News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

Tyskarna från Lund here to stay

• Today SubSpace Communications announced a new but expected signing: the charming fellows Dieter Emung, Rudi Könnerman, Heinz Ulrich and Lothar Jensen in the Swedish synth band Tyskarna från Lund (it means The Germans from Lund, where Lund is a town in southern Sweden).
Tyskarna från Lund is a spin off from show team Varanteatern and they released the "definite World Cup" tune earlier this year with the talked about "Global Fussball OK". An album is in progress but there is no release date as of now.
Check out their web site to learn more and cause a nuclear plan meltdown. /Mikael Kahrle

Double action from Front 242 side project Male or Female


"...Recalled Moments" and "And Failed Destruction".

• The dance project of Front 242 masterminds Daniel Bressanutti and Patrick Codenys, Male Or Female, is out on October 11 via Alfa Matrix. Surprisingly, two different releases are put out at the same time: an album called “…Recalled Moments” and its EP extension “And Failed Destruction”, both available as digipak.
We will catch Front 242's show in Stockholm shortly at the Tinitus festival (see below). /Jens Krause, Johan Carlsson

Former And One heading for "Fiasko Deluxe"



• Former backing vocalist and musician of And One, Joke Jay, is now working on an album together with Andreas Goldacker from Dance or Die. The album is called “Fiasko Deluxe” and also features guest artists like Funker Vogt and X-Act. /Jens Krause, Johan Carlsson

German darkwave band Paralysed Age back - after eight years
• The darkwave band Paralysed Age is back after an eight year long break, well rested one would hope. The title of the new and second album is "Into the Ice". The label Glasnost Music released the first album but the band split the deal and has now signed on to the American company Dancing Ferret Disc. /Jens Krause

Boytronic cancels Tinitus and Melotron takes their place



• The classic synthpop band Boytronic has cancelled their appearance at this year's Tinitus festival in Sweden. Instead we see the newer German synthpop band Melotron step in. Their concert in Hannover scheduled for the same day, November 2, will take place next year.
Melotron are due to release their new album "Weltfrieden" together with their new partners Synthetic Symphony. The first ten thousand copies of the album comes as a limited box set with an extra bonus CD. The bonus CD consists of only one 20 minute long instrumental track entitled "Weltschmerz".
Reviews of both band's albums are on the way. /Johan Carlsson

Legendary Pink Dots touring starts


Legendary Pink Dots live.
Photo by: Alex Veronac (Release)

• The Legendary Pink Dots started their 2002 North American tour in Toronto on October 6. Having completed a European tour in May and June, their brand of industrial goth rock provided an excellent show with plenty of energy. The live quartet will continue to play dates in USA until November 18. An extra date in Denver, Colorado will provide an Edward Ka-Spel solo gig. This year brought many re-releases and solo efforts by Dots members.
See earlier Legendary Pink Dots news at Release here. /Alex Veronac

Iris wake up again
• “Unknown” is the title of American synthpoppers Iris new single which is out now. A new album is being worked on, called “Awakening”, supposed to be out this winter. /Johan Carlsson

New and old, east and west

No air?
Photo by: Martina Hoogland-Ivanow

• We have listened to Vacuum's new album "Culture of Night" for a week now and it is elegant, well produced, pompous and has a sound for the masses, just as expected. It features the singles "Let the Mountain Come to Me" (1998!) "Icaros" (1999!), "Starting (Where the Story Ended)" (the latest from 2002) and its "B side" "Ripples on the Surface". It also includes a Vacuum version of the Playground Intl song "And Then the Tears Came".
It's really a detective's job to trace the album songs' history and the record companies haven't done much to help. The album was first recorded for a 2000 release by Stockholm Records and is now delivered by SSC with minor changes. The cover and most songs are the same. Some of the songs were even on the 1998 "Seance at the Chaebol" album, released only in Russia and Ukraina, as far as we know. So the new album isn't really new after all. /Mikael Kahrle

The Röyksopp explodes

• The unlikely success of Norweigan low key ambienteers Röyksopp just keeps on growing. Opening for Moby on his current world tour centainly doesn't hurt them. Their debut album "Melody AM" of last year is being re-released with a bonus disc and the synthpop single "Remind Me" is out now.
They are also nominated for best newcomer, music video, dance artist and Nordic artist at MTV Europe Music Awards. /Mattias Huss

