Swedish producer Axel Boman is like nobody else in dance music. With a wicked sense of humour, both feet on the dancefloor and an ear cocked to psychedelia, with releases for Pampa, Hypercolour and his own label Studio Barnhus, he's got all bases covered. Now his debut album's ready to drop, so we talk musical passion, taking the piss, Sweden's dance scene now, his disco side project and fine art...

There's a new techno sound echoing from the post-industrial streets of one of the UK's biggest conurbations. Influenced by Berlin and Detroit, Manchester's young producers are making something that could only be born in their city.

Cosmic, psychedelic and extraordinary, Eric Volta's music is as far out as the man behind it. We asked the maker of 'Love Your Illusion' to explain his inexplicable writing process...

The masked man speaks

MCs were often maligned in the early days of drum & bass, but nowadays it's pretty much universally accepted that a renegade mic-spitter is a crucial part of the show.

Exploring the gloopy, industrial side of dance music

Break — one of the most prolific producers in d&b

Sheffield's Cabaret Voltaire were way, way ahead of their time.

From career triumphs to personal tragedies, his time has truly come

Mr Benn has the ultimate summer recipe