Kraftwerk - Expo 2000 jingle and new "Tour de France"
Kraftwerk has composed the official jingle for the Expo 2000 world exposition in Hannover next summer. The jingle is recorded in German, English, French, Spanish, Japanese and Russian versions, as well as a complete one. All versions are downloadable from the Expo 2000 site, in three formats.
The site explains when the tune will be used: "The catchy Expo jingle will be heard on a wide variety of occasions: to announce Expo stops, in buses, trains or planes, when prizes and awards are presented, at press conferences, during radio and television broadcasts, as a welcoming tune on the internet, as music on hold for the Expo Call Center, or when performances begin and as an intermission signal at Expo events."
The jingle has caused some debate in Germany. Even federal chancellor Gerhard Schröder has commented on the issue. The criticism is mainly about the sum Kraftwerk was paid for the task - 400.000 DM - and the simplicity of the tune. Expo has stated that a more melodic version will be released in the future.
Kraftwerk will perform live in the Arena at the world exposition.
The 1983 single "Tour de France" was officially released on CD single format in Germany on July 5 by EMI. It contains three remastered mixes in French and a video clip. A new 12" is also available. In connection to the release the German EMI has launched a couple of new Kraftwerk web pages featuring, among other things, an electronic postcard, a guestbook and a discography with audio samples.
More on Kraftwerk in the next News edition. /Mikael Kahrle
Foetus album renamed and delayed
Jim Thirlwell is still working on a new Foetus album. It is now due out early next year and the title has been changed from "Bust" to "Flow".
Alongside the work on his forthcoming album, Thirlwell
has taken the time to do some remixes. He has remixed fellow New Yorkers The
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's track "Lapdance", which also features
legendary blues man Andre Williams, Brittish pop band Three Colours Red, and
Jon Spencer side project Boss Hog. Thirlwell has also done a cover version
of The The's "Shrunken Man", which will be featured on the forthcoming The
The EP, due out in October. /Kristoffer Noheden
William Reid wants to make porno record cover
William Reid, of Jesus and Mary Chain fame, has been giving his record
company some trouble. Creation Records is not too thrilled about his ideas
for his forthcoming solo album.
William demands to pose naked, in a state of erection for the album cover.
The other side of the cover is to be decorated with a naked woman with, um,
sperm over her face.
Creation refuses to even think about it. The artwork violates British laws
concerning pornography and the company's management would risk severe fines
or even prison if it was released. /Mattias Huss
NIN single success making way for long-awaited album release
In the September issue of Alternative Press Trent Reznor talks about the enormous pressure of being the industrial rock god.
The new Nine Inch Nails single, "The Day the World Went Away", has sold over 80 000 copies in North America during its first week, without a promo video being shown. We are getting closer to the release of "The Fragile" (September), one of the most important alternative records in years. This double album is said to be as innovative, varied and strange as one can expect from a new NIN record. Sounding different from previous recordings, yet typical NIN. Extreme, yet listenable.
In the September issue of American Alternative Press, Trent Reznor talks about why he hasn't released any albums in the past years. It's mainly about the pressure involved in being considered an alternative music god. To have everybody's expectations on your shoulders, when they want him to come up with something new and fresh. But now, when "The Fragile" finally is finished, he is satisfied with the end result and naturally nervous about how the fans are going to respond.
He also confirms that Tapeworm still exists and is likely to be released on record somewhere in the future. Tapeworm consists of material from the NIN crew, put aside since it is unsuitable for the NIN profile. One Tapeworm song is finished, several others await song contributions from Reznor and guest singers from bands like Helmet and Pantera.
Finally, Reznor has extensive plans for a NIN tour. /Mikael Kahrle
New Coil album finally sees the light of day
On the official Coil page, founder member John Balance states that the much
awaited new album "Backwards" will be handed over to Nothing Records in
August. The album will consist of some of the songs Coil recorded in New
Orleans some years ago, coupled with four newer tracks. /Kristoffer Noheden
Peace Love and Pitbulls' Thåström goes solo
Joakim Thåström, Swedish rock legend and former vocalist in industrial band
Peace Love and Pitbulls, has decided to pursue a solo career and go back to
singing in his native tonge.
During the course of three albums, PLP made
some of the heaviest and most impressive industrial rock ever made. But Thåström,
whose musical carrier began over 20 years ago, seems to have lost his
interest in noisy samples. The forthcoming solo album, which should be
released this autumn, has been recorded with a standard rock line up of
guitar, bass and drums. The single "Två + två", which is out in Sweden since July
21, is a fairly ordinary rock song, but still with a typical Thåström feel
towards it.
"Två + två" and a couple of other new songs could be heard at Thåström's performances
at the recent Kalas tour. He also played some songs from his earlier career,
both as a solo artist and in multi selling bands Ebba Grön and Imperiet, but
unfortunately no PLP songs were performed. He is still a great live artist,
and as always it's hard to believe that this man has reached the respectable
age of 42. /Kristoffer Noheden
Atari Teenage Riot and Add N to (X) tour the US
Atari Teenage Riot live at the Arvika Festival.
