News editor: Mikael Kahrle

De/Vision: loose plans for extensive tour

• De/Vision are currently planning an Autumn tour through Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain and Switzerland. /Mikael Kahrle

Saft compilation delayed
• The new Saft double compilation has been moved forward and will be released in May at the earliest, according to Eternity Records. /Mikael Kahrle

Berlin documentary features Rammstein
• German electro group Blind Passengers is on tour. A gig in Vorfelt was a special event in memory of Christoph Zimmerman, film producer from Berlin who died in a plane crash in Brazil last year. The event featured a documentary by Zimmermann over the east Berlin music scene, with amongst others Rammstein, In Extremo and Blind Passengers. /Jens Krause

Busy month for Projekt
• Mira is a band making acoustic pop songs with female vocals. They are now releasing their new album "Apart" on June 5. Their label, Projekt, will also release two more records on the same date: re-issues of This Ascension's "Tears in Rain" and "Light and Shade". /Johan Carlsson

In the Nursery online only album

• More and more artists are using the Internet to distribute their records, and now In the Nursery are joining the band wagon. A compilation CD called "Siren" will be released only through MP3.com, and it will contain nine selected songs. /Johan Carlsson

Raindancer signed by Ninthwave
• Techno pop project Raindancer has signed a deal with American label Ninthwave Records. The Swedish duo started out under the name Joyce, playing synthpop, then became Joyce Inc. and is now producing trance/techno influenced pop as Raindancer. A maxi single is planned for the Autumn of 2001 and an album should be released during 2002. /Niklas Forsberg

Ladytron Depeche Mode support?

• According to Side-Line, Liverpool's retro synthpoppers Ladytron will play support act for Depeche Mode on the Exciter Tour. This is not confirmed though. A review of Ladytron's album is in progress. /Mikael Kahrle

Rerelease of sold-out CD from Funker Vogt side project
• The Funker Vogt side project Fictional's album "Fictitious" is out of print and very hard to find, and also very sought after. This will change as Metropolis will release a new version of the album on June 12, complete with two bonus live tracks. /Johan Carlsson

Antmania in new Rammstein video

• Rammstein have launched a new big-budget video. The clip for "Links 2-3-4" features ants who, among other things, play soccer and dance to Rammstein played by an ant-DJ. The video can be seen at the official site. /Mikael Kahrle

Vote for American Synthpop Awards
• The official nominations for this year's American Synthpop Awards (ASA) have been picked and can be found here. Everyone can vote until May 4. The winners will be presented at Synthcon 2001 in Hollywood on May 27.
Among those who have more than one nomination, Cosmicity, Freezepop, Ganymede and Shades of Grey can be mentioned. In the international artist category, famous bands like VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk and Mesh fight with less known Obsc(y)re and Neuropa. /Mikael Kahrle

New Motor pop trio with Wolfsheim keyboardist

• A fresh synthpop/new wave band with high ambitions is here: Care Company. Routined members are Markus Reinhardt (Wolfsheim), José Alvarez Brill (producer) and Carsten Klatte (Cassandra Complex). Clatte writes and sings, in the style of David Bowie.
The first single is called "Gain Again" and will see the light of day on Monday. The album "In the Flow" will be released one month later, on May 7 by Motor/Universal. Expect airplay from this band, fit for radio. Streams of "Gain Again" and the song "Pictures", as well as the good-looking "Gain Again" video, recorded in Los Angeles, can be found here. /Jens Krause, Mikael Kahrle

Wolfsheim's first release in America
• German pop duo Wolfsheim are set to get their album "Spectators" released in North America by Metropolis on June 12. The band was formed by the two brothers Markus and Olli Reinhardt in 1987, but this is the first time their material is made available in North America. /Johan Carlsson

Guest appearances by Marc Almond
• System F's new single "Soul on Soul" features Marc Almond, and has been released on trance label Tsunami in Holland. Almond also appears on the recent single "Total Eclipse" by German artist Rosenstolz. The single was released on March 5, and one of the b-sides also features German punk diva Nina Hagen on vocals. /Kristoffer Noheden

Electro club hits compiled
• The German music magazine Zillo also publishes several compilation series. Now it is time for part six in the "Zillo Club Hits" series, full of electronic danceable music. This issue contains material by bands like S.P.O.C.K, And One and Project Pitchfork. It will be available from April 23. /Johan Carlsson

Devo return as surfrockers The Wipeouters
• Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh has formed the new band The Wipeouters. The band, that also features other Devo members, release their debut album "P'Twaaang!!!" on the American Tone Casualties label on April 30. Their music is claimed to be surf rock with a Devo twist. /Kristoffer Noheden

Human League's new album delayed
• The synthpop legends The Human League are still in Sheffield recording the new album, so far called "Secret". The production team is Toy and consists of Kerry Hopwood, Q, and Dave Clayton, which are known for their work on Depeche Mode's "Ultra". The Human League have recently signed with Papillon Records, but no release date is set. The album was previously scheduled for April, but that has obviously changed. /Johan Carlsson

Cevin Key update
• Some more info about the long awaited solo album by Cevin Key has arrived. The album is almost finished and will feature a lot of collaborators, such as Phil Western, Ken Marshall, The Legendary Pink Dots and some more as yet unknown people. /Johan Carlsson

Wilder denies Gahan cooperation

• German newspaper Nordkurier was in error regarding the news that David Gahan had asked Alan Wilder to produce Gahan's solo record. Wilder denies this story. From what we have heard, Gahan said a cooperation like that might take place, but he has not taken the matter further. Just a false interpretation or translation, obviously. /Mikael Kahrle, Jens Krause

The Cranes album closer
• Goth pop band The Cranes have completed work on their new album, to be titled "Future Songs". The band is still looking for a distribution solution, and the album is currently expected to be out in May or June. The band will also return to the live scene. The dates confirmed so far is a show at London's Astoria on May 26, and an appearance at the EuroRock Festival in Belgium in August. /Kristoffer Noheden

Prodigy and Massive Attack together
• Liam Howlett from Prodigy and 3D from Massive Attack have recorded a track called "No Souvenirs" for the motion picture "The Beach", but it was never included in the film. That track will now see the light of day as a single in April. Prodigy are still working with their next album, which will probably be finished next year. /Johan Carlsson

Merge debuts on Bloodline in April

• Merge is an electro pop band from Bielefeld in Germany, and their debut album called "Lost Heroes" will be released by Bloodline on April 17. The album is produced by Olaf Wollschläger, who has also worked with bands like Melotron and Klirrfaktor. /Johan Carlsson

New Tori Amos album coming up
• Singer/songwriter Tori Amos is working on a new album in England. It is scheduled for a September release, and features among others King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew (who has also contributed to the two latest Nine Inch Nails albums) and Beck's bass player Justin Meldal-Johnsen. /Kristoffer Noheden

Project Pitchfork Daimonion
• Project Pitchforks latest album "Daimonion" will be released in America by Metropolis Records on May 22. /Johan Carlsson