News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

Impressive Tinitus line-up complete

More legends to Tinitus. Portion Control.

• The Stockholm festival Tinitus (Nov. 6) just confirmed Portion Control, A Split Second and Xotox. Together with VNV Nation, Fixmer/McCarthy, Alphaville, Nebelwärfer and Legowelt, the line-up is now complete. /Mikael Kahrle

Univaque album debut in August

• The new signing over at SubSpace Communications, British synthpoppers Univaque, can finally look forward to the launch of their debut album "Lost in a Maze" - on August 11. A new "single", "Converted", can be downloaded for free at the SSC site. Univaque themselves have a new web site up. As previously reported, these lads are known for co-operating with two ex-Elegant Machinery men. /Mikael Kahrle

New Swedish "all-star band" with Kent member
• Old friends Martin Sköld (Kent) and Martin Landquist (Nåid) have written some songs together during the last two years. They have tried to work in calm locations like a little house outside Eskilstuna, Sweden, and in a flat in Barcelona, Spain. They have brought in Anders Hernestam (Weeping Willows) on drums. The debut single from their new band Peking Laundry is released today. Some might have heard the song in commercials for clothes brand JC.
– It's great fun to work with Martin Sköld, we are friends since long and it's natural that our little hobby developed in this direction. It's even more fun when it's independent, on our new label Cochero, says Landquist. /Mikael Kahrle

Ministry to tour with Skinny Puppy?

• According to Rolling Stone, Ministry will tour with Skinny Puppy, in connection with the Punkvoter.com organization, from Labour Day (September 6) up to the November 9 presidential election.
– Our goal is to register 100 000 kids on the tour. I'll do anything to entice them: sign autographs, give blowjobs, whatever, says Al Jourgensen.
He also talks about this in our own interview.
Al Jourgensen joined Skinny Puppy at their second show in New York City two days ago, on June 21 for the "Rabies" era song "Tin Omen" with his guitar. "Tin Omen" was partially produced, engineered and mixed by "Alien" Jourgensen and he played guitar on the track. /Mikael Kahrle, Alex Veronac

Hocico celebrates new album

The new single.

• On August 11, Mexican electro terrorists Hocico will present their new album "Wrack and Ruin" on stage at Moritzbastei in Leipzig (prior to the release). The new single is called "Born to Be (Hated)" and includes an Apoptygma Berzerk remix. /Mikael Kahrle

Rammstein delayed
• The new Rammstein single "Mein Teil" is delayed due to "controversial discussions between the band and record company" (according to the band's web site). The site writes a new release date will be set in late July/early August. Swedish partner Stockholm Records tells us the single will appear some time "in August". /Mikael Kahrle

Skinny Puppy on stage and screen

Ogre's Beakman carrying bloodpack and Key on electronics (rear). Skinny Puppy live, Detroit.
Photo by: Alex Veronac (Release)

• After lengthy planning and rehearsals, the Skinny Puppy touring stage show has been presented to its dark fans in the US for the first time in twelve years. With keyboarder Cevin Key and touring drummer Justin Bennett to the rear, the stage was a playground for performance artist Ogre. As promised, the set list brought some old gems for long time fans.
Speaking with the band at the fifth tour stop in Detroit, the music is taking shape and we're told that the show is still progressing as new elements get added. Ogre's Beakman character is the focus of the main set as it loses blood and consumes toxic wastes between bursts of chaotic movements. The backing visuals vary from all ages and mature political content. The planned video documentary of the live tour for DVD will commence in Europe and follow as the stage show gets perfected.
Release' Peter Marks watched the very first Puppy show of the new tour in his hometown Portland, Oregon, and says the show was amazing. He was particularily impressed with "Glass Houses" from their early days.
The band's first video since "The Process" trio is for the "The Greater Wrong of the Right" song "Pro-test", which takes on an unconventional story line when discussed with the director. William Morrison who is also touring guitarist is busy with on the road digital editing of the clips, which were shot in Los Angeles on May 18. As the video is not using the stop-frame animation that we've been accustomed to in recent Ohgr videos, it will surely be released in the near future. Performers from the "Pro-test" video shoot are expected to be on stage at the upcoming Los Angeles gigs. /Alex Veronac

Moby and Public Enemy team up for peace
• Moby has recorded a new single with hip hop legends Public Enemy, to be released July 26 (Mute/EMI). "MKLVFKWR" is a call for peace and was written for "Unity", the official Olympic Games 2004 compilation which features a host of other artists teaming up for harmony and peace. The compilation is released on August 5 (EMI). /Kristoffer Noheden

Legendary Pink Dots tour US and release new material

Pink Dots Niels and Edward live in Toronto 2004.
Photo by: Alex Veronac (Release)

