News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

Camouflage on the verge of completion
• German synthpoppers Camouflage are nearly finished with their new studio album "Sensor". Some of the recording sessions have taken longer than expected but now it is a matter of weeks, or days even. Promos will be sent out any day now. The first single off the album, not counting "Thief" (which will be available also, albeit in a reworked version) will be "Me & You", a catchy direct pop tune. The single will be released in late March or early April with the album following later in the Spring, hopefully in May. /Niklas Forsberg

Martin Gore album cover and web site

We can show you the brand new album cover.

• The new Martin L Gore site for his new project "Counterfeit²""offer - or will soon offer - audio clips of all album tracks, video clips, news, gallery, tour dates, wallpapers, buddy icons, press releases and more. /Mikael Kahrle

Front 242 celebrate in Paris
• Front 242 and their new label XIII Bis Records will celebrate the new album on February 20 at La Loco in Paris. The band will play a short gig and do interviews.
We are preparing a review of the new "Still & Raw" EP to be published shortly.
Forthcoming La Laco gigs include Haujobb, Mortiis, Samael and Project Pitchfork. /Jens Krause, Mikael Kahrle

A new British pop band enters the stage...

• As promised, Client's debut single "Price of Love" offers sexy, minimalistic and hyper-electronic synthpop with unmistakably British female vocals (after all, it's a British female duo). The sound is similar to that of The Human League and Ladytron. The CDM includes three different songs. The 12" has two mixes of the title song and one other remix. Mute has given us a CD with all tracks. The single is to be released on April 7. "We never say no. Satisfaction guaranteed", they sing. This time, we don't need to repeat Client is Andrew Fletcher's first signing (oops, we did it again). /Mikael Kahrle

...and another one leaves it
• Today, British band Bis announced their split. Amanda, John and Steven in Bis have released three albums and the band existed for nine years. The members plan to continue to make music and Bis will release one final single and play three gigs. /Mikael Kahrle

New details on Martin Gore's second solo album

• Depeche Mode songwriter Martin L Gore is set to release his new solo album "Counterfeit²" via Mute on April 28. "Stardust", a version of the David Essex classic, is the first single to be lifted from the album, and it is scheduled for April 14.
"Counterfeit²" is the second album in Martin L Gore's "Counterfeit" cover version series and, like his first "Counterfeit" release in 1989, the new album is a wildly diverse and passionate collection. The tracks range from sultry 21st century blues to achingly lovely sci-fi lullabies; sublime alt-country crooners to engrossing electronic torch songs.
- I really wanted to get across a fan's perspective, says Martin.
The album has a total of eleven tracks:. 1) "In My Time of Dying" (Martin L Gore), 2) "Stardust" (David Essex), 3) "I Cast a Lonesome Shadow" (Hank Thompson), 4) "In My Other World" (Julee Cruise), 5) "Loverman" (Nick Cave), 6) "By This River" (Brian Eno), 7) "Lost in the Stars" (Maxwell Anderson/Kurt Weill), 8) "Oh My Love" (John Lennon), 9) "Das Lied vom einsamen Mädchen" (Werner Heyman/Robert Gilbert), 10) "Tiny Girls" (David Bowie/Iggy Pop), 11) "Candy Says" (Lou Reed). /Jesper Lakman (Uselink)

Ex-Vomito Negro man control the pressure
• A new band consisting of Gin Devo (ex-Vomito Negro), McZane and Jericho is called Pressure Control. Currently the band is working on their debut album and DVD. They plan several appearances on the summer festival circuit later this year.
Gin Devo was fired from the legendary Belgian EBM act Vomito Negro last year and left the band under quite hostile circumstances. Pressure Control are in search of a label to release their album. A most unusual name for an electronic band... /Peter Marks

