News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

Ministry DVD out and album on the way

Photo by: Sanctuary Records

• Originally planned as a multi-CD live set for Ipecac Records (US) in 2000, Ministry's live CD plans have mutated into the "Sphinctour" package. Ministry was dropped from their label Warner Bros and as well from an OzzFest (US) tour in 2000. Their new live DVD is available now and the band has plans to tour later in 2002 with their new CD "Animositisomina." /Alex Veronac

Pet Shop Boys' new world tour
• The venerable English duo will commence their extensive "Release" tour on May 14 in Miami and conclude it July 26 in Nigata, Japan at the Fuji Rock festival. /Peter Marks

Kent single mania
• Kent's company RCA/BMG plan to put out not one, but two or three more singles this year, taken from the new critically celebrated album "Vapen & ammunition". /Mikael Kahrle

The new album by The Prodigy slated for mid-year
• Liam Howlett has been busily working on The Prodigy's follow-up to "Fat of the Land". The new album will be entitled "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned" and should be out later in 2002.
Some tracks from the new album have slipped out during recent live appearances: "Trigger, Nuclear" (debuted during the band's summer mini-tour last year) and the first single (possibly July) "Baby's Got a Temper" (revealed by the band during the Big Day Out tour earlier this year). Also there is a third track entitled "No Souvenir" which is a collaboration between 3D of Massive Attack and Howlett. This third track has also been played during recent shows by the band. According to the band:
- On the whole, we just needed to take a break for a while and chill out. We'd been going for nine years without stopping and we needed to chill a bit.
On another note entirely, one member of the band has begun taking guitar lessons and has, according to Howlett, "contributed several bits to the new material." /Peter Marks

German newcomers Seabound make live debut


- No, we won't stand closer!

• The German electronic band Seabound consists of two guys by the name of Frank Spinath and Martin Vorbrodt. Together they make a soulful mixture of hard and melodic pieces. Their debut album is called "No Sleep Demon" and is out now. The material from that album will now be taken to the stage for the first time tomorrow, when Seabound is opening act for Babyland at Darkpark in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Another confirmed date is April 19 in Moritzbastei in Leipzig. Further livedates should come soon. /Johan Carlsson

David Gahan plan to perform Depeche Mode songs live
• We have learned a few bits and pieces on the solo album by David Gahan. It will see the light of day in March next year, at the earliest, although Gahan has made 15 demos already. He plans to play live later on and the concerts will include Depeche Mode songs. Gahan's songs will be quite far from the DM sound though, with more classic rock elements.
In further News regarding Depeche Mode, the fan club Bong magazine has ended its long existence. /Mikael Kahrle

What's going on with Daybehavior?

• Release has previously reported that Swedish electronic pop unit Daybehavior is back after five years of silence. They plan an EP trilogy and have a new song featured on a Calyx Records compilation. This song was written three years ago when the band was working with an album to follow up their debut "Adored", but then the band ran into some misfortune.
First their record label Nons Records went bankrupt and on top of that a foreign label with license agreement closed down.
- We had a newly recorded album we wanted to do some changes on, but no one to finance the mixing. So without a label we took matters into our own hands and went back to our own Graplur Studio, rented loads of equipment, plugged in our analogue synthesizers and mixed the songs as we wanted them to be, Carl Hammar says.
The decision to release the new material as three EP:s was made since the new songs cover a wider range of styles than before and would be better suited as three different packages than together on an album. One EP is said to contain "classic Daybehavior" pop songs, while another one will contain some excursions into the world of electronic trip-hop and the last one will contain ambient soundscapes. Furthermore, there seems to be plans to also release an additional collection with the cover songs that Daybehavior have recorded - known and unknown.
- The new material will most likely be available on the net within the next six months. We are currently in negotiations with an American label. The goal is to release a CD but until then, the web release can be seen as an appetiser. /Peter Takizawa

Mute confirms Frank Tovey's heart failure
• Mute has now confirmed that Frank Tovey aka Fad Gadget died because of heart failure, on Wednesday April 3 at his London home. He had experienced heart problems for the majority of his too short life. /Mikael Kahrle

Tors of Dartmoor back with Kylie cover
• The old German gothic rock band Tors of Dartmoor is back in the music business with their own label Syborgmusic and a new EP/MCD. The title track on the EP is a cover-version of the Kylie Minogue megahit "Can't Get You Out of My Head". There are four tracks and two live tracks on the EP. /Jens Krause

