How the Boo Radleys wrote one of the most optimistic radio hits of the ‘90s, with fresh insight from its singer
Wake Up Boo! defined the halcyon summer of 1995 - but its hit-potential wasn’t immediately obvious
Artists
How the Boo Radleys wrote one of the most optimistic radio hits of the ‘90s, with fresh insight from its singer
Wake Up Boo! defined the halcyon summer of 1995 - but its hit-potential wasn’t immediately obvious
How Depeche Mode launched their career with one of the most important synth-pop records ever released
One of the band's biggest tunes marked the end of their first chapter, but became a springboard that would propel both them and its writer to legendary status
Jack Antonoff says he has no problem with not being involved on Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Life Of A Showgirl
He suggests that it was a “weird miracle” that the two of them had such a long run together
“David Lynch used to refer to it as firewood - how ideas are just fuel and if they’re getting in your way, then burn them”: Johnny Jewel on his relationship with synths and working with David Lynch
Italians Do It Better’s Johnny Jewel delves into his storied musical history and his lifelong infatuation with synthesizers
Is Beyonce about to release a rock album with a guest appearance from Stevie Nicks?
Can you handle this?
"It will always be my favourite”: Howard Jones takes you on a tour of the synth he’s owned since 1983
“The way it spits out those notes is incredible,” he says. “The attack… I just miss that on modern keyboards”
“The best revenge is to live on and prove yourself”: How Pearl Jam created a powerful signature song inspired by a real-life tragedy
“I guess they can’t sue us because I’m writing about it after it happened”
Music Tech
"It will always be my favourite”: Howard Jones takes you on a tour of the synth he’s owned since 1983
“The way it spits out those notes is incredible,” he says. “The attack… I just miss that on modern keyboards”
MusicRadar deals of the week: Calling all live performers, we've found $300 off a full Kustom PA, $120 off a popular Yamaha mixer and $100 off one of the best column speakers in the game
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Gibson, PRS, Yamaha, Fender and more
The ultimate synth shoot-out 2026: Hardware classics vs. their software successors - but can you really tell which is which?
Is there really any need to fork out for a hardware synth these days? We place a trio of hardware classics up against some immaculate software doppelgängers
The Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field finally gets undo
"Sometimes it’s nice to get a do-over. That’s why we are undoing what we did – we’re adding undo"
How to emulate the sound of Gary Numan’s synth-pop classic Cars
We lift the bonnet on a foundational piece of synth genius, and demonstrate how you can achieve its distinctive sound yourself in your DAW
Auxy unveils Svensson, a minimalist keyboard built for instant music-making
The debut hardware instrument from the makers of Auxy Studio, Svensson 49's sounds were designed by YouTuber and musician Cuckoo
What is Superbooth 2026?: Everything you need to know about the Berlin music tech show
Europe's most exciting synth showcase is upon us. When is it, what new gear is getting announced and how do you get tickets?
Neural DSP unveils the Darkglass Ultimate plugin – a fully featured digital platform for studio-quality bass tone
Darkglass Ultimate expands upon the Ultra dual-preamp plugin with effects, cabs, full signal chain control and more – and it's a free update for Darkglass Ultra users
Expressive E launches Osmose CE, a MIDI controller version of its MPE-equipped synth
Osmose CE ships with a free companion plugin that gives users access to a library of expressive sounds from third-party developers pre-mapped to the Osmose keybed
The history of Sequential in 10 synths, sequencers and drum machines
We chart the rise, fall and revival of one of the synth world's true titans
Guitars
Fender 75th Anniversary Vintera Road Worn 1951 Telecaster & American Professional Classic Cabronita Telecaster review
To mark the company’s diamond anniversary, Fender has released a slew of celebratory models. Here’s a pair of polar opposite but equally alluring Telecasters
MusicRadar deals of the week: Calling all live performers, we've found $300 off a full Kustom PA, $120 off a popular Yamaha mixer and $100 off one of the best column speakers in the game
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Gibson, PRS, Yamaha, Fender and more
Crazy Tube Circuits’ Triptychon might just be the only pedal you need for classic rock
CTC delivers another super-ambitious build that looks very much like a shut-up-and-take-my-money stompbox for any player weaned on LedZep, Cream, Sabbath et al
Neural DSP unveils the Darkglass Ultimate plugin – a fully featured digital platform for studio-quality bass tone
Darkglass Ultimate expands upon the Ultra dual-preamp plugin with effects, cabs, full signal chain control and more – and it's a free update for Darkglass Ultra users
“It certainly appears a lot more expensive than it actually is”: Harley Benton Fusion IV HH FR review
The return of Harley Benton's Fusion series brings boutique spec at bedroom prices
Harley Benton drops a sub-$250 baritone that proves you can do low tunings at low prices – and stay fashionably offset
Once upon a time a baritone offset was exclusive, a super-niche instrument that'd cost you, but the entry level JA-Baritone HH BK changes all that
Sadler Vaden on when he and Jason Isbell jammed Little Wing with Pearl Jam's Mike McCready
Vaden and Isbell were playing the Paramount in Jimi Hendrix's hometown Seattle when they invited another local legend onstage to join them. A top-tier performance ensues
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
"Don't play scales just to get faster. Speed is a happy by-product of playing more accurately": Beginner Guitar Lessons - nailing scales
The A major pentatonic, A minor pentatonic and Mixolydian are great places to start and we'll show you how
"There isn't one correct answer": 6 things you need you need know about how to clean and condition your guitar fretboard
A string change is the ideal opportunity to get your 'board back to its best
What are the best online guitar lessons in 2026? I’m a professional guitar gear reviewer and these are my highest-rated lessons platforms