The new Mesh single released



• Synthpop fans are now able to get a copy of the new Mesh single "Friends Like These." Previously two weeks delayed, it now comes complete with seven mixes and two other tracks on the MCD, as previously reported. The band, confident with charting success have also bundled in videos for "Leave You Nothing" and "Friends Like These." New to the band's web site is Mesh TV which features a short behind the scenes segment available exclusively for the first week of release.
The new video has already been broadcast throughout Europe. Mesh will play live in Leipzig's Wave Gotik Treffen in June. Their new studio record should be out later this year. /Alex Veronac

Polish castle festival also 2003
• One of the biggest darkwave and electro festivals in Eastern Europe will take place on July 26 and 27 at Bolkow Castle in Poland. A rather eclectic line-up for this years festival includes Diary of Dreams, Fading Colours, L'ame Immortelle, Dance on Glass and several others. In addition, even more bands are to be confirmed. A cornucopia of some great talent, to be sure. /Peter Marks

"Engelsstaub" new single from In Strict Confidence
• The German electro band In Strict Confidence has let their fans vote for the track they most wanted to see as the new single. The result of the poll is “Engelsstaub” and it has just been released. The disc comes with two remixes, and no less than three new tracks. Jürgen Engler from Dkay.com and Die Krupps is responsible for one of the remixes. A videoclip for the title track is also included. /Johan Carlsson

New Front 242 EP with a quite unusual sound



• Belgian legends Front 242 are finally releasing their first new material in a very, very long time this month, as previously reported. The new EP is called “Still & Raw” and is out on February 24. The complete tracklist is “7Rain”, “Loud”, “Strobe”, “Collision”, “7Rain (Ghost)”, “Strobe (Fragments)”.
The sound is quite different from anything we have heard from the band before - calm and mellow but with Jean Luc de Meyer’s characteristic vocals with and without vocal effects. Front 242 say they wanted to return to the simple sound of their early days on this EP to define and rediscover their identity. The new album which might sound different comes later this spring. /Johan Carlsson, Mikael Kahrle, Jens Krause

Enhanced homoerotic listening experience from Thighpaulsandra
• Coil and Spiritualized member Thighpaulsanda will issue his new album "Double Vulgar" on March 17. Retractor Records will release this album via World Serpent. A second album will follow in late June or early July. Also available is a limited art edition set of prints which, according to Thighpaulsanda: enhance the intensely homoerotic listening experience. Cover art for the album has been done by Coil's Peter Christopherson. /Peter Marks

A new Iris back wakes up
• American synthpop band Iris are back with their second album. Entitled “Awakening”, this album sees a line-up change, as Andrew Sega has replaced Matthew Morris as programmer. The first edition can be ordered now from A Different Drum in a special limited run of 1 000 copies, but a “regular” edition will follow. /Johan Carlsson

Download, Plateau and Involution limited vinyls ship



• Cevin Key may be working steadfast on new Skinny Puppy studio recordings but some of his music has just become available on vinyl. Flesh Eating Ants Records (Canada) has pressed onto LP the music of Download , Plateau and Involution.
"III Steps Forward" and "Iceolator" are limited to an appropriate 420 numbered copies, and " Involution" with only 200 pressings. Sound quality has again been at the forefront as the music is on heavy 220g, psychedelic coloured audiophile vinyl using direct metal mastering technique. These releases have extra artwork from their original CD:s and new gatefold sleeves for each. Sound bytes can be had at their web site. See earlier Cevin Key news here.
Recently, Download's only video "Glassblower" has been available for view here. And former Download and Plateau member Phil Western has recently completed a remix of the track "Gymnasium" by Todd Gys for his upcoming "Art D'Echo" CD. /Alex Veronac

New electro festival in Stockholm
• Today, the organiser behind the Tinitus festival and Cryotank club revealed the plans for another festival called Sonic Havoc 03. Eight bands will perform on two stages at the Stockholm University on May 10, among them Haujobb, Beborn Beton, Decoded Feedback, Synapscape, This Morn' Omina and Empusae. Two major acts remains. /Mikael Kahrle

