News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

Breaking News: first SAMA 2003 details

• We are exclusively the first to receive the first details on next years SAMA.
The Swedish Alternative Music Awards are now Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards. Non-Swedes from all over Scandinavia can vote and fight for the votes. We have gathered some - not all - alternative names that may or at least could receive votes.
Norway certainly has most of them: Apoptygma Berzerk, Briskeby, Mortiis, Icon of Coil, Echo Image, Röyksopp, Bel Canto, Zeromancer, Biosphere, Bertine Zetlitz - and also A-ha will probably get some votes. Denmark: Hmm..., perhaps Sort Sol and Sorten Muld. The press release also talks about Finland, which sometimes is counted as part of Scandinavia. Here we find Him, Pan Sonic, Jimi Tenor and Neuroactive. Iceland is not part of Scandinavia.
The first three of twelve live acts for SAMA are two Swedish and one German: Covenant, Andreas Tilliander and Welle:Erdball. SAMA will leave the soon closing Gothenburg venue Kåren for Vågen (Folkets Hus) at Järntorget. 1 500 tickets at SEK 320 will be released on November 30. SAMA will take place on April 5. /Mikael Kahrle

Kraftwerk tour goes for the Pacific

Ready for Japan.

• Previously announced as a limited tour, Kraftwerk have expanded upon it to encompass Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The band will commence their outing on December 13 at the Electraglide Festival in Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, Japan. /Peter Marks

Pouppée Fabrikk co-founder Leif Holm working on CAP
• When Leif Holm left Swedish Pouppée Fabrikk, he and his friend Christian Riemslag continued work on the band CAP. It started as a side project in 1995 and stands for Controlled Analogue Programming. After releasing two maxi singles and remixing Run Level Zero it’s now time for the debut album “Statement” to be released. This takes place in the beginning of November, and the album features guest appearances by Pouppée Fabrikk’s vocalist Henrik Björkk, and Johan Damm from Dupont. /Johan Carlsson

New single from Future Sound of London
• The newest release from FSOL is “The Mello Hippo Disco Show”, and it will be an EP out on November 11. Not much is known, except that it is a remix disc. /Johan Carlsson

Tyskarna från Lund target Christmas



• The Swedish synth quartet Tyskarna från Lund, somewhat famous for the world cup song "Global Fussball OK" are now planning to invade our Christmas with the single "Achtung X-Mas!". In addition to the title track, the song "Asien" is included, as well as remixes from the Swedish electro elite such as Joakim Montelius from Covenant and electronica Grammy nominee Andreas Tilliander. /Johan Carlsson

Eurorock to open the festival season already in April
• The Belgian synth and darkwave festival Eurorock celebrates its fifth anniversary 2003 with some major changes in structure. The festival has now been moved in time from August to April 5-6. The festival will be held indoors in the event hall "De Soeverein" in the city of Lommel, Belgium. /Peter Takizawa

Daniel Myer makes music for Xbox game


This is not Daniel Myer. He will be heard but not seen in the game.

• The ever productive Daniel Myer of Haujobb fame is responsible for the soundtrack to an Xbox fighting game called "Tao Feng". Check out the web page for samples and screenshots. /Johan Carlsson

2XM to release debut EP



• Swedish electro project 2XM has now released an EP entitled "Two Faced World". The band used to go under the moniker Deux Ex Machina but shortened it down to 2XM now that they reemerge after almost ten years in hibernation. The EP is released independently by the band who is also now looking for a record deal. /Peter Takizawa

New Erasure single on January 6



• The new Erasure album “Other People’s Songs” now has the fixed release date of January 23. As we reported earlier, it contains covers of classic pop songs, like “Video Killed the Radio Star”, “You’ve Lost That Loving Feelin’” and many more. A single with the track “Solsbury Hill” will be out some weeks earlier, namely January 6. Plans of a UK tour might also come into fruition. /Johan Carlsson

Covenant confusion and new single date
• “Bullet”, the next single from Covenant, has a new release date: November 18 (in GAS and Sweden).
The new album "Northern Light" was released in GAS on September 30. According to a label statement, it was supposed to be released about two months later in USA and Covenants' home country Sweden. After some confusion, it reached Swedish shops in mid October (via import earlier, of course). A US release date will be announced shortly.
Read more on Covenant in our latest Spotlight. /Johan Carlsson, Mikael Kahrle

Awards to Moby and Depeche Mode


- Will I win?

