News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

Björk to open the Olympic Games

• Björk will play an important part of today's opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games in Athens. She will of course face her biggest audience ever - with 70 000 spectators at the stadion and a potential tv audience of 4 billion.
Furthermore, DJ Tiësto (known to Release readers for his connection to Delerium) is hired to play a 90 minute set.
The newest opus from Björk, "Medúlla" (Sony) will be released on August 31. Björk has produced and arranged the entire album with long-time associate Mark Bell lending a hand on four tracks. Guest performers include: Mike Patton (Faith No More/Mr. Bungle), Gregory Purnhagen (Phillip Glass, Gavin Bryars), The Icelandic and London Choirs, Robert Wyatt and several others. A limited edition of "Medúlla" has expanded artwork and a 16-panel poster and the Japanese edition features a bonus track.
Track titles: "Pleasure Is All Mine", "Show Me Forgiveness", "Where Is the Line?", "Vokuro", "Oll Birtan", "Who Is It", "Submarine", "Desired Constellation", "Oceania", "Sonnets/Unrealities XI", "Piano II", "Mouths Cradle", "Wednesday (Midvikudags) and "Triumph of a Heart". /Mikael Kahrle, Peter Marks

A question of remixes
• While we're waiting for the next Depeche Mode album, we are served the extensive "Devotional" DVD (as previously reported) - and now all is set for "The Remixes 81-04".
This double disc remix compilation will see the light of day in Europe on October 25 (Mute/EMI) and in North America on October 26 (Reprise). Among the remixers we find Underworld, Flood, Air, Goldfrapp, F. Kevorkian, Timo Maas and Depeche Mode themselves. As if the world is in need of yet another "Enjoy the Silence" mix, we are treated with a new version by Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park). "Enjoy the Silence" is heading for a single release once more, in October.
A limited triple CD edition offers a third disc with even more remixes including "World in My Eyes" remixed by Daniel Miller and "A Question of Lust" by Flood.
- It's an amazing feeling to sit back and listen to such an interesting mix of artists take the spirit of Depeche Mode and add another dimension, Martin L Gore comments. /Mikael Kahrle

Angry Mortiis on the horizon

• "The Grudge" (Earache) from Mortiis will be released on September 13 in Europe and September 21 in the US. This new work was recorded at Silvertone Studios in Fredrikstad, Norway and contains ten new tracks. According to Mortiis himself, this album sees him "in an angry and reflective mood". A single (the first ever for the project) for the rather poppy track "The Grudge" (listen here) will be released on August 16 in both 7" and CD formats. A video for this song has also been made in New York by director Charlie Deaux. Mortiis himself says that
- Three years is a long time coming. I think every minute spent had its purpose and I think people will understand when they hear it. This is the best Mortiis has done yet.
Mortiis will tour Europe September-November. /Peter Marks

UK EBM festival back again
• The UK is known for their many talented artists but hosts few events for electro and industrial. But the yearly Infest has become an annual event and takes place on August 27-29 at Bradford University this year. Confirmed headliners are Assemblage 23, Lights of Euphoria and Suicide Commando. For more info, check out their web page. /Johan Carlsson

Laibach to release collection and DVD

From last year's Laibach concert in Stockholm.
Photo by: Fredrik Arenhag

• Legendary industrial/EBM-band Laibach are preparing a huge double CD compilation called "Laibach Anthems". It comes with a 40 pages thick booklet with information and paintings by Laibach Kunst. Furthermore, a DVD with all their videos and some bonus material will come out at the same time. September 27, that is. /Johan Carlsson

New dance material from Squarepusher
• Tom Jenkinson aka Squarepusher is giving us more material after the critically acclaimed “Ultravisitor”. It comes from Warp in the form of a 12” vinyl and a digital download called “Venus no. 17” and is said to be one of his most immediate and best dancefloor release ever. /Johan Carlsson

OMD + Propaganda, and a little bit of Martin L Gore


Claudia Brücken.

• Paul Humphreys from OMD and Claudia Brücken from Propanda and Act have started a musical project called OneTwo. They met during a joint tour four years ago, and decided to do something together. When the Propaganda reunion fell apart, Brücken was prepared to work harder with OneTwo. The result is a five-track EP titled “Item”.
The EP is special, because it features songwriting credits and guitars from Martin L Gore on the track “Cloud Nine”. And it is the first release to be sold via Ebay exclusively. Three employees of Ebay also runs a music company called Übersonik and their aims are that the artist gets 100% of the profits from each unit sold. Check out the release here. /Johan Carlsson

Rob Zombie and others makes music for zombies
• Electro-sleaze-rocker Rob Zombie will provide new music for the zombie movie “Resident Evil: Apocalypse”, the sequel to “Resident Evil” starring Milla Jovovich. Other artists included on the soundtrack are Slipknot, A Perfect Circle, Lacuna Coil, Killswitch Engage and more. The soundtrack hits the streets on August 24, while the movie comes out on October 1. /Johan Carlsson

Psyche's new single, CD and tour


Cover for the new collection "Legacy".