• Live quartet Legendary Pink Dots have brought their cosmic space sonics to North American audiences for the first time since their last tour in 2002. The extensive 35 date tour premiered new guitarist Erik Drost. An unfortunate stop happened at Atlanta where the gig was cancelled but fans were happy to chat outside with the veteran band.
The band's earlier mentioned support slot for Skinny Puppy in Amsterdam is now confirmed and strong rumours persist on more Tear Garden material to be recorded in the future.
The Dots' latest CD "The Whispering Wall" was released last month on Beta-lactam Ring Records along with the "Poppy Variations" CD. /Alex Veronac

The Art of Noise are back - almost
• In the beginning we had the Art of Noise, then the Art of Silence, then…nothing. But now one of the most respected (and second most sampled) music acts are back (well nearly). To be released imminently "The Abduction of the Art of Noise" sees classic Art of Noise tracks as reworked by a whole host of contemporaries, including Hexstatic, Banco De Gaia, Chi2 and Art of Silence themselves (or otherwise known as the Art of Noise founder JJ Jeczalik in collaboration with Eddie Kulak).
The album, dubbed as "…number one in Karvavena’s spirit series", covers classic reworkings of AoN tracks like "Moments in Love" and "Beat Box" alongside the more obscure, for example "Eye of the Noodle2 and "Donna". Reworkings is the key here, as the argument is given that you can’t remix one of the most remixed, rehashed and sampled bands of all time; a fair point. Available in a sumptuous six-panel digipak and featuring artwork by Luigi Russolo on the cover – this acts as a perfect excuse to reacquaint yourself with those merry Noise makers again!
Co-founder and sampling pioneer Trevor Horn is a well-known producer who has worked with such diverse acts as Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Pet Shop Boys, ABC, Tatu, Tom Jones and Buggles. And he is to blame for the charity hit "Do They Know It's Christmas" (once music charity was immensly popular).
For more information on Art of Noise and associates check out www.karvavena.com and www.irislight.co.uk. /Mike Whyte, Mikael Kahrle

Rammstein on a new journey


After a hard time, Rammstein are back in good shape with a new album.

• This Monday, I met Rammstein in a Stockholm hotel, both to listen to the new (still unmastered) album and to talk to members Richard Z. Kruspe-Bernstein and Cristoph Schneider. Stay tuned for a full-fledged Spotlight sometime soon. I managed to get some interesting info about upcoming releases though, so I'll tell you a bit here first.
The new single “Mein Teil” (“My Part”) is set for June 28, and will feature a remix by the Pet Shop Boys.
– I like it. It's pretty hard compared to what they usually do, says Schneider.
The song is about the man who was willingly eaten by a cannibal in Germany. Perhaps you know or can guess which body part the title refers to…
I also got a tentative title for the new album, namely “Reise Reise”, which roughly means “Journey Journey”.
– It’s mostly about love and life. And life is really a long journey, says Richard.
A not quite finalized track listing looks like this: “Reise Reise”, “Amerika”, “Los”, “Wo bist du”, “Mein Teil”, “Dalai Lama”, “Keine Lust”, “Morgenstern” and “Amore”. The album feels more natural, and the electronics – while still present – are taking a backseat. Strings and choirs beef up the sound at times, and even some blues can be found on one track. They haven't lost the heavy Rammstein sound though. Look for the album towards the end of September. /Johan Carlsson

The Cure tribute from Cleopatra

• US label Cleopatra just loves tribute compilations and in the middle of next month, it's time for "Electro-Cured" with 13 tracks. Apoptygma Berzerk delivers "A Strange Day" (also on their new single "Unicorn"), Black and Jones (feat. Robert Smith) "A Forest", Razed in Black "Disintegration" and the sleeping EBM legends Leæther Strip "Lullaby". /Jens Krause

Melody Club follow up debut this summer

• Swedish new wave pop stars Melody Club are already back with a new album (August) and the first single "Take Me Away" has just been sent out to radio stations. A video will be sent out shortly. Expectations are high - the clip for their 2002 hit "Electric" was the most aired one at Swedish TV channel ZTV that year. "Take Me Away" will show up in shops on June 30.
The new songs are recorded in Delta Lab, Copenhagen, by Thomas Troelsen (Junior Senior, Superheroes). Melody Club will join the Swedish festival tour Kalas this summer. /Mikael Kahrle

DJ Fletch to German synth party
• Andy Fletcher, Toast Hawaii manager and Depeche Mode entertainer, will deliver one of his already legendary (...) DJ sets at Das Provisorium in Stuttgart on July 2. The club will offer three dance floors: one for DM, one for EBM/wave and finally the Fletch floor with selected electropop and electroclash. /Jens Krause