News editors: Niklas Forsberg & Mikael Kahrle

Guess the Depeche Mode album title

Depeche Mode in California, where they have recorded their new album.
Photo by: Jonathan Kessler

• The official Depeche Mode site has launched an interesting competition where you can guess the title of the new album, to be released in May. Three clues are given during three days and by rearranging the letters the title could reveal itself.
So far, two clues have been given. 1) "Take the first, fourth and sixth letters of the title of the B side of the "A Question of Lust" single". 2) "Take the third and fourth letters of the title of the B side of the "Shake the Disease" single."
The winner will receive an autographed advance copy of the album about one week prior to the release.
The band is back in the studio since January 8, for a two week final mixing session. Then, after a break, they will start a month of promotion, video shooting and other activities in mid-February. A tour is now scheduled for this summer.
The first single is rumoured to be called "Dream on" and is currently scheduled for an April release. Other album song titles on the new disc are (perhaps) "Breathe", "Sweetest Condition" and "When the Body Speaks", although this is not confirmed. /Mikael Kahrle, Niklas Forsberg

Pet Shop Boys realise musical plans
• Pet Shop Boys are currently working on their musical; a project they have dreamed about for along time. They hope to launch the project at a London West End theatre during the summer or autumn.
Three samples of possible musical songs can be found here. They are called "For All of Us", "Call Me Old-fashioned" and "Little Black Dress". They are in typical Pet Shop Boys style. The first is a ballad, while the other two are more club-oriented.
No details on a possible musical album release is set, but on the official site Neil Tennant says that they may release both a musical and traditional album this year. There are also rumours about a single in the Spring. /Mikael Kahrle

Two new Apoptygma Berzerk releases 2001
• Two new releases are planned by Apoptygma Berzerk in 2001. A new live disc and video from the last tour will be released during the first half of the year.
Mastermind Stephan Groth is also working on new material in the studio, loosely scheduled for a late 2001 release. The forthcoming new album has the working title "More Seritonin... Please". /Niklas Forsberg

Fields of the Nephilim reduced to duo

• Fields of the Nephilim is now said to be a duo. Departing members are working on a new project called Last Rites. /Johan Astemark

VNV Nation rework of debut here in a few weeks

• "Advance and Follow", the out of print debut album from VNV Nation, will see daylight again at the end of this month. It will be made in a new version, properly named "Advance and Follow (v2)". Several songs will have the vocals redone and most of the songs have been somewhat altered musically as well. Bonus tracks and remixes are to be included. /Niklas Forsberg

Bright future for dark band?

• Paradise Lost's new album is called "Believe in Nothing" and is scheduled for a February 26 release. The first single called "Mouth" will be delivered around one month prior to the album release, on January 29. The second single will be "Fader". Samples on the band's official site shows that they stay true to their sound.
The complete album track listing: 1) "I Am Nothing" 2) "Mouth" 3) "Fader" 4) "Look at Me Now" 5) "Illumination" 6) "Something Real" 7) "Divided" 8) "Sell It to the World" 9) "Never Again" 10) "Control" 11) "No Reason" 12) "World Pretending".
As reported earlier, the band will tour with their idols The Sisters of Mercy ahead. More dates are likely to be presented shortly. /Mikael Kahrle

Diamanda Galas and Jon Spencer helps Khan
• Dirty minded electronic artist Khan will release a new album this spring (Matador), featuring guest vocalist celebrities like Diamanda Galas, Jon Spencer, Julee Cruise and Kid Congo Powers (of The Gun Club). /Kristoffer Noheden

Glastonbury Festival takes a break
• The legendary British rock festival Glastonbury has decided to take one year off and there will be no event this year. /Mikael Kahrle

Busy electronica artist
• Swedish electronica/experimental artist Andréas Tilliander has been signed by German label Mille Plateaux/Force Inc. The album "Ljud" ("Sound") will be put out in March. Also in March, Tilliander will release the 7" "Kuket" on the industrial company Klanggalerie (Merzbow, Aube) under the name Mokira. Furthermore, he is involved in the project Komp who released a LP last year. /Mikael Kahrle

Spiritualized return with first album in four years
• Spiritualized will release their first studio album in four years later this spring. Not surprisingly, the new album has been described as "very orchestral" and "big sounding". /Kristoffer Noheden

Experimental rock band Bardo Pond release new album
• Freaked out NY noise makers Bardo Pond will release a new album entitled "Dilate" on Matador this spring. /Kristoffer Noheden

New Melotron album in March
• Melotron have locked themselves up in the Art 4 Art Studio and are working on a new album, scheduled for a March release. Songwriter Edgar Slatnow has lately been working with other artists, like In Strict Confidence on their new hit "Zauberschloss". /Jens Krause

Details on Blind Passengers
• Blind Passengers will hopefully deliver their new album "Neosaphiens" in February. The band has left Sony and is now signed by Goldrush/BMG. "Neosaphiens" contains 12 hard and uncompromising industrial tracks. At the same time as the album, member Nik Page's science fiction novel with the same title, will arrive. /Jens Krause