Orpheé, a new signing on Calyx Records



• Orpheé have almost ended their work on their third longplayer, to be released on Calyx Records. They are still in the Kinskinoize studio in Berlin, where also Nena and the band Toc Toc worked two weeks ago. Because of the work with the album, the band will not play that many live concerts until autumn this year. /Jens Krause

Noisy tendencies from Cycloon
• Cycloon could be described as electro with some noisy tendencies; an almost certain dance-floor sensibility fills all of their releases from their deleted debut on Celtic Circle to their recent "Scent" single which was reviewed recently by Release.
The long-awaited follow-up to "Headovernow" is out at the end of March. "Zeitseize" is released by Scanner/SPV and contains collaborations with Mr. Ned Kirby (Stromkern) and also the first signs of life from Putrefy Factor 7 in the form of compositional assistance from PF7 mastermind Don Wege. Cycloon is now the main project of Axel K, best known for his work in the legendary band Page 12. Page 12 is currently recording the follow-up to 1999's "Soul Dungeon". /Peter Marks

Big festival in Poland
• The first Black Flames Festival in Poznan starts on May 31, at the club Eskalup. Black Flames have signed some well-known acts and interesting newcomers. Here is the line-up: Common Dream, God's Bow, Cenobita, Kifoth, Orpheé, Obsc(y)re, Girls under Glass, Cassandra Complex, Psyche and And One.
After the festival there will be an after-show party until the morning hours. Poznan is located only 250 km away from Berlin. /Jens Krause

Breaking News: A new start for Vacuum at SSC

• Swedish pop act Vacuum will return on May 6 with the single "Starting (Where the Story Ended)". This is a new song, as is the extra track "Ripples on the Surface". According to their new label SubSpace Communications, this is a B-side but as far as we know a CD only has one side... A new album is of course in progress. /Mikael Kahrle

Breaking News: Exclusive gig with The Sisters of Mercy in Hildesheim
• The Hildesheim festival M'era Luna (August 10-11) has added The Sisters of Mercy exclusively to their line-up. Will this be another year when the band plays live without releasing anything?
Other M'era Luna bands include Soft Cell, VNV Nation, Das Ich and Him. /Mikael Kahrle

Breaking News: Human League on tour with Visage and Kim Wilde

Ready to tour?

• Lots of breaking News a day like this. A Human League technical assistant claims they will headline a major tour this Winter together with Kim Wilde, Visage and Altered Images. Probably a thing aimed at nostalgic "elderly youths". A press conference will be held in London on April 30.
The Human League will also play a low-key gig with Heaven 17 and Doctor and the Medics in Bournemouth on April 13 (tbc). Apparently, only people dressed in school uniform will be allowed to enter (!). An interesting gig since Heaven 17 could be called Human League spin-off. Ex-Human League key members formed the band back in the good old eighties. /Mikael Kahrle

Fidget side project on Eternity Records

• We have previously told you about the new romantic project Nightclub, a side project to the Swedish indie band Fidget. Nina Natri takes care of the vocals in both projects. Now, Eternity Records (Saft, Sissy Prozac) has signed Homy. And who is the singer? Nina Natri of course. The single "Bus Stop" (May 2) offers some kind of electronic dub pop with Natri's characteristic vocals. The album "The Lot" is scheduled for August 25, but that may change since Eternity release dates have done that in the past. /Mikael Kahrle

Ambient industrial tunes from the US DTA label
• The US DTA Records has three new releases out. Forma4's "Cycle" offers atmospheric industrial ambient which makes you think of extreme soundtracks. Scrap.edx's album has the smashing title "Non-Linear Interfacing", which gives you an idea this is not music for the average pop consumer. Instead we get noisy extreme rhythms. The compilation "74x13" might be a better start if you are curious about the label or music style.
DTA has a busy schedule with forthcoming releases from Peripheral Pulse, Absence Insolution, Monoid, Arlsx, Fissure, Aidan Baker and Acclimate. /Mikael Kahrle

Sissy Prozac covers "Kids in America"

• The latest single from Sissy Prozac is a high tech-rocky cover of the Kim Wilde classic "Kids in America". It also includes two extra songs. One of these and "Kids in America" will appear on Sissy Prozac's next album "Speed".
The band members met when they studied at a Gothenburg drama school. A band full of actors, in other words. Member Ola Norell has appeared in several Swedish movies and TV productions. /Mikael Kahrle

