News editor: Mikael Kahrle

"We're no longer evil"

A clip from the Evil's Toy "Virtual State" video.

• Fans of Evil's Toy may already know about their name switch to just Toy. They feel they are no longer producing aggressive music, and therefore find the new name more fitting for their synthpop oriented sound. A brand new album, "Spaceradio", will be out on October 1. Remember not to look for Evil's Toy this time and not to confuse the band for the producer team Toy. /Niklas Forsberg

Melting pot of electronic genres
• Music project Ova has recently released the album "Tetrasomia". It holds influences from a lot of different electronic genres. Break beat, ambient, techno, world and trip hop, you name it. Behind the project hides American Holmes Ives. /Niklas Forsberg

"The Church of Gary Numan"
• Some fans are more dedicated than others. Jim Collins is so thrilled by Gary Numan and his work that he has recorded his own interpretations of eleven Numan tracks and released them on his own. Sadly, I haven't had time to investigate if he indeed has started a church in Gary's honour. Check Jim's website for more info. /Niklas Forsberg

David Gahan on solitary mission
• Depeche Mode front man David Gahan wants a selection of guest vocalists, including P J Harvey and Björk to appear on his forthcoming solo album.
- I know Nick Cave has already worked with her, but she's got such a distinctive voice. And Björk is a real talent, Gahan says.
Jazz has been a huge influence for Gahan's work, which includes instruments such as chello, piano, and percussion. He started working in his New York based home studio last year, and will continue working after the "Exciter Tour". The album should be released around September 2002, by Mute Records of course.
He also says that, naturally a solo record would not mean the end of Depeche Mode. David and the rest of the band are currently on the road (USA), and will soon bring the "Exciter Tour" to Europe.
- I still want to be involved with Depeche Mode, but there are things I want to say and experiences I want to put down that would better suit a solo album.
Both Martin Gore, and ex-Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder have released their own solo albums in the past. Alan Wilder is currently working on a couple of new songs, but nothing has been scheduled for release yet. /Jesper Lakman (Uselink)

De/Vision returns to traditional pop

De/Vision May 2001.
Photo by: Harald Hoffmann

• There are lots of things going on in the De/Vision camp and here's a quick look at some of the stuff:
The new album "Two" has a new release date, October 1. Clips from all tracks can be heard on the official web site. Even though it is difficult to say, it seems this album is more traditional De/Vision soft pop, and there is less high-tech dance influences. And the press release states a "return to their own origins, namely electronically arranged tracks with a strong catchiness factor". Head of production has been Georg Kaleve and studios in Berlin and Bremen have been rented.
The single "Heart-shaped Tumor" will see the light of day on September 10. It offers five takes on the song (remixers include Icon of Coil), and two non-album songs ("Home", "Neptune"). A video has been shot in the Alps.
The second De/Vision single in collaboration with Green Court, "Take (My Breath Away)" (no cover version), has been doing well since its release in late May.
"Two... on Tour" starts on October 10 in Hamburg and takes De/Vision through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, France, Spain, Switzerland and Poland. /Mikael Kahrle

Björk on tour with 54-piece orchestra

Photo by: Mari A and Marcus Piggot

• After releasing her new album ("Vespertine" on August 27), Björk will embark on an ambitious tour together with a 54-piece orchestra. It is the Dutch Il Novecento Orchestra, conducted by Simon Lee.
Björk has worked with a number of guest musicians on the new album: electronic band Matmos, harp player Zeena Parkins, a Canadian throat singer and a choir from Greenland (!). Some of them might join her on the road. It is rumoured MC:s from Matmos will open her shows. Furthermore, the new tour will stop at special venues like the London National Opera House and the New York Radio City Music Hall. The (non-confirmed) tour dates so far:
August 18, 20 and 23-25 Paris, 29 London. September 11 Stuttgart, 15 Lausanne, 18 Frankfurt, 21 Roubiax, 23 London again, 26 Brussels, 28 Amsterdam. October 4-5 New York (where Björk lives nowadays), 7 Toronto, 12 Boston, 14 Chicago, 17 San Francisco, 22 Los Angeles. November 1 Paris once more, 6 Lyon.
The first "Vespertine" single, "Hidden Place", should be out now in different formats, including DVD. /Mikael Kahrle

