News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

MP3.com gets bought
• MP3.Com has been the number one platform for many unsigned artists to release music and get feedback from a worldwide audience. Since it's purchase by Vivendi Universal (France) in May 2001, we now hear that CNET Networks Inc (USA) will be acquiring part of the website assets. CNET Networks Inc plans to introduce a new MP3 music service in the near future. Details should be released before changes take place online on December 2. One would think that it would be more of a consumer site than a free avenue for struggling artists.
Universal Music Group is the world’s largest music company and CNET is a leading online entity with operations in twelve countries. /Alex Veronac

New Alice in Videoland member
• Swedish electropunk newcomers Alice in Videoland have recruited bass player Johan Dahlbom, from a band called Violet Elegy. The release date of the Alice in Videoland debut album "Maiden Voyage" is changed to November 19. The band will continue their endless touring the coming months.
Read the review. /Mikael Kahrle

SAMA line-up complete
• Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards (Gothenburg, April 2) has released the final four live bands: Mesh, Interlace, Severe Illusion and Bodies without Organs.
The latter is the new "lap-top synth band" from Alexander Bard (Army of Lovers, Vacuum), Jean-Pierre Barda (Army of Lovers), Marina Schiptjenko (Vacuum, Page) and a vocalist called Martin Rolinski. The band will make it's live debut at SAMA shortly after the release of their first single. Bodies without Organs is the first signing to the new US label Hydrogen Jukebox and the band also plan to sign for another company in the near future. /Mikael Kahrle

Yello return after four silent years



• Legendary Swiss weirdos Yello have just released their latest album “The Eye” after four years of silence. They are still electronic and focused on rhythms. A new single called “Planet Dada” is out as well, with lots of mixes, including a Tomcraft remix of “The Race”. /Johan Carlsson

Mortiis starts on new album
• The Norwegian troll-rocker Mortiis has hidden himself in the studio to make a follow up to the successful “Smell of Rain” album. In a statement, he says that the new songs are a lot harsher and harder than last time. /Johan Carlsson

Memento Materia collects eletropop heroes

Statemachine.

• The new albums from synthpop duo Daybehavior and EBM act Run Level Zero are slightly delayed. New release dates will be set soon.
In the meantime their label Memento Materia keeps itself busy with, among other things, a new compilation called "Electropop Heroes" (November 27). Some of the participating acts: The Knife, Statemachine, Daybehavior, Covenant, Apoptygma Berzerk, Bobby and Sweep. /Mikael Kahrle

Start your own record label
• If you’re looking for a crash course in releasing your own music, or perhaps starting your own record label, check out the new Swedish CD-rom called “Rookie”. It’s a start kit for the music business, including templates for record deals, addresses to important business partners and some general information like how to get a barcode for your disc. This guide is only aiming for Sweden, but this is a good idea and something similar will probably pop up in other countries too if it already hasn't. /Johan Carlsson

Douglas McCarthy stirs again


Terence Fixmer.

• A French-born remixer, musician and label boss (for Planete Rouge Records) called Terence Fixmer has made a single together with Douglas McCarthy, singer in the essential EBM band Nitzer Ebb. It’s released on December 8 under the name Fixmer/McCarthy on limited edition vinyl only, and contains the two tracks “Destroy” and “Freefall”. An album is in the works, and also a tour next year. /Johan Carlsson

FLA hits the charts
• The new Front Line Assembly single “Maniacal” is in the Billboard dance charts at place 23 for the week of November 3, and was at place 15 the week before that. As we speak, the single has stayed on the number one spot on the German alternative single charts (DAC) for two weeks.
The upcoming album “Civilization” has now got a street date: January 20, according to Metropolis. /Johan Carlsson

VNV Nation headline electriXmas
• The electriXmas festival in Lund, Sweden, on December 13 will be headlined by VNV Nation. /Mikael Kahrle

A third Kraftwerk date in Stockholm
• EMA Telstar has added a new date for Kraftwerk at Cirkus in Stockholm: February 10. Kraftwerk will play in Stockholm for three days in a row between February 8-10. /Mikael Kahrle

Statemachine sideproject comes into its own


Well groomed gentlemen from Lowe.

• We have told you about Lowe before, a project that Jörgen Josefsson and Richard Gunnarsson from Statemachine have started together with Mehdi Bagherzadeh. Lowe have now signed to the label Megahype Records. Their first single "The Vanishing" is due for release on November 24, and Lowe performed live for the first time in Norrköping, Sweden a few days ago. /Johan Carlsson

Converter brings more noise
• "Exit Ritual" is the title of noise band Converters’ new album. It's out now, via Ant-Zen. /Johan Carlsson

New Einstürzende Neubauten album and tour next spring
• Einstürzende Neubauten return with a new album on Mute, "Perpetuum Mobile", on February 9 next year. Parts of the album, together with exclusive material, has already been released as a supporters-only album through www.neubauten.org, simply titled "Supporter's Album #1".
Neubauten will also tour from March to May, starting in Europe and then going on to the United States late April. /Kristoffer Noheden

Tarmvred goes Nintendo
• The Swedish noise/rhythm/Commodore64 one man project Tarmvred will release a new EP called "Viva 6581" on Ad Noiseam on November 3. Described as computer game music mixed with italo disco and noise, this might sound fascinating. /Johan Carlsson