Sinead O'Connor gets electrified



• The Irish singer Sinead O'Connor has been involved in a couple of interesting projects lately. She is featured on both the new Massive Attack and Moby albums, as well as on the first single from Rhys Fulber's new project Conjure One. The single is called "Tears from the Moon", and replaces "Sleep" as first single from the heavily delayed self-titled album. /Johan Carlsson

In Strict Confidence deliver heart attack



• In Strict Confidence will return to the dancefloors with the new track "Herzattacke" (heart attack). The five track EP will feature remixes of the title track from Clan of Xymox and Chris Peterson (from Front Line Assembly, Delerium and Decree) and three new tracks. This EP is the first release from the upcoming album "Mistrust the Angels", which will be arriving on June 3. /Jens Krause

Prick site offers second CD



• Prick's web site launched some time ago with the new "Wreckard" CD for sale. As promised, this the second CD came out in February and is available via web only. "Wreckard" sounds much like their first self-titled release from 1995.
Among names mentioned prior to the recording of this CD (originally titled "Numb") were Dave "Rave" Ogilvie as collaborator but it looks as though Kevin McMahon has done most of the work himself again. US-based McMahon seems have been missing for years and has been cut from label Nothing Records circa September 1999. McMahon reunited live at a benefit gig in late 2001 with his pre-Nine Inch Nails project Lucky Pierre. /Alex Veronac

New compilation with electronic sounds
• Tatra Records in Norway is planning a new compilation with the working title "Electronic Machine(ry) Sounds". The line-up includes a lot of well-known artists like Vorsprung Durch Technik, Nocomment, Aiboforcen, Icon of Coil and others. The album will be out sometime in September or October. /Jens Krause

Guest stars on new Kent album

• As previously reported, the new album from Sweden's largest rock band Kent, "Vapen & ammunition" is scheduled for an April 15 release. We received some news on Kent today and hear that there are some guest artists on the new album. Soul pop star Titiyo is singing a duet with Kent's Joakim Berg in one song. French vocalist Nancy Danino from the ambient pop act Snooze also appears, as well as guitarist Jojje Wadenius.
First single "Dom andra" is a smash hit. It sold gold after two days and is still number one on the Swedish single chart. Kent will tour Denmark, Finland and Norway in May and most dates are sold out. As for Sweden, Kent will "only" do the extensive Kalas festival tour with Thåström, Hellacopters and Varanteatern in mid-Summer. Release and tour in other territories are to be expected at a later date. /Mikael Kahrle

New Peter Murphy album made in Turkey


"Dust".

• Goth icon Peter Murphy starts a North American tour to promote his new CD entitled "Dust" in May. He will play two dates in Canada and then he is off to cover the USA until mid-June 2002. Helping record the CD was Mercan Dede, a Turkish artist who opened for Murphy's 2000 North American tour. The duo recorded the album together in Turkey and Montréal along with other musicians to complement the sound such as electro-violinist Hugh Marsh. "Dust" arrives on April 23 in North America and on April 29 in Europe, on Metropolis/EFA.
Style has always been part of Murphy's persona and for the new CD he has enlisted well-known rock photographer Anton Corbijn. His last effort was the "aLive Just For Love" live 2000 2CD, which was his first for Metropolis Records. /Alex Veronac

Adrian Sherwood release and On-U-Sound reissues
• Adrian Sherwood remixed the likes of Depeche Mode and Skinny Puppy back in the day. He became a member of the band Tackhead and went on to produce many artists on and off the On-U-Sound label. Sherwood is now releasing his first ever solo album called "Sherwood" on CD recorded in London at the new On-U-Sound studio. He recently released a two-song limited edition ten-inch single on the Green Tea Records label. Those of more of a dub bent should enjoy his latest work. Also, a decision has been made to reissue the old On-U-Sound catalogue by Germany's EFA Distribution. /Alex Veronac

Industrial and techno from newcomers Interlace



• As reported in February, a new Swedish band called Interlace has seen the light of day. Their debut album is titled "Innuendo" and is out since April 2 on Memento Materia. If you want the limited edition digipak, you have to be pretty quick as it is only available in 1000 copies. A short listen reveals a sound between techno and industrial. Stay tuned for a more in depth review. /Johan Carlsson

