grace with both record label and record-buying public. Now they're back with a vengeance — and a hit single from a new chart album. Nigel Humberstone chats to League main man Phil Oakey.

Producer Stuart Epps began his music business career in 1967 at Dick James Music before going on to work with Gus Dudgeon, Elton John, Jimmy Page, Chris Rea and other top names. He now runs his own commercial studio, situated in the old Mill Studio complex, and is working on a number of projects, including one with Bill Wyman. Here he explains why he preferes 'live' music to almost anything else...

In the '70s there was Eno's ambient music. in the late '80s, there came the Techno sound of Detroit. Over the past two years, there has been talk of 'Ambient Techno'. But what is it? Mark J. Prendergast explains, and speaks to four influential creators of Ambient Techno about how they produce their music.

For over 10 years, Chris and Cosey have been treading their own idiosyncratic musical path, changing with the times but still maintaining their individual and influential style, and continue to find a worldwide audience. Derek Johnson visited them in their personal Studio.

Pete Brown describes himself as an old-fashioned producer who prefers to let his engineers handle the technical side while he concentrates on the music and lyrics. Over the last 30 years he has also been a first-rate musician and songwriter — he wrote many of Cream's original lyrics, including 'Sunshine of Your Love', recently credited with one million plays. Here he talks about production from the perspective of a veteran Jack Of All Trades.

Since riding to fame on the crest of the late '80s DJ sampling wave, Tim Simenon has re-cast himself in a variety of moulds, not least those of producer and record label boss. Paul Tingen caught up with him to talk about his latest album and his brilliant career...

What happens to the many talented musicians in the UK who never get a chance to be heard by a wider audience because the music they make isn't what major record companies want to sign? Discovering new talent and helping to bring it to the fore has always been the producer's dream. But now producer Floyd-Douglass is launching a new project to do just that...

Mike Oldfield's new album was inspired by the writings of Arthur C Clarke and features an interactive CD-ROM section. Paul White asked the composer about the artistry and technology behind the project.

Influential producer Rupert Hine this year celebrates 30 years in the music industry — and he shows no signs of slowing down, with a current solo album on general release, and a string of new Hine-produced albums, including one for offbeat French combo Les Negresses Vertes, waiting in the wings. Paul Tingen talks to him about technology past, present and future.

Classical violin player Andrew Price is making his fortune with music that he deliberately didn't copyright. Here he explains to Paul White how he manages it, and offers some tips on blending MIDI-generated music with real orchestral players.

Canadian hardcore band Front Line Assembly have carved out a niche for themselves in the Electric Body Music market — but the hard men of synth rock have a softer side, which is emerging through various alter-egos and an evolution of the band's own sound. Nigel Humberstone talks to Front man Bill Leeb.

Paul Tingen talks to Boris Blank, one half of idiosyncratic Swiss duo Yello, about the release of their 10th album, Zebra.

Countless bands have been influenced by The Rolling Stones, which makes it all the more interesting to find out how they work and record. Richard Buskin talks to top producer/musician Don Was and engineer Don Smith about their contributions to the Stones' new album.