Photo by: Peter Åstedt (Release)
British electronica trio Add N to (X) will join German anarchonoise
terrorists Atari Teenage Riot for their US tour. On August 9 Add N to (X)
will release their new single "Revenge of the Black Regent" on Mute. The CD
will include the video to their previous single "Metal Fingers in My Body". /Kristoffer Noheden
The new Cure album scheduled for October
The Cure will release their new album "Bloodflowers" in
October. It has been said that vocalist Robert Smith was disappointed
with the previous album "Wild Mood Swings" so he decided to
write all material himself this time. /Johan Astemark
Another song about the new millennium
Star Industry will release a new single entitled "New Millennium" in connection to
the Belgian Eurorock festival August 6-8. /Johan Astemark
Catching up with Cranes
Cranes say that they are currently working on material for a new album,
but are still not ready to release anything.
Lately they have also been rehearsing together with a new drummer, John
Calender. He is on loan from another Portsmouth based band called Vex. He will play with Cranes on
their two September gigs in Belgium and England.
Furthermore will the Cranes' song "Leave Her to Heaven" appear in the British
film "Urbane". It is directed by Frazer Lee and will be released next year. /Sussi Pettersson
Busy days for the EBM-band Project-X
The Swedish EBM-band Project-X delivers a new single "Fearless" on August 9. The same month it's time for their delayed debut album, "Forbidden Desires".
Project-X will also appear on the Hypnotic Records "Thank Abba for the Music" with the song "The Winner Takes It All". This might be interesting...
Later this year Project-X will go on tour with Das Ich and VNV Nation. /Mikael Kahrle
Alien Sex Fiend compilation
Alien Sex Fiend has released a 26 track low-price double CD: "Fiend at the
Controls" with remixes, rare tracks, B-sides and more.
Out now on Cherry Red (Europe) and Cleopatra (USA). /Johan Astemark
Bowie and Placebo
Earlier this year David Bowie joined Placebo in New York to record a new
version of Placebo's "Without You I'm Nothing". The result is going to be
released as a limited edition (20 000 copies) CD EP and will feature mixes
from UNKLE, Americruiser and Brothers in Rhythm.
This is not the first time Bowie and Placebo have played together. In 1996
Placebo supported Bowie on his European tour. The year after they were invited
to perform at Bowie's 50th birthday party that was held in Madison Square
Garden, NY. Also, in February this year Bowie appeared on stage together
with Placebo in the song "Twentieth Century Boy" at the 1999 Brit Awards. And then the following month again, at the band's show in New York.
The single will be released on Monday August 16. /Sussi Pettersson
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion release new single and album
The new Jon Spencer Blues Explosion single "Heavy (Remix)" will be out on
August 23, and followed by the release of "Acme Plus" in September.
This will be a 19 track album, containing exclusive tracks, remixes and
alternative takes from the recording sessions of their last album "Acme".
Among the remixers are Techno Animal, Alec Empire of Atari Teenage
Riot, and Moby. /Kristoffer Noheden
Bel Canto singer helps Massive Attack?
Rumours indicate that Anneli Marian Drecker of Bel Canto might team up with the - now decimated - Massive Attack in future recordings.
Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles, one of the founders of Massive Attack, has
reportedly left the band. According to rumours, he left to pursue his own
solo career.
Rumours of creative conflicts in the band have abounded ever since the
release of their third, critically acclaimed album "Mezzanine". Massive
Attack recently played several shows in Germany without Vowles.
Another rumour says that Massive Attack discussed a possible collaboration with Bel Canto's Anneli Marian Drecker, when Massive Attack visited the Norwegian Quart Festival in early July. /Mattias Huss, Mikael Kahrle
Bay Laurel records new album
Swedish goth act Bay Laurel enters the studio on August 2 to record their new album. Their new sound will be heavier and darker. /Mikael Kahrle
Techno Animal and Porter Ricks collaboration
Techno Animal are in the middle of recording an album with techno dub band
Porter Ricks. The album will probably be out in September. /Kristoffer Noheden
Autumn's follow-up on its way
American goth band Autumn will release their second album in August. Title: "Return to the Breath". /Johan Astemark
Clock DVA to be re-released on The Grey Area
The Grey Area, the retro label of Mute, will re-release seven albums by
electronic outfit Clock DVA. /Kristoffer Noheden
Read previous news entries:
July 15 1999
July 9 1999
July 1 1999
June 22 1999
May 30 1999
May 16 1999
May 1 1999
April 22 1999
April 12 1999
April 3 1999
March 18 1999
March 2 1999
February 18 1999
February 12 1999
February 6 1999
January 28 1999
January 15 1999
January 5 1999
December 29 1998
December 14 1998
December 6 1998
November 28 1998
November 18 1998
November 10 1998
October 28 1998
October 14 1998
September 29 1998
September 13 1998
August 24 1998
August 15 1998
August 3 1998
July 27 1998
July 20 1998
June 2 1998
May 13 1998
April 30 1998
April 15 1998
March 22 1998
March 4 1998
February 24 1998
February 7 1998
January 23 1998
January 19 1998
January 15 1998
December 22 1997
December 10 1997