Robert Enforsen at Elegant Machinery's very last concert - at Virtual X-Mas in Lund, Sweden in December.
Photo by: Anders Ekne.

After keyboardist Richard Johansson's departure from the Swedish pop trio Elegant Machinery, the band has now decided to quit. Last year's compilation "A Decade of Thoughts" became their last record release and a suitable one since it is a summary of their career.
Earlier, we have reported that Johansson will concentrate on studies and politics. He is also the leading force behind the electro festival in Helsingborg, Sweden, on July 31.
The second keybaordist, Johan Malmgren, has now joined another pop band, Vacuum. He will become a live keyboardist and background vocalist. Not much of a work-load these days, since the band is very silent and almost never play live. That may change quickly, however. Malmgren is already a member of S.P.O.C.K and has recently launched his solo Elvis project Aaron Sutcliffe. Both played at the Swedish Electronic Music Awards and on future S.P.O.C.K gigs, Elvis might show up as well, from time to time. At least Aaron Sutcliffe will support S.P.O.C.K on some dates in Germany.
Elegant Machinery's vocalist Robert Enforsen will spend time on his new project Porno.
A successful career has unfortunately come to an end. Elegant Machinery was one of the most popular synthpop acts in Scandinavia.
- It's truly a sad day for Rational Youth, and for synthpop in general, as we have learned that our dear friends Elegant Machinery have decided to split up, says the collegue Tracy Howe of Rational Youth. EM were the finest of the great Swedish synthpop scene. Elegant Machinery were absolutely the perfect synthpop band. They had the whole package, and they should have been the biggest thing on the planet. And now they are no more. This is particularly sad for us because Richard Johansson was very instrumental in getting Rational Youth to re-form.

Fear Factory record with Gary Numan

Fear Factory will release a version of the Gary Numan classic "Cars" from 1979 as a single in May. Numan himself sings together with Fear Factory singer Burton C Bell. Fear Factory has played the song live for some time.

KMFDM has said adios

The last album suitable named "Adios" looks like this and is out now.

Christian Death album, best of and re-issues on it's way

Christian Death has signed a record deal with Candlelight which seems to be very productive. First of all the company plans to re-release re-mastered versions of the band's back albums. Then they will compile a best of-compilation. Finally they will release the new album "The Bible" in the end of September.

Roskilde Festival donate a million

Roskilde Festival have decided to give one million Danish crowns to the Kosovo victims.

Two new releases from Mortiis

This summer the Mortiis album "The Stargate" is due to be released followed by a re-issue of "Crypt of the Wizard". Mortiis has left Cold Meat Industry for Earache.

Paradise Lost is back

Paradise Lots's new single "So Much Is Lost" is out now on their new record company EMI. The album "Host", produced by Steve Lyon (The Cure, The Creatures) - and a tour, will follow.

New Cardigans single

The next single release from The Cardigans will be "Hanging Around".

DAF/DOS album out on monday

DAF/DOS at Swedish Electronic Music Awards 1999.
Photo by: Peter Åstedt.

On monday, DAF/DOS is back with their new CD "Der DAF/DOS Staat" on TCM and SSC. It combines the DAF sound of yesterday with the modern dance music which has kept Gabi Delgado busy in the ninetees. It is more traditional DAF than the previous album "Allein, zu zweit, mit Telefon", something the 1000-headed audience at Swedish Electronic Music Awards appriciated on April 3 where DAF/DOS headlined together with DAF-fans And One.

Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware music on pop museum

Electronic pop music living legends Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware has recorded a ten minute music piece for a 3D experience at the pop museum in Sheffield.

Retro star tour

Between November 9 and 18 eighties stars Heaven 17, ABC and Culture Club will tour Germany.

Propaganda signed to Eastwest

The legendary German electronic band Propaganda re-united last year and is currently working on brand new material to be released later this year on Eastwest.

De/Vision soon finishes their new album recordings

Until May 1, De/Vision is in a studio in Berlin preparing their new album "Void". It will be released later this year (no release date is set) and it is produced by George Kaleve.

The new Camouflage single delayed

Synthpoppers Camouflage's new single on Virgin "Thieve" is further delayed and now scheduled for June. This winter the cover compilation "The Greatest Commandments" was released, a record the band has heard and likes.

Invincible Spirit is working on a new goa/electro album

After years of silence the German electro project The Invincible Spirit is back. They have played some gigs recently in Spain and Sweden and mastermind Thomas Lüdke is currently working on a new album. Three new tracks were performed live when they visited Sweden last weekend.
- It takes time to make the new album, says Lüdke. I have released some goa 12 inches in the ninetees and the new Invincible Spirit is in the goa style, but with vocals.

Kylie Minogue guest on the new Pet Shop Boys album

Pet Shop Boys will release their new album in September and Kylie Minogue is a guest star.

Ned is one of many Swedish technopop debutants these days

Ned.
Photo by: Pontus Johansson.

In the footsteps of Swedish music export success lots of new Swedish bands have been signed and some of them is of interest for Release On Line readers. There is a whole bunch of new acts in the drum'n'bass-electro-techno-pop division. Sweep, Backlash, Micromoon and Ned are just some of the names.
The drum'n'bass pop duo Ned on Epic/Sony had their first hit with "Wanna Live" this winter and now the follow-up "Wonder Why" is here in connection to their debut album release.
On April 21 they delivered "Widescreen" with music in the same school as Olive, Lamb and Everything But the Girl. Their sound is atmospheric, melancholic, crystal clear, deep and sometimes quite commercial. Futuristic urban technopop with an absolutely top production. Or dance music for the living room, as they say.
- I like club music, but most artists in that genre never manages to step out of the dance floor, says music mastermind and producer Anders Henjer. It's too monotonous and doesn't catch the listeners interest. I want to make a crossover - music that is built on rhythms, but yet focuses on melodies.
They have grown up on Depeche Mode, Vangelis, Beatles and Prince. The album is ended with the Kraftwerk tribute "We Move So Close".
Vocalist Lena Olsson-Björkén is from Haparanda in northern Sweden, but is a graduate from Stockholm Music Conservatory. Anders is a skilled and experienced producer and remixmaker from Karlshamn in southern Sweden. Now they are Ned.

Front Line Assembly hits the road again

Front Line Assembly now starts their new US tour and they will visit Europe in late summer/early autumn. This time Scandinavia will be included. We have listened to their new single "Prophecy" and can tell that it is more traditional FLA and quite similar to their work just before the last album "FLAvour of the Weak".

Old Malaise album release once more instead of new one

Still no word about the new album with the Swedish goths Malaise, but this month NovaTekk has re-released their album "52 Ways".