News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

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Lidbo and Rimheden perform "Främling"

Sophie, Carola, Håkan.

• Carola's "Främling" (stranger) is one of the biggest hits ever in Sweden, to originate from the Eurovision Song Contest. Now, electronic music stars Håkan Lidbo and Sophie Rimheden (of all people) have made a minimalistic cover version, which will be broadcasted on Swedish television in "Alla tiders Melodifestival" on April 8 (the show is already recorded). SubSpace Communications delivers the single on April 11 (the first single from Rimheden/Lidbo was released by Memento Materia).
- It was fantastic. I must thank them for this. It will probably be a hit, mainstream superstar Carola laughs. /Mikael Kahrle

VNV Nation works with SSC in Scandinavia

• SubSpace Communications is going to distribute VNV Nation in Scandinavia. The label releases the new album "Matter + Form" on April 11. A first listen shows few new elements, rather the trademark VNV Nation sound with both hard, fast tracks as well as calmer moments. It's hard to go into specifics this early, but we can say two things: that probably, few fans will be disappointed - and that there are stronger moments than the single track "Chrome". /Mikael Kahrle

Another festival summer for The Sisters of Mercy

Eldritch, Arvika.

• The Sisters of Mercy continue to play summer festivals year after year, without releasing any new material. Now, they're heading for Germany's M'era Luna festival (August 13-14) alongside Apoptygma Berzerk and Qntal. /Mikael Kahrle

What’s going on in Björk's world?



• Björk has since long been talking about making a charity album for Unicef, an idea that now seems close to completion. The result is an album filled with cover versions of her track “Army of Me”, by 20 different artists from around the world. Everyone involved in this project, from the artists to the manufacturers, have worked for free, and of course all profits go directly to Unicef. No release date is set yet.
A two-disc DVD version of “Medulla” will soon see the light of day as well. It features a documentary about how the album was recorded, all the videos filmed for the album and the music in 5.1 sound. This special version comes out on April 25. /Johan Carlsson

Fischerspooner goes on a journey
• Electroclash star Fischerspooner is set to return to the scene with a new single and album. The new single is called “Just Let Go” and is released on March 28, with the album “Odyssey” following on April 11. According to the press release, the albums influences this time include progressive rock, making it a more emotional and warmer effort than the debut album “#1”. /Johan Carlsson

Bleed like Garbage



• The one and only Shirley Manson and her friends in Garbage are back with “Bleed Like Me”, their fourth album. The hard riffing first single “Why Do You Love Me?” is available on line now, and the vinyl/CD edition is out on March 27 in Australia and April 4 in the rest of the world.
Apparently the whole album is rockier and grittier than the last one, and is unveiled to the world on April 12 in North America, and April 11 everywhere else. /Johan Carlsson

More noise from Agonoize
• Harsh EBM in the same vein as Suicide Commando and Hocico is what you can expect on Agonoize's new 13 track EP entitled ”Evil Gets an Upgrade”. Seven new tracks, five remixes and a video fills the disc, and it’s out on Out of Line on April 11. /Johan Carlsson

Siesta festival in southern Sweden
• Andreas Tilliander and Sophie Rimheden return to their old home town of Hässleholm, Sweden, for the Siesta festival on May 27-28. They play alongside Silverbullit, Slagsmålsklubben, The Ark, Nervkållaps, Libra and others. /Mikael Kahrle

VNV Nation to tour North America

• Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson in VNV Nation are going out on a big tour of North America. They’re bringing some company in the form of Imperative Reaction and Soman as well. A whopping 35 dates will be played, and the tour kicks off on May 6 in Ft. Lauderdale, and ends on June 18 in New York. /Johan Carlsson

New word from Nine Inch Nails
• The new single from Nine Inch Nails is called “The Hand That Feeds”, and comes out on April 18. Two versions exist: a regular two track and a limited edition four track edition, with remixes and the promotional video. The latter will only be available during the first two weeks, and will not be available in North America apparently. A small number will be available through www.nin.com though.
If you live in USA, you can go to one of many listening parties where you can here the entire new album "With Teeth" well before the release. /Johan Carlsson

"Fixed" by Colony 5

• The two boys in the Swedish electropop band Colony 5 are now ready to deliver their third full length album, entitled “Fixed”. Expect uptempo beats with catchy refrains on the 13 track album. A limited edition of 500 copies will also be made: a double disc set with a special bonus single including five remixes of album tracks, plus a cover of the S.P.O.C.K track “Last Man on Earth”. Get it on April 18. /Johan Carlsson

It's a new label for Estampie
• The long-standing medieval group Estampie, who has released eight albums to date and whose main ringleader is no other than Michael Popp (formerly of Deine Lakaien), have signed to the Noir sub label of Dancing Ferret for distribution in the United States. May 10 will see the domestic release of the band's last album "Signum". Michael Popp's other project, Qntal,  who are already signed to Dancing Ferret will release their new album "Qntal IV" on May 10 also. /Peter Marks

Syrian goes into space



• ”Kosmonauta” is the title of the upcoming second album by Italian futurepop band Syrian. Expect more electropop from them, on the Infacted label, on March 29. The band is also slated to go on a German tour after summer. /Johan Carlsson

Watch Out of Line festival at home
• For those of you who couldn’t visit the Out of Line festival in 2004, here’s the chance to catch it in the comfort of your own home. Out of Line has just released a DVD (and a wildly enthusiastic press release) with selected tracks from the line-up, including Hocico, Spetsnaz, Icon of Coil and God Module. Out now. /Johan Carlsson

Dependent issues new club invasion
• The second incarnation of the club invasion concept is out on April 11. This time it’s three of the label’s artists who are joining ranks on a three single box set. “Club Invasion Vol. 2” is limited to a 1000 copies, and the artists are mind.in.a.box, Stromkern and Rotersand. All the singles are brand new and will be available separately later, but if you want it first, you’ll have to get this box. /Johan Carlsson