The Pain Machinery helps Chemlab
• The Swedish noise/EBM/industrial one-man act The Pain Machinery has signed on to the label BLC Productions to release the new album "The Venom Is Going Global". The date is set to December 3.
TPM is helping the classic band Chemlab with their new album, and have also just finished a remix for Audio War (formerly Audio Warfare). Work is in progress on a remix for Severe Illusion. A split 12" with The Pain Machinery and Severe Illusion comes out on November 3 via First Aid Recordings, in a very limited edition of 200 copies. /Johan Carlsson

T.O.Y. tell us a fairytale
• The next single from German synthpoppers T.O.Y. is "Fairytale", from the album "White Lights". It will only be out in the US, and features remixes by amongst others Haujobb, Massiv in Mensch and Neuroactive. Launchdate, November 17. /Johan Carlsson

New DVD with Rammstein


Cover artwork from the new DVD.

• On December 1 this year a new DVD from Rammstein will show up. It’s called “Lichtspielhaus” and contains all their videos, live footage, interviews and bonus material. /Johan Carlsson

Oslo Synthfestival this weekend
• If you’re in Oslo this coming weekend, maybe you should go to Oslo Synthfestival on November 8. This festival celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, and have a lineup with Apoptygma Berzerk, Sweep, Zensor and Welle:Erdball amongst others. Check out the festivals web page for more information regarding tickets, program etc. /Johan Carlsson

Gridlock becomes formless
• The fourth full length album from industrial/electronica band Gridlock is called "Formless" and hits the records shops on November 3. It’s more or less in the vein of their last album "Trace", and will this time be available on CD and double vinyl. /Johan Carlsson

Underworld anthology surfacing



• Out on December 2 is "Underworld Anthology 1992-2002" by the once dance club mix darlings, Underworld. Starting from 1994's "Dubnobasswithmyheadman" to last year's "A Hundred Days Off," the 16 track collection serves up all the singles. It gives Underworld fans a look through their careers since their project beginnings. Underworld is just completing live dates in Japan this month where the anthology CD is already released. The band will be on the BBC's John Peel radio show on December 10 for a live set.
Vocalist Karl Hyde teams up with John Warwicker to produce another journal style book called "In the Belly of Saint Paul". It's a look at central London through drawings, text and photographs available now through Underworld Print.
Catch Mattias Huss' review of "A Hundred Days Off". /Alex Veronac

Erasure go digital for their "new" single
• The classic Erasure song "Oh L'Amour" (in an exclusive remix by Mark Towns) has been re-released by Mute as their first ever "digital" single. This new format is available on line for one pound. One also gets a printable colour CD booklet and artwork that allows the user to print their own packaging. /Peter Marks

Contact with Seabound


The siamese twins of Seabound.

• Here’s the latest about German electropop band Seabound. After becoming quite popular with the help from their last album "No Sleep Demon", they will release their new single "Contact" very soon. It will feature remixes by Haujobb, Assemblage 23 and Eskil Simonsson from Covenant. A new track called "The Attic" is also included. Meanwhile, a title for the upcoming album has been decided amongst a lot of candidates. The lucky winner is "Beyond Flatline". It is scheduled for January. /Johan Carlsson

New album on new label from 2nd Gen
• Techno noisenik Wajid Yaseen aka 2nd Gen releases his new album “Flicknives” on November 15. 2nd Gen’s full-length debut “Irony Is” was released on Novamute in 2001, but since then, the act has changed label to Quatermass. A listen to the album reveals that Yaseen is largely working in the same territory, however: noise laden and harsh but funky techno with the occasional vocal. This time around, Olga Naiman, Alice Kemp and Mau handle the mic. /Kristoffer Noheden

Two Kraftwerk Stockholm dates
• As expected EMA Telstar has now confirmed Kraftwerk will perform at Cirkus in Stockholm on February 8 and 9. Expensive tickets for SEK 450 (€48) plus service fee will be available from November 10. /Mikael Kahrle

Bigger than big

• Kent is most likely the biggest band in Sweden ever. Their albums are all still selling like hot cakes. Their latest one "Vapen & ammunition" has now reached five times platinum, which is over 300 000 copies in Sweden. Older albums have recently been upgraded as well, with "Hagnesta Hill" and "Isola" reaching double platinum, and "B-sidor 95-00" platinum.
The main songwriter Jocke Berg has recently become a father and the members are working with other projects, like Mobile Homes, DJ tours, Lisa Miskovsky and Nina Rochelle. The band is taking a break at the moment, but new material is being worked on. /Johan Carlsson

Frankie Goes to Hollywood again
• According to 80’s pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s official homepage, the five original members are reuniting. They will do a special TV show in London, to celebrate their 20 year anniversary since the debut "Relax". /Johan Carlsson

FLA number one
• SPV label Synthetic Symphony in Germany reports they plan to release the new Front Line Assembly album "Civilization" in January, but no exact date is set. The single "Maniacal" is making way for the album since October 20 and it has just conquered the number one slot in the Deutsche Alternative Charts this week. /Mikael Kahrle

Icon of Coil covers "Headhunter"
• The Norwegian EBM/futurepop band Icon of Coil will release a new single on November 24. The single is called "Android" and contains three mixes as well as a cover of Front 242’s legendary track "Headhunter". /Johan Carlsson