Newcomers Melody Club in studio
• Swedish pop newcomers Melody Club are busy recording their debut album, which is due out on December 30. Melody Club are one of many current bands mixing pop and synth influences and aiming for a cinematic big city feeling. /Mattias Huss

Details on the Erasure cover album
• "Other People's Songs" is the title of the new Erasure album, scheduled for a February release. The title gives you an idea of what you can expect. Vince Clarke and Andy Bell have selected and recorded favourites from other artists. So far, it seems the track listing will include "Ave Maria", "Ebb Tide", "Solsbury Hill", "When Will I See You Again", "You Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and a new version of an Erasure classic. The rest of track list is yet to be revealed. Dave Bascombe and Gareth Jones are once again hired to do their best in the studio. /Mikael Kahrle

The Mission tour ends and Hussey to do solo gigs

The Mission live in Toronto 2002.
Photo by: Alex Veronac (Release)

• Wayne Hussey's latest touring ensemble have completed their Mission UK "Aura Tour" of North America in Toronto to promote their US domestic CD release.
The Mission have just released "Aural Delight," a 16 track companion CD to 2001's "Aura" available only from Mission World Information Service. A twelve track version without the four bonus acoustic tracks is said to be in the works for retail sale.
A successful solo acoustic tour by Hussey earlier this year in Italy, Turkey and the UK has prompted him to return to Poland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Slovakia and Austria this month. Fans can catch a video snippet of his solo London gig here.
See earlier Mission news from release here. /Alex Veronac

Maschinenfest grinds on
• Aachen's Maschinenfest has become a German tradition of sorts as it starts up again this weekend (October 4-6). The blended noises and broken beats of many talents offers many treats this year as well. Acts like Winterkälte (Germany), Tarmvred (Sweden), Panacea (Germany), Needle Sharing (Germany), Venetian Snares (Canada) and Vromb (Canada) are set to bring on electronic delights. This year's fest looks to be a success again. /Alex Veronac

Fields of the Nephilim are finally re-born
• The new Fields of the Nephilim album entitled "Fallen" is out now on Jungle Records (via MNW in Scandinavia). This disc is distributed in the US by Metropolis Records. We are working on a review.
There is also a two disc limited run of the album which contains the following bonus tracks: "Endemoniada", "Last Exit for the Lost", "Dawnrazor" and "The Sequel". All bonus tracks are live.
It still remains to be determined if this is released with the Nephilim's blessing. The Watchman's information service has stated that the album is unsanctioned and of course, Jungle states that it is released with the full permission of main man Carl McCoy. /Peter Marks

Vacuum delayed
• The new Vacuum album "Culture of Night" has been moved to October 14. It is being manufactured as we speak.
Vaccum will appear on Swedish TV4 morning show "Nyhetsmorgon" on October 7. /Mikael Kahrle

Lustans Lakejer producer helps Berlin Swede
• Swedish artist Tobias Bernstrup's CD “Re-animate me” is crammed with textbook eighties synthpop. Bernstrup has always been creating his own music for his performances and artworks, including interactive computer games and videos. Currently residing in Berlin, he has enlisted mixer Johan Vävare - responsible for producing legendary Swedish Lustans Lakejer among other things - for polishing up his album.
“Re-animate Me”, released on September 28, deals with the concepts of gender fluidity and virtual reality, strongly influenced (we think) by the ideas of such sexually ambiguous synth musicians as Gary Numan and Marc Almond.
A review will be up shortly on Release. /Mattias Huss

Growing electro festival up north

Malaise goes to Oslo.

• The fourth Oslo Synthfestival in Norway will take place on November 9. The festival has grown over the years and this time announces VNV Nation and Malaise to headline the festival. This is the first time well-known international bands guests the festival. Eight local Norwegian bands and DJ:s will also perform.
VNV Nation will play a number of shows in Greece, France, Sweden, Norway and GAS in October, November and December. /Peter Takizawa, Mikael Kahrle

Technical trouble for Samael
• The new Samael album "Era One" was slated for a January 13 release. Due to technical problems, it is delayed until further notice. /Mikael Kahrle