• At the recent Q Awards hosted by Q Magazine, Moby and Depeche Mode were given two prestigious awards. Moby got the award for “Best Producer” and Depeche Mode the "Q Innovation Award”.
The very same artists are also nominated for the MTV European Music Awards, to be held on November 14. /Johan Carlsson

Noise artist reaches outside Japan
• New to our ears is an independent Tokyo noise band dubbed SINO (Re-build Projects). With its blend of electro noise beats with a driving fuzz guitar lead, this project recently played outside of Japan for the first time: in Toronto. SINO's solo work has brought a new release, "Promote 01+28082002", which currently has distribution in North America and Japan. This collection contains some new material and live tracks from a recent Japanese gig. You can listen to some sounds here. /Alex Veronac

Release date confusion

• The new Rhys Fulber produced Paradise Lost album "Symbol of Life" has different release dates in different countries. This illustrates the situation for many other albums as well. For a global magazine like Release it can be a tough job to gather all dates. Sometimes, we just stick to the basic or main release date in our News.
Paradise Lost are now signed to GUN/BMG. "Symbol of Life" was released last monday in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Poland, Hungary and Russia. Next monday, it's time for their home country United Kingdom and Sweden. Koch Records will release the album in USA on November 12. For Spain, Portugal, Italy, Japan and Korea nothing is decided.
The album has received a number of raving reviews. It is released in a standard and limited edition (with two bonus songs). The single "Erased" is on its way. /Mikael Kahrle

Memento Materia + Invisible = true
• Swedish alternative music label Memento Materia has signed a licensing and distribution deal with Martin Atkins' famous Invisible Records. The first sign of this cooperation will be a US release of Colony 5's debut album. Back in Sweden, Memento Materia will put out the debut of Z Prochek. /Mikael Kahrle

Ratata kollected
• Swedish veteran pop band Ratata recently released a collection of B-sides and remixes called "Kollektion Plus" (sold out). Now the time has come for the actual best of. Logically named "Kollektion" it offers classics from their synthpop days as well as more recent mainstream material. The new single "Honung" is part of the track list, which holds a total of 20 songs. The single includes a Nåid edit of "Himlen". /Niklas Forsberg

Four new songs on Melotron singles
• The next Melotron single will be "Folge mir ins Licht" by the end of January. It comes in two editions with two non album songs per CD. /Mikael Kahrle

Rammstein's "XXX" song released



• With the addition of Rammstein's "Feuer Frei!" to the popular spy thriller "XXX" movie soundtrack, the band has an opportunity to show themselves to the world. The movie begins at a Rammstein gig in Prague. "Feuer Frei!" is included on the movie soundtrack CD and is released separately.
The single comes in different versions including a DVD single and maxi with a remix by Junkie XL. The USA version is out now, with the German release soon after. The UK gets their "Feuer Frei!" CDM early next month. A unique addition is the Rammstein covers by Battery of " Bück Dich" and "Du hast" on their MCD. /Alex Veronac, Mikael Kahrle

Moby director wanted
• Do you want a chance to spend £5000 on a Moby video for a song from his album "18"? He has announced a competition where the best video idea wins. /Mikael Kahrle

New remixed Kent single with two videos
• The third single from Kent's triple platinum album "Vapen & ammunition" is "FF". The single, scheduled for November 11, will offer a remixed version of the song, the new piece "VinterNoll2" and videos for the two songs. Kent are currently on the roads. /Mikael Kahrle

New Edward Ka-spel book and CD

We have an exclusive look at the book cover.
Courtesy: Kirsten, Mercury House

• The Edward Ka-spel lyric and story book "Love and Loud Colours", slated for release last year, is now shipping. A great gift for a fan of the Legendary Pink Dots in a limited edition of 2 300 lyric books, with CD-single. The first 834 books will be numbered and wrapped in a silver ribbon.
See earlier Edward Ka-Spel news here /Alex Veronac

Diary of Dreams helps similar project
• Darkwave electro band Diary of Dreams embark on 22 date tour on November 3. Russia, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, UK, Poland, Belgium and Greece can expect a visit.
Label mate one man band Diorama play support. The album "The Art of Creating Confusing Spirits" was released last Friday and the sound is similar to that of Diary of Dreams, but more sophisticated and warm. A review is in progress. Diary of Dreams themselves deliver a seven track EP called "Panik Manifesto" on November 8. /Mikael Kahrle

All Throbbing Gristle members collaborate again
• To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Throbbing Gristle Mute has announced a series of “new and exclusive products”. The first announced release is a boxed CD set called “24 hours of TG” and will be released on December 23. The box will consist of 24 CD:s with 24 hours of TG live recordings remastered by Chris Carter (Throbbing Gristle and one half of Chris & Cosey). Perhaps most amazingly of all, the four members of Throbbing Gristle are said to have collaborated and communicated for this release. So those of you so inclined can look forward to spend the whole Christmas Eve listening to Throbbing Gristle. /Peter Takizawa

Two compilation on their way from New Order


Artwork for "International".

