News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

Björk gets the greatest hits treatment

Photo by: Peter Åstedt (Release)

• October 7 will see the release of Iceland's swan princess Björk's first ever greatest hits package. The track listing was chosen earlier by the fans via the Internet. Tracks from all four of her real solo albums will be included on this release.
In addition to this, a special box set entitled "Family Tree" will be put out on October 7 as well. This item is limited to 2000 copies. The set will contain one 5" CD with twelve Björk tracks, which the artist herself has chosen as her favourites, and five 3" CD:s which will be broken down into the categories of roots, beats and strings. The roots disc, most interestingly will include some Sugarcubes songs. /Peter Marks

London exile duo Xlover sign to City Rockers
• Electronic duo Xlover have signed to very happening London label City Rockers. They are due to release a single this fall, with an album scheduled to follow next year. So far, their only released material has been a remix of Daniel Diamond’s “Champu”, also for the City Rockers label.
Xlover consist of Bryan Black and Oly Grasset, American and French respectively, who both live in exile in London. The project took shape during recording sessions for the forthcoming album “Throb” by Black’s Haloblack. Their first recording was a cover of Black fave Prince’s “Controversy”, an excerpt of which can be heard at the Xlover web site. /Kristoffer Noheden

Stockholm body act Run Level Zero changes line-up again


Run Level Zero live at the Arvika Festival.

• After switching into a rockier territory at their live performances lately, Swedish Run Level Zero has decided to take the sound back to its roots. That is, electronic and powerful industrial body music.
Co-founding member Fredrik Solenberg has now left the band, because of different views about goals and sound, leaving Hans Åkerman alone. No hard feelings exist between them though, and they might make music together again, but under another name.
Meanwhile work continues on a new album, electronic and hard. /Johan Carlsson

The Bizarre Festival fires up August 16-18
• The Bizarre Festival will commence tomorrow, on August 16 at Vliegveld Weeze, Duitsland and will feature several stages of entertainment with acts such as: The Chemical Brothers, Nickelback, British Sea Power, Sneaker Pimps, Junkie XL, Bouncing Souls and over 25 other bands playing. Of course, there will be DJ sets and the rather inviting "electronic music" stage. Sounds quirky. /Peter Marks

New releases by Add N to (X) in October
• Synthesizer fetishists Add N to (X) release their new album “Loud Like Nature” on October 21 (Mute). The album is preceded by a single, “Take Me to the Leader”, accompanied by a video which has been claimed to be in a “spaghetti-western-cinecolor-look”. /Kristoffer Noheden

1980's wave band M+M goes on line



• 1980's wave band Martha and the Muffins who later rebadged themselves later as M+M now have a web site. Their new breakthrough alt-dance sound ended with 1992's "Modern Lullaby." M+M was recently tributed on a release out on Germany's Echo Beach label as a dub style remix "Select Cuts from Echo Beach - Remix Versions." /Alex Veronac

Cabaret Voltaire’s "Nag Nag Nag" reissued with remixes
• Following the two recent Cabaret Voltaire compilations covering their years on Virgin, Mute are now to release a “Best of” the band on October 21. To tie in with this, their classic 1979 electro noise single “Nag Nag Nag” will be reissued on CD and 12”, featuring remixes by Cabaret Voltaire’s own Richard H Kirk, Akufen and Tiga & Zyntherius - yes, the highly fashionable duo responsible for this spring’s horrible kitsch fest single “Sunglasses at Night”. /Kristoffer Noheden

October 8 will see the resurrection of Fields of the Nephilim
• The new album entitled "Fallen" has been listed with an October 8 release date by Metropolis Records. The album will be proceeded on September 9 by a single entitled "From the Fire". This will be the first new album by the band since 1990's "Elizium". No more delays, we hope. /Peter Marks

Apoptygma Berzerk's new single

Release met Apoptygma Berzerk in Times Square, NYC.
Photo by: Dara Kushner (Release)

• The second single from "Harmonizer" is "Suffer in Silence", not "Unicorn" as previously stated, and as usual the release is available in several different flavours. The limited 12" vinyl was out on August 5, and features exclusive versions not available on CD.
Then we have CD1, with remixes and the video for the title track. CD2 contains an Icon of Coil remix, an "Electro Version", and the video for "Until the End of the World". The latter releases will be out on August 26. /Johan Carlsson

Haujobb's new album given a release date
• "Vertical Theory", the new album by Haujobb will be out on October 8 via Metropolis. /Peter Marks

Remixers of Assemblage 23's "Document"



• The upcoming single "Document" from Assemblage 23 will feature remixes by Das Ich, Haujobb, Echo Image, Forma Tadre and more. In further news, A 23's Tom Shear has said on his message board that to compensate for not having any encores at the Swedish Arvika Festival this year, he will play an extra long set when he comes to Sweden on tour this winter. /Johan Carlsson