Romo Night moves to top Gothenburg night club
• After a short period out in the cold, Gothenburg synth and retro club Romo Night now has a new home at one of the leading Gothenburg nightclubs, Trädgår'n. Romo Night describes Trädgår'n as bigger and better in every way - the place of their dreams.
- I guess we can't ask for a more complete night club, Tobbe Eriksson, one of the happy organisers says.
Romo Night might find it difficult to fill the huge building.
- We plan for big, sometimes classic, bands, happenings and a mixture of synth, eighties music, hits, goth, hard synth and electro, Eriksson tells us.
He talks about release parties, celebrity DJ:s, theme nights and surprise bands.
The main hall hosts an enormous dancefloor and stage with perfect sound and light including lasers. It is surrounded by balconies, stairs and several bars. The newly built venue has three floors and an outdoor area in the park Trädgårdsföreningen in downtown Gothenburg.
A bar section called The Cave will be dedicated for goth. Another one, named Secret Garden, will offer guest DJ:s and big screen video.
The entrance fee will be set as low as possible but still higher than before and the club will now close at 5 am. Romo Night will be open the first Friday of the month starting with March 7.
It's rare - even if you look worldwide - with a synthpop club on a Friday in a state-of-the-art nightclub. /Mikael Kahrle

Ministry prepares for tour



• With just two weeks left before the release of Ministry's new studio CD - and tour start, there is a new official web site redesign up at www.animositisomina.com. Direct news from the band and rehearsal video from their studio in El Paso, USA along with the usual rumour mill are featured. We read "Mikey" Scaccia has been added to the touring band since his last appearance ten years ago during the "Psalm 69" tour. We have listened to the enw album for a couple of weeks and the machine metal sound is similar to that of "Psalm 69" with brutal energy, power and samples.
Release has secured some autographed Ministry price packs for our readers. Competition details to be announced. /Alex Veronac, Mikael Kahrle

SSC for DAF in Scandinavia
• SubSpace Communications will take care of the Scandinavian releases from the reunited DAF. /Mikael Kahrle

Project-X: new album almost finished
• The Swedish EBM band Project-X writes on their web page that they will start recording vocals in about two weeks, for their upcoming album “Modus Operandi”. The album is due out in June of this year. In May the band will go out on a full blown North American tour, together with the German band Melotron. /Johan Carlsson

VAC back in the Dependent fold
• Denver, Colorado's Velvet Acid Christ have buried the hatchet with their former label Dependent and have re-signed to the label. VAC's new album "Utopia" is scheduled for release in the first half of the year. Tour plans undoubtedly will follow. /Peter Marks

Andrew Fletcher with Client to SAMA

• Depeche Mode's Andrew Fletcher will DJ and present newcomers Client at Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards in Gothenburg's Vågen on April 5. Female duo Client is signed to Fletcher's Toast Hawaii label. Client A and Client B will be joined by the mysterious Client F (Fletcher?) during the live show. More below.
SAMA has been sold out since January 15 (new record although more tickets are released this year). Performing live on stage, also Andreas Tilliander, Colony 5, Covenant, Spetsnaz, Tarmvred, Universal Poplab, VNV Nation and Welle:Erdball. Three acts remain. /Jesper Lakman (Uselink), Mikael Kahrle

Busy Memento Materia release plans
• Memento Materia has revealed the release plans for the spring. March 3 will finally see the release of goth rockers Malaise's mini album "Reassimilated". Finland's Neverwood will deliver a CDM called "Winter and the Sun" on March 1, followed by the album "Misty Morning" on May 5. EBM act Colony 5 also has a new single on its way, simply named "Black" (March 31), taken from an album to be released on May 19. One more release to go: Interlace with the mini album "Under the Sky" on April 14. /Mikael Kahrle

Tiamat on the road again
• After intensive touring last year, including two tours supporting the "Judas Christ" album, Tiamat show no signs of slowing down. Just back from some concerts in South America, the band has now announced two dates in Greece in February and March as well as one show in Israel in April as well as participation on this years Wave Gotik Treffen in June. Lacuna Coil will support the band in Greece. /Peter Takizawa