• A whole bunch of new remixes by the classic track “Confusion” by New Order are on their way from Whacked Records. Remixers include names like Arthur Baker, Junior Sanchez, Koma & Bones and more. Three different formats will be available, two 12” vinyl and one CD single. It’s called “Arthur Baker vs New Order” and will be out on November 4.
A new best-of compilation album called "International" will be out on October 29, but not in the US. Canada and Europe will get it, and interestingly enough many countries will have a unique tracklist. /Johan Carlsson

Veteran Manchester band on the roads again

Chameleons' Mark "Birdy" Burgess live in Toronto 2002.
Photo by: Alex Veronac (Release)

• The Manchester based band The Chameleons is on a 22 date tour in North America for the first time in 15 years. Earlier gigs in the UK have been favourable as the Chameleons band members reunited just two years ago. They are quite happy to be together again and touring for their loyal fanbase. Their latest release is "Why Call It Anything" on Artful (UK) from 2001. Those not able to attend their live gigs can check out their new 2CD titled "Live" on Paradiso Records. The Chameleons hope to tour Australia and Japan sometime soon.
Their 1986 tune "Swamp Thing" is still played by many club DJ:s today. The Chameleons is a guitar rock band which has attracted some of the goth audience. /Alex Veronac

New citizens of Pluxemburg

• Until now Swedish cranky electronica act Pluxus has only released Pluxus material on their own label Pluxemburg. Now the company is ready to take on other artists, the first being German band Jeans Team. A well known part of the Kitty-yo roster, Jeans Team toured with Peaches last year, visiting Stockholm among other places. The new CDM/12" "Gold und Silber" has just been released by Pluxemburg in the nordic countries. /Mattias Huss

Melody Club joins huge Kent tour today
• We mentioned Swedish retro pop act Melody Club the other day and now we have some new details.
An advance copy of their next, second, single "Electric" arrived today with two new songs. The title synthpop/rock tune is close to the new romantic sound of the early eighties. The single will be out on November 11, followed by the debut album on Christmas Day (!). It is currently recorded in the Silence Studio together with producer Dan Sundqvist.
There are few Release pop bands on major companies, in this case Virgin. The debut single "Palace Station" was a hit and Melody Club now joins Kent on their Scandinavian 22 date tour, starting today. /Mikael Kahrle

New fragments from Mesh



• “Fragmente 2” is a new compilation of mixes, "B-sides" and other rare tracks with the British electronic pop band Mesh, out now. In addition to that, a new single from their latest album “Who Watches Over Me?” has been picked, and the lucky track is “Friends Like These”. No date has been set though.
The band is also touring, and will visit as diverse places as Greece, Germany, Holland, England and Mexico during October and November. /Johan Carlsson

New "Futurism" compilation from City Rockers
• Electronic London label City Rockers will release the double CD compilation “Futurism 2” on October 21. Among the featured artists are Chicks on Speed, Felix da Housecat, Xlover and The Parallax Corporation. The first “Futurism” compilation proved to be very vital for the scene the media love to call “electroclash”, although City Rockers themselves resent that label. Most electroclash labels and artists tend to do just that.
You haven't heard much of the electroclash hype in Release. We have never been much for trends and don't intend to start now. You can read everything and more elsewhere - and of course some here. Interesting music always finds its way to our site regardless. /Kristoffer Noheden, Mikael Kahrle

Project-X signs with new label and release new single



• The Swedish hardhitters Project-X has signed on to Trisol for GAS (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), but is still on Energy Rekords in Scandinavia. A new single called “Infected/Reminder” arrived to the office today with two songs in original versions and mixes by Assemblage 23, E-Craft and Jouni Ollila (Pouppée Fabrikk). Many people hungry for traditional energetic EBM will love this. A new album titled “Modus Operandi” is coming later on. /Johan Carlsson, Mikael Kahrle

Jim Thirlwell releases second Manorexia album
• The next album to be released in the current string of Jim Thirlwell releases will be a new Manorexia album. Titled “The Radiolarian Ooze”, it’s the follow up to last year’s “Volvox Turbo”, which was a psychosonic journey through instrumental, partly improvised soundscapes. Like that album, “The Radiolarian Ooze” will only be available through the Foetus web site and at live shows. /Kristoffer Noheden