Whoa. Drop everything and troop in a zombie-like state to your nearest (top quality) newsagent: The latest issue of Future Music is on sale today. Friday. Yes. It´s a bit late in the day. We know. Sorry.
But what a great issue it is. Look:
It´s been a labour of love (and war) but we´ve finally pulled it off. This is the issue where we can finally unveil our Top 40 Synth Sounds Of All Time (And How To Get Them). Compiling a list like this isn´t easy. We´ve been amending a seemingly endless scroll since late last year, canvassing opinion from our experts and you lot before beating a top 40 ranking out of the very best. Next came the formidable job of either identifying the precise preset involved (and, shamefully, there are quite a few), multi-sampling our own versions of the sounds for the disc (without incurring the wrath of any lawyers) or showing you how to recreate the sound in your own soft synths.
There´s countless lessons to be learned, a heap of content on the DVD and much to debate and argue about starting on page 36. Be sure to email us and let us know what you reckon. (I sense a Top 40: The Revenge feature!)
And - since the full 40 has already been blown out on the web - here´s the list. Complete with handy YouTube links so you can remind yourself of their classicness. Just be sure to check the mag to find out how they were made (and take ownership of them for use in your music via our DVD).
40. Utopia - Goldfrapp
39. We Come 1 - Faithless
38. Café Del Mar - Energy 52
37. Ride On Time - Black Box
36. Come To Daddy - Aphex Twin
35. Show Me Love - Robin S
34. Are 'Friends' Electric? - Gary Numan
33. The Final Countdown - Europe
32. Maneater - Nelly Furtado
31. Yeah - Usher
30. Got To Have Your Love - Mantronix
29. The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
28. M.E. - Gary Numan
27. Chime - Orbital
26. Inner City Life - Goldie
25. 1999 - Prince
24. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
23. Cars - Gary Numan
22. Higher State Of Consciousness - Josh Wink
21. Aerodynamic - Daft Punk
20. Love Don't Let Me Go - David Guetta vs The Egg
19. Sandstorm - Darude
18. Jump - Van Halen
17. Sussudio - Phil Collins
16. Express Yourself - Madonna
15. Kernkraft 4000 - Zombie Nation
14. Rockit - Herbie Hancock
13. Windowlicker - Aphex Twin
12. Heartbeats - The Knife
11. Slam - Pendulum
10. Insomnia - Faithless
9. Charly - The Prodigy
8. Witness - Roots Manuva
7. Da Funk - Daft Punk
6. Don't You Want Me? - Human League
5. Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer
4. Faxing Berlin - Deadmau5
3. Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics
2. I Feel Love - Donna Summer
1. Yeah Yeah - Bodyrox (D. Ramirez remix)
And after the fun of the forty we rack up five of the hottest new synths for our review section. There´s a new set of keys to suit every taste in the giganto shape of the Nord Stage EX and Roland Juno Stage, versus the Korg M3 Xpanded, Korg M50 and new mini miracle the Dave Smith Instruments Mopho. Kick ass.
Plus there´s the usual compilation of the best new studio kit. All expertly tested, of course. And don´t forget you can listen to them on the DVD too!
And finally don´t forget the super In The Studio With… feature, with the omnipotent Deadmau5 - as flagged up and trailered a little earlier on this very bloggage. How does he get that sound? We´ve got all the details. As usual.
Be sure to check it out. Future Music 208, December, On sale now.