Breaking News: Frank Tovey is dead
• We have just received the shocking news of music legend Frank Tovey's death. No cause has yet been revealed. Just a few days ago we witnessed a successful Fad Gadget live performance in Gothenburg.
We first read the death news in the guestbook of the Fad Gadget site and had our doubts since false death alarms have occurred in the past, but a moment ago a press release reached us from the Scandinavian label Playground.
Mute boss Daniel Miller comments.
- Frank was the first artist I ever worked with on Mute, he made some very special and influential records and was an exceptional live performer. Frank played a big part in helping to lay the foundations of what the label was to become in the ensuing years, I will miss him greatly. /Mikael Kahrle

Marilyn Manson sued by mother of Keanu Reeves' late girlfriend
• The strange News just keep coming. Now we hear that Marilyn Manson is in the spotlight again, after being sued by the mother of Keanu Reeves late girlfriend Jennifer Syme. Syme died in a car accident the morning after visiting Manson's home where she was being "provided with various quantities of cocaine" on April 1 last year.
Manson is also expected to appear in court on April 25 because of an alleged attack on a concert guard. He faces sex and assault charges. /Mikael Kahrle

Stromkern sings about armageddon



• The fourth album by Minneapolis based EBM band Stromkern is out now on SPV. Ned Kirby - the man behind the band - has compiled ten tracks showing influences from both future pop, hip hop and r'n'b. The album "Armageddon" comes both as a standard CD, as well as a limited box with an extra disc called "Perfect Sunrise" filled with remixes by Icon of Coil, God Module and more. A video for the track "Nightriders" is also included. A new EP called "Re-Align" is due out this summer, including new tracks and remixes by Cut.Rate.Box, Seabound, Battery Cage and Informatik. /Johan Carlsson

New album with Men without Hats
• 80's synthpop band Men without Hats is back recording a new CD. While they tended to move away from their synth roots over their stylistic progression, a sample of their new material shows a back to basics mentality. Listen to the new track "Same Halo" here. It has got a mix of Anglo and French vocals. Ivan's troupe should be playing live soon after a lengthy hiatus. Their last original material came out in 1991. And, if you're talented enough, they're looking for a couple on stage players to help out with touring. /Alex Veronac

Depeche Mode DVD offers lots of extras

Photo by: Anton Corbijn

• We have some new details on Depeche Mode's "One Night in Paris, the Exciter Tour 2001". It will be released on May 27 as a double DVD.
The release consists of a live disc and a bonus disc packed with more extra material than expected. It features a ten minute documentary, Anton Corbijn still gallery with his comments, a short film about Paris fans, band interviews, "Sister of Night", the concert projection films with audio, "Never Let Me Down Again" in multiple angles and a Martin Gore backstage song performance. /Mikael Kahrle

Breaking News: Internet radio may disappear off the web dial

• Legislation in the US Congress may make it too expensive for home-baked web radio stations to survive legally.
DJ:s who do it for the love of the music may be burdened with fees of up to 14 cents (US) per listener and song (7¢ per song for commercial radio station simulcasts, and 2¢ per song for non-commercial radio simulcasts). The proposed royalty rate will also be retroactive to October 28, 1998. How this will affect non-US webcasting is unknown now, but ramifications world-wide may follow for digital-only broadcasting. For more info check: http://www.riaa.com/Licensing-Licen-3a.cfm
Currently in the proposal stage since February 20, the US Copyright Office is set to make a decision by May 21. Those who feel strongly about the issue can sign a digital petition. /Alex Veronac

Exclusive News: Ohgr live line-up changes

Ohgr live in 2001 (Ogre sings with William Morrison on guitar).
Photo by: Alex Veronac

• The Ohgr live band now includes bassist April Fresh (ex-Tristan Psionic) from Canada. What is it about available Canadian female bassists, as Melissa auf der Maur (ex-Hole) joined The Smashing Pumpkins in their final moments.
Tim Skold played bass last year for Ohgr live but is reported to be in Los Angeles helping complete Marilyn Manson's fifth studio release "The Golden Age of Grotesque".
Ohgr headlines the Arvika Festival on Saturday July 13. More Eurodates are to be announced but not likely in Sweden/Norway due to the Arvika contract. This Summer will be the first time Ohgr performs outside of the USA.
To recall, the other on stage band mates include Cevin Key, guitarist William Morrison and Loki der Quaeler on keys. Glen Reely again takes control of the soundboard for this tour. Ohgr recording cohort Mark Walk will again sit out the touring aspect of the project.
Ohgr's second release is scheduled to be released later this year. We can also mention that Melissa auf der Maur's new project With Hands Of Doom plays the travelling Edgefest music festival in Canada this summer. /Alex Veronac