Twice a Man working on new album
• Swedish electronic music veterans Twice a Man are currently preparing a new album. They hope to be finished in December.
During the last years, the members have been working on various minor projects like radio theatre music and a radio program about India with their music included. They also made music for an "intelligent chair", which I "played" at last year's Expo in Germany. /Mikael Kahrle

Get ready for New Order

• New Order's new album "Get Ready" is now scheduled for August 27 in UK. For USA, a different edition will be out in October, as previously reported.
The single "Crystal" (above) will be out in UK on Monday. The complete video as well as music streams of the song's different versions can be found at the chaotic "Get Ready" Flash site. The US maxi single will have nine tracks including the song "Behind Closed Doors". Remixes include "Digweed & Muir Bedrock mix edit", "Lee Coombs remix" and "John Creamer & Stephane K Main Remix Edit".
New Order did a successful gig with new guitarist Billy Corgan of American The Smashing Pumpkins in Liverpool on July 17. /Mikael Kahrle

Plans for Depeche Mode singles
• As the situation is now, the fourth Depeche Mode "Exciter" single will be "Goodnight Lovers". This is, if the sale of the three first singles will do well enough to release a "non radio single" as "Goodnight Lovers". So far, the sales for the two first singles has been excellent, and especially "I Feel Loved" has been doing well.
According to the German Depeche Mode site depechemode.de, the German electro-project Kreidler will make remixes of "Goodnight Lovers". At Kreidler's web page you can read that the title for the remixes is "Born a Lover", which is the working title for "Goodnight Lovers". "Freelove", the third single, will be remixed by Console. /Jesper Lakman (Uselink)

Compilation delayed

• The "Electronic Spotlight" compilation, we told you about the other day, is delayed for two weeks. /Jens Krause

Fields of the Nephilim CD out now
• The Fields of the Nephilim early years album "From Here to Gehenna" are now released in UK, Germany and Italy. It will be available elsewhere shortly. /Mikael Kahrle

Blind Passengers goes east
• The Berlin crossover band Blind Passengers has signed a UK deal with Iris Light Records (The Shining etc) for their album "Neosapiens". They have also a new license deal for Russia and Eastern Europe with Irond Records (Dimmu Borgir, Amorphis etc). /Jens Krause

Harder Chemical Brothers return in September
• The Chemical Brothers have scheduled their new single "It Began in Africa" for September 10. This is a track which have worked well on dance floors, where tested. Selected DJ:s like Paul Oakenfold and Fatboy Slim have received a white label edition. The single release will also feature the "electro-rasta acid trip" "Hot Acid Rhythm 1".
"It Began in Africa" will be the first taste from the brothers fourth album, which is not likely to show up until next year. The working title is "Chemical 4" and the sound is said to be harder this time around. /Mikael Kahrle

An industrial newcomer called Dismantled
• Gary Zon is the man behind musical project Dismantled. The project was formed one year ago to try to make industrial music in the same vein as Front Line Assembly. For now you can find the music on www.mp3.com, but this fall the track "Purity" will be featured on a compilation called "Septic". /Johan Carlsson

VNV Nation makes plans for the future

• "Futureperfect" is the name of the upcoming, fourth album by British electropoppers VNV Nation, out in November. The album will also be available in a limited box set. As we have mentioned before, the single "Genesis" will be out beforehand on August 27, to give a taste of the sound. Watch out for release parties. /Johan Carlsson

Sweet Venus release new demo
• British talented band Sweet Venus has recorded a new demo called “Post Mortem”. Their musical influences have been drawn from the punk/goth era and underground independent artists. Now, they are also looking more at current creative musicians who work with electronic music. /Anders Wiik

Third try for reshaped electro band


• Swedish electroheads Kliché have released two previous albums without somewhat limited success. They have high hopes for their third disc called "Planet Confusion" and their new female vocalist Nena Wallin. The album is being mastered as we speak and will be released on September 24. /Mikael Kahrle