Long awaited new Suicide album out in October
• Immensely influential electro punk duo Suicide release their new album “American Supreme” on October 28 (Blast First!). The album is their first since 1992’s “Why Be Blue?”.
In the sojourn both members have kept themselves busy. Besides the odd Suicide show, keyboard player Martin Rev has released a solo album. Singer Alan Vega has contributed to several records, the most notable probably being the Pan Sonic collaboration “Endless” (released as Vainio Väisänen Vega in 1998), and his duo (with ex-Altered Images member Stephen Lironi) Revolutionary Corps of Teenage Jesus’s unjustly overlooked “Righteous Lite” album (1999). /Kristoffer Noheden

"Remixed" De/Vision out in GAS but pushed back in Scandinavia
• The Scandinavian release date for the new remix album "Remixed" from De/Vision has been pushed back to August 26. A four track promo we have received reveals upbeat club friendly versions of "Free from Cares", "I Regret", "Get over the Wall" and "Endlose Träume". There will be a limited release as well, with an additional CD containing remixes from well known electronic bands. The standard release sees José Alvarez-Brill handle the remixing. "Remixed" is out in Germany now.
A review of the album is in preparation. /Niklas Forsberg

Brazil's Aghast View at it again



• The Brazilian electro band Aghast View are soon to release a new licensed album called "Phaseknox" on the German label Accession Records. It was originally released about one year ago on Gashed Records. /Johan Carlsson

Klirrfaktor back in the studio
• The German synth band Klirrfaktor is currently in the studio working on a follow up to the album "Kunststoff", together with a new singer. /Johan Carlsson

Techno star vs old pop queen
• One of the grandfathers of the German techno generation, Westbam, has released a new single with Nena on vocals. It is called "Old-School-Baby" and what we get is modern techno with hints of retro electro. /Jens Krause

New Pixies release of rare Purple Tape



• Released earlier this month on SpinArt Records (US) simply called "Pixies," it's an official representation of what was known as the "Purple Tape" demos from The Pixies inception days in Boston. This is a collection of the band's recordings prior to their deal with label 4AD Records. These are early Forty Apache demos from March 1987, most of which made their way in polished form onto the Pixies' formal releases before their breakup in 1992. The nine songs are also available on vinyl as well as the common audio CD.
The Pixies 1990 live performance at Reading Festival (UK) is said to have inspired the concept of Lollapalooza by onlooker Perry Farrell.
David Bowie's recent CD "Heathen" includes a cover of Pixies' "Cactus." A proposed Pixies DVD on 4AD is set for next year. /Alex Veronac

Op:l Bastards are no more
• Op:l Bastards, one of Finland's most popular electronic acts has called it quits. They made their last performance at the Koneisto festival in Helsinki on July 26, which Release attended. Apparently the band is protesting the actions of its record company Cool Globe Agency. The company has, among other things, released a new Op:l Bastards single without telling the band (!). Members of Op:l Bastards are also known from another successful Finnish band, Larry & The Lefthanded. /Mattias Huss

Hooverphonic back with new material
• Hooverphonic will release a new single called "The World Is Mine" on August 15. The new album, entitled "Hooverphonic Presents Jackie Cane", will arrive in stores on September 30. /Niklas Forsberg

Einstürzende Neubauten want your help
• Blixa Bargeld has posted a letter (text and audio) on the new Einstürzende Neubauten web site regarding the band's future. They are currently in the process of recording a new album, which is expected to be completed by spring 2003. It will apparently be released without a record label and fans are invited to take part in the production process via the web site. Their new site will be fully operating from around August 10, and will offer loads of exclusive downloads. /Kristoffer Noheden

Soft Cell is back
• The release of the new album by British synthpoppers Soft Cell is soon upon us. A quick listen reveals a modern danceable sound with Marc Almond's unique singing style and Dave Ball's catchy melody hooks.
Watch out for the new single "Monoculture" on September 9, and the album "Cruelty Without Beauty" on September 30. /Johan Carlsson

Prodigy web site launches

Photo courtesy XL Recordings

• The Prodigy's new web site has launched at www.prodigy.co.uk and www.theprodigy.com. It features an attack, missile and target theme.
Prodigy tested some new material on the audience at Australia's Big Day Out Festival tour before the final recording of their new CD, including "Baby's Got a Temper". Prodigy is to play UK festivals in Leeds, Glasgow and Reading later in August. /Alex Veronac

Autechre release new EP and curate festival
• Electronica duo Autechre release a new EP, "Gantz Graf", this week (Warp). It will be out on both CD and vinyl, and will also be released as a CD/DVD double pack. The DVD will contain the videos for "Gantz Graf", "Bass Cadet" and a new edit of the Chris Cunningham directed "Second Bad Vilbel".
Autechre are also in the process of curating next year's UK edition of the annual All Tomorrow's Parties festival. Artists confirmed to perform include Coil, The Fall, Aphex Twin, Sluta Leta, Jim O'Rourke and El-P. Rumours that Busta Rhymes has been booked don't seem to have been confirmed as of now. /Kristoffer Noheden

