Ins & outs

SHAPE OF PHEW

Ed Sheeran was relieved last month when a judge ruled that his 2017 mega-hit Shape Of You doesn’t plagiarise Sami Switch’s 2015 song Oh Why. “We respect the music of those who’ve come before us and have inspired us along the way, whoever they are,” said Sheeran.

ROLAND WRITE

Roland are continuing their 50th anniversary celebrations with a 400-page book, Inspire The Music, which covers half a century of “musical inspiration, innovation, and insight”. Featuring more than 70 musician interviews, it could be a good one for the coffee table.

SOMETHING FROM ORBITAL

After a delay due to the pandemic, Orbital are now celebrating their big 3-0 with a retrospective album, 30 Something, that features re-imaginings of landmark tracks. and a new mix of Where Is It Going?, a collaboration with Stephen Hawking from 2012, out now.

OVER-ENGINEERED?

On one hand, a super-portable 6-channel stereo mixer with effects sounds great – particularly one that can function as a USB audio interface – but when you learn that it costs £1,199, you have to wonder if Teenage Engineering’s TX-6 is on another planet…

NEGATIVE IMPACT

Call us old-fashioned, but we were saddened by recent research indicating that lyrics have gradually become less positive over the past 60 years. Our tunes have got swearier and sexier, too, with more references to having lots of money.

LIGHTNING STRUCK?

Reports suggest that Apple may soon ditch their iPhone Lightning connector, with the EU insisting USB-C be the only charger permitted in member states. The worst outcome for musicians, of course, would be if they decided to go completely portless…