New signing for Dependent
• Dismantled is the name of the newest addition to the Dependent roster. Their debut will be released by Metropolis Records in the US. This band is described as reminiscent of "early-period Haujobb crossed with the "glory days" of Front Line Assembly." /Peter Marks

Dreadful Shadows singer launches new project on BMG



• Sven Friedrich, the singer of the legendary German goth rock band Dreadful Shadows, has started a new project under the name Zeraphine. The debut album with the name "Kalte Sonne" was recorded in the studio of the producer Thommy Hein in Berlin. The label Drakkar/BMG will release the album on May 6. /Jens Krause

There is a first for everything
• April 13 is the date of the first ever European show by the US duo Babyland. Darkpark in Gelsenkirchen, Germany will see them with Dependent's Seabound providing support; this will be Seabound's first live appearance. This show will also function as a release party for Babyland's first ever German release entitled "Decade One". /Peter Marks

The Damned exits Zombie tour

• The Damned did twelve gigs with Rob Zombie's "Demon Speeding Tour", then decided that the predominantly metal crowds were not appreciative enough of the ghoulish licks. As of the March 17 gig, The Damned withdrew the second headlining spot and are home for a rest. The band will be back live on stage for the US "Vans Warped Tour" on August 7. Hopefully, bassist Patricia Morrison will also be playing then. American fans will attest the "Warped Tour" crowds aren't too punk either.
For now, Damned fans will have to enjoy their new "Final Damnation" DVD/VHS out April 29 on Sanctuary Records (UK).
Zombie's troupe continues on live with a second stage headliner spot at the US OzzFest in July. /Alex Veronac

VNV Nation live with Dive
• VNV Nation are playing out live from April 3 to April 6 with Dive and Angels & Agony supporting them. /Peter Marks

The 24 hour party people of Manchester



• Tony Wilson started out with a certain small UK indie label called Factory that became a religion for fans of Joy Division, OMD, A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column, Section 25 and of course New Order. Factory also released titles by the Sex Pistols and Cabaret Voltaire. Factory's The Hacienda Club opened in 1982 and remained a staple for club kids in the UK until its demise in 1997.
"24 Hour Party People" is a book by Wilson, available since March 8, about the Manchester music scene in the 1980:s and early 90:s and is now realised as a film. Film parts include scenesters Morrissey, Shaun Ryder, Howard DeVoto, Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Martin Hannet, Bernard Sumner as well as Wilson himself. The film release date is set for April 5 for the UK and somewhere in June for USA. The soundtrack is out in the UK and includes the new tracks "Here to Stay", a New Order and The Chemical Brothers collaboration, and the New Order/Moby track "New Dawn Fades". "24 Hour Party People" was originally a song by Happy Mondays. /Alex Veronac

Female project in the vein of Aphex Twin



• This is a one-woman project, which is a bit unusual in this genre. The brain behind the name Neutral is Nicole Elmer, and she makes a kind of programming intensive "click-hop" music, in the vein of Aphex Twin, Autechre and other Warp artists. Some tracks also features Nicole on vocals, while others take on a more "rock" approach, with acoustic drum samples and guitars. Her new album "Motion of" is out now on Hymen records. /Johan Carlsson

British electro festival with Funker Vogt and Mesh
• The UK InFest will take place at Bradford University's student union (West Yorkshire) from Friday August 23 to Sunday August 25. Confirmed bands appearing: Funker Vogt, Mesh, Neuroticfish, Psyche, Sonar, Winterkälte and XPQ21. /Peter Marks

New Suicide album this month?



• A barrage of Suicide activity has started with the member Alan Vega's art show in New York's Soho district, we mentioned in January. The neon/light/junk sculptures is his first show in 20 years. Suicide played the show's gallery on February 22 during New York's Art Fair and has also performed in France lately. The new stage set showcased examples of Alan Vega's art in the live show. Suicide last played live back in October 2001 in Glasgow.
The art electronic band that started in the early 70:s has apparently recorded some new material earlier this year. A new Suicide album is scheduled for this month. /Alex Veronac