My expert pick of the best online guitar courses will supercharge your playing wherever you are, and whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player
How Tom Morello used his guitar to drill into the off-limits domain of the turntablist
The Rage Against the Machine axe-man’s most memorable moment saw him emulate a DJ scratch breakdown using a trick that few have fully mastered
With a massive 89% discount, $99 for a year's worth of Guitar Tricks online lessons is the best way to upgrade your guitar playing this Black Friday
Guitar Tricks is our number one online tuition platform for guitar players
Ignite your inner guitar god for just 27 cents a day with TrueFire’s July 4th sale - save 60% on online lessons
With over 84,000 lessons at your disposal, this is one of the best value guitar tuition subscriptions online right now
Can you fix your guitar's frets yourself? We try three innovative approaches from MusicNomad to investigate how they might conquer a major cause of fret buzz
Uneven frets are a common issue with our guitars, but MusicNomad has come up with different ways to empower players to deal with it themselves
Latest Tuition
How to emulate the sound of Gary Numan’s synth-pop classic Cars
We lift the bonnet on a foundational piece of synth genius, and demonstrate how you can achieve its distinctive sound yourself in your DAW
How to master virtually any software synth
Don't let your software arsenal overwhelm you - sometimes the best route to creative success is to mine just one instrument
"Don't play scales just to get faster. Speed is a happy by-product of playing more accurately": Beginner Guitar Lessons - nailing scales
The A major pentatonic, A minor pentatonic and Mixolydian are great places to start and we'll show you how
"Record everything all the time – and keep it all": 8 pro techno producers explain how they create their tracks
We delve into our In The Studio archive to compile the techno secrets behind releases on esteemed labels including Drumcode, Cocoon, Dekmantel, Second State and more
"There isn't one correct answer": 6 things you need you need know about how to clean and condition your guitar fretboard
A string change is the ideal opportunity to get your 'board back to its best
How to pan like a pro and spread your mix across the stereo image
We help you broaden your mixing horizons with some useful tips for panning perfection
The difference between distortion and saturation and how to effectively get a gnarly sound
Adding small or even large amounts of saturation doesn’t have to be bad for you, as we explore how to singe your sonics
How to conjure the spirit of early techno and trigger your own retro zaps in software
How a sound design approach originally deployed for television effects became an electronic music staple - and how to make it yourself
How to replicate the trailblazing pulse of I Feel Love
I Feel Love’s innovative electronic rhythm section set the stage for pretty much everything that followed, and here’s how you can recreate its bewitching energy in your DAW
Improve the impact of your basslines by quickly learning the basics of bass compression
Creating the perfect foundation for your track begins just the right amount of compression for your bass - here’s how to not overdo it!
How Harry Styles brought the sounds of minimal techno to the world of pop with new single, Aperture
The former One Direction star’s latest effort is a far cry from his previous output
How close listening to Chic can teach us about the integral relationship between the kick and bass
If you want to add more punch to your production, start at the foundation of your track, with the kick and bass
How unquantizing your tracks can make them stand out from the AI-dominated crowd
If your music is sounding a little mechanical, maybe it deserves a sprinkle of organic nurturing. We invite you to un-click the quantize!
Stuck for ideas? Here's how to create fresh basslines and melodies with Ableton Live 12’s MIDI tools
In our latest video tutorial, we explore how to use Live generative MIDI tools and hardware-inspired sequencers to create riffs and patterns
7 great house and techno tips from Don’t Be Afraid label boss Semtek (aka DJ Persuasion)
The producer, DJ and founder of one of the UK's most respected underground labels revisits a 2012 release to explore what he's learned in 15 years of releasing house and techno
Four big-name guitarists spill their recording secrets
With insight from Paul Gilbert, John 5, Adam Dutkiewicz and Marty Friedman on their approaches to the recording process
37 heavyweight bass production tips
More than three dozen priceless nuggets of bass recording and production wisdom
Latest Reviews
Fender 75th Anniversary Vintera Road Worn 1951 Telecaster & American Professional Classic Cabronita Telecaster review
To mark the company’s diamond anniversary, Fender has released a slew of celebratory models. Here’s a pair of polar opposite but equally alluring Telecasters
“It certainly appears a lot more expensive than it actually is”: Harley Benton Fusion IV HH FR review
The return of Harley Benton's Fusion series brings boutique spec at bedroom prices
"For blues players and fingerstyle enthusiasts especially, it’s hard to imagine a better-suited companion": Gibson L-00 Century 12-Fret review
Gibson harkens back to its past with a 12-fret version of an acoustic classic
“An undeniable classic, for the modern age”: Rhodes MK8 review
The new Rhodes electric piano is no longer a vintage curio from the '70s and '80s. We play the new MK8, with all of its FX and MIDI finery
“An excellent addition to the 64 Audio product line, bringing their excellent build quality and design to a more affordable price point”: 64 Audio Aspire series review
There’s an enticing new offering from in-ear leaders 64 Audio and we have three of the models on the test bench
“The ability to save multiple scenes for content creation, podcasting, and other creative endeavours makes it a very powerful interface indeed”: Yamaha URX44V review
Yamaha’s newest interface offers a high-tech hub for the multi-hyphenate creator
"Danelectro’s finishing falls noticeably short of what the market now expects at this level": Danelectro Dan O. Cool 12 String
Plenty of Dano charm in the tone department, it's just a pity about the build
“It’s easy to use, packs a tiny footprint and looks to counter two of the biggest drawbacks of going sans cable”: Blackstar AirWire i58 review
The affordable British brand enters the wireless market with an anti-intereference trick up its sleeve