Synth classics compilation sweeps over Sweden

• No Swede have missed the newest release from EVA Records in the neverending "Absolute Music" series - "Absolute Synth Classics". It's everywhere, in, for instance frequent TV commercials and currently the most sold compilation in Sweden. It is a double CD aimed at the 30+ consumers, containing no less than 38 old tracks. Duran Duran, Ultravox, Yazoo, Ratata and Landscape are a few of the many artists included. Even though we have heard many negative comments on this commercial approach on electronic music, no doubt this DCD opens many doors.
The main "Absolute" series are compilations with the tops from the mainstream charts and so far, 39 (!) compilations have been released. Dozens of other "Absolute" series have also been delivered throughout the years (like "Absolute Dance", "Absolute Kidz" and "Power Ballads") and these releases sell an avarage of 100 000 copies each which is extremely high in a country with nine million inhabitants.
A review is in progress. /Niklas Forsberg, Mikael Kahrle

Classic Seattle venue burned down
• On the evening of July 20, the independent music store Musicwerks in Seattle was destroyed in a fire. The store had concentrated on gothic, industrial, noise and experimental music, as well as on booking most of the scene related shows in the area.
A benefit show at the Catwalk Club will be held on August 2 to raise money to the recovery of Musicwerks. Bands on the bill are Assemblage 23, Converter, SMP, Glis, Static Engine, Manufactura and Tau Factor. /Johan Carlsson

Slick Idiot out on first tour


Silicon entity En Esch.

• Going beyond KMFDM, project Slick Idiot ends their first tour this weekend. It has brought them across the USA. Leaders En Esch and Günter Schulz have finally reached the masses again after delayed tour plans in late 2001. Their new remix CD "RiDickulous" will be on sale at gigs on their "High Life for Low Lives" tour. It includes remixes by Rammstein and Swedes Clawfinger.
Watch a clip from their "Make Me Believe / 8 Ball" video here. Catch earlier Slick Idiot Release news. /Alex Veronac

Images in Vogue reunion concert


This picture is of course from the eigties, from 1985 to be exact.

• News has come through that Vancouver's Images in Vogue will be reforming for a concert in Toronto after breakup eleven years ago. They are to play the Opera House on October 25, at a venue that was the scene of their last gig in April 1991. The players will remain Dale Martindale (vocals), Gary Blair Smith (bass and bass synth), Derrick Gyles (drums) with Joe Vizvary and Glen Nelson on keyboards and sequencers with possible additions. We're hoping that soundboard duties might be maintained by alumni Dave 'Rave' Ogilvie or Greg Reely.
Images in Vogue's legacy includes the departure of Don Gordon (Numb) and Cevin Key to form Skinny Puppy. Smith was the one who reportedly introduced his roommate Nivek Ogre to Key in 1982. Joe Vizvary appears on Download's "III" and helped with Skinny Puppy's 1985 tour. Some of their sounds can be heard here.
Canada's Spoons fresh from Synthpop Goes the World are set to open the evening. Coincidentally, the promoter is DJ Lazarus is who brought us the recent Synthpop fest. /Alex Veronac

Dance or Die busily working away
• The Berlin band Dance Or Die is currently sequestered within their studio feverishly toiling on their new as yet untitled album. The band has issued no statement about the direction or tone of this work but of course, you can expect a dark sheen to the finished product. /Peter Marks

Fields of the Nephilim counting down to rebirth
• Fields of the Nephilim's official site is currently counting down to opening. The counter is not, however counting down days and therein lies the mystery. Exactly what is being used as measurement is not known at this time. Jungle Records, the band's label has issued a statement that "many things are about to happen in a big way" with the band. Don't cross your fingers for any festival appearances by the Fields as they have all been cancelled. /Peter Marks

The Future and Human League early tapes coming


Philip Oakey of Human League.

• The Black Melody (UK) record label will be releasing a 12 inch single in August as sample for the upcoming CD compilation featuring rare The Future and early Human League tracks. The 12" will include exclusive tracks not on the CD and limited to just 2000 copies available from select outlets. The forthcoming CD compilation of previously unreleased early recordings by The Future and Human League (#MEL 3) will be available September 30. The CD tracks recently found by a studio assistant some of which have never been heard before only appeared on low quality bootlegs. Besides forming Human League, early The Future members from Sheffield, UK went on to form bands like B.E.F., Heaven 17 and Clock DVA.
The Human League plays live in Amsterdam mid-August. See previous Human League live dates announcement. /Alex Veronac