• After playing a couple DJ dates in Germany, Darrin Huss takes his Psyche project back home to his old Canada to tour. With support from Ayria, they stop in Detroit, (August 12), London (Ontario), (August 13), Montréal (August 14), Ottawa (August 15) and Toronto (August 16). They tour to promote their newly released limited edition seven track CD single "X-Rated" including mixes from Moonitor, Angel Theory, and a cover of Yazoo's "Situation".
State-side, Metropolis Records is releasing a 17 song CD "Legacy" for American buyers who might have missed their earlier European import releases from years gone by. This best of type of collection gets released September 14 and includes a new version of "Heaven in Pain" and a previously unreleased collaboration with Per-Anders Kurenbach called "Foolish Heart" that are exclusive to this compilation.
Huss while working with full-time Psyche partner Remi Szyszka, has been busy with side-project Lounge with Niels Hesse (Elektrohandel) and Marco Drewes. Lounge's eleven track "Everyday" CD is to be released on German NovaTune Records. “Everyday” album tracks can be sampled here.
Catch our review of Psyche's last full length release "Babylon Deluxe". /Alex Veronac

Sparks release live DVD from Stockholm concert
• Classic synthpop/symphonic/rock act Sparks performed two shows at beautiful venue Södra Teatern in Stockholm this spring. These shows were filmed, and will now see the light of day on a DVD release, out in the UK on August 9, and in Sweden on August 18. It features the entire album “L’il Beethoven” live, as well as 45 minutes of a live “best of”-set. I watched the show live and can tell you it was a great show. /Johan Carlsson

Erasure on UK tour
• After the delayed release of the new album “Nightbird” in January 2005, Erasure will go on a UK tour, starting on February 25 and ending on March 21. Tickets go on sale on August 13. Check out Erasureinfo for more info. /Johan Carlsson

The Cure: touring and video


Still from the new video for "The End of the World".

• The Cure are currently keeping their American fans occupied with their current Curiosa Tour Festival with support acts Interpol, The Rapture, Mogwai, Muse, Auf der Maur, The Cooper Temple Clause and Head Automatica. Those not able to make the North American dates can listen in to a special uninterrupted radio broadcast today from their Toronto tour stop at 9 pm ET (3 am Tuesday, Berlin time). Local radio CFNY/The Edge 102.1 has long been a supporter of The Cure and will webcast the concert from edge102.com.
Now, some of the longing latino Cure fans have a chance to see them live as The Cure have announced dates in Mexico. Immediately following the end of the USA Curiosa Festival, they play Monterrey on September 2 and Mexico City on September 4 and 5.
In support of their new CD "The Cure" (Geffen Records) released June 29, a video for single "The End of the World" has been released. The Floria Sigismondi directed clip reminds us of the early days of MTV. It is now streamed at thecure.com.
Catch earlier The Cure news from Release here. /Alex Veronac

Wolfsheim singer and Paul van Dyk release single
• Peter Heppner, singer in German synthpop giants Wolfsheim has recorded a single together with German dance artist Paul van Dyk. The result is “Wir sind wir” and should be out now. /Johan Carlsson

Run Level Zero, Assemblage 23 and Rotersand go on tour
• Three well-known EBM acts from three different countries join forces for a 17 date tour around Europe this autumn. Run Level Zero (Sweden), Assemblage 23 (USA) and Rotersand (Germany) will play dates in Germany, The Netherlands, UK and Austria. The tour starts on October 22 and goes on to November 10. /Johan Carlsson

New single from EBM project Interlace


Cover artwork for "Imago" by Dave McKean.

• While you wait for the new album “Imago” by Swedish industrialists Interlace, you can soon get hold of their new single “Master”, out in late August. It’s released by Memento Materia in Scandinavia, Dependent in GAS and Artoffact in the US. /Johan Carlsson

Angel Theory: cold industrial from down under
• The debut album "Fatal Condition" by Australian newcomers Angel Theory is out now during the Australian "winter". Following their “Transmission EP”, it features influences from bands like Haujobb, Covenant, