SOUND ON SOUND
Dave Stewart is an English keyboardist, composer, producer and author who started his career as a band member in the early 1970s. Since 1981 he has made 'pop music for grown-ups' with singer Barbara Gaskin, releasing seven albums on the duo's own Broken Records label and performing live in Japan, USA and the UK. He has also written TV & film music and created string and choir arrangements for various artists.
Dave is the author of two music books: The Musician's Guide To Reading & Writing Music (Backbeat 1992) and Inside The Music (Backbeat 1999). He has written for Sound On Sound (while resting between engagements) longer than any of us care to remember.
Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Stratus centres around a collection of phrases, polyrhythmic patterns and textures performed by a pair of Yamaha Disklavier felt-dampened, self-playing upright pianos.
The latest entry in Project SAM's Symphobia series promises heart-stopping thrills, terrifying sci-fi action and nerve-jangling horror.
Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. If you're used to old-school percussion libraries consisting largely of single hits on individual instruments, this collection may come as a pleasant surprise.
Audio Imperia's new orchestral library brings together a complete set of cinematic symphonic essentials in one creative toolset.
Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Time Micro continues the intriguing temporal-symphonic experiments on a smaller stage, using chamber-sized sections, small vocal groups and softer instruments.
Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Recorded in Berlin's all-analogue Vox-Ton Studios, this library is based on a collection of prepared piano multisamples created by film composer and sound designer Volker Bertelmann
Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. The brainchild of Spitfire's Paul Thomson, Kepler Orchestra was inspired by the idea of contrasting rhythmic subdivisions that move in and out of sync like orbiting planets.
A large strings collection from Eastern Europe heralds a breath of fresh air.
Spitfire Audio join forces with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the celebrated Maida Vale Studios. Is this the best of British?
Emerging from the mists of time comes the rejuvenated Fantom, Roland's new flagship workstation synthesizer. Available in three models: Fantom 6 (61 keys), Fantom 7 (76 keys) and the 88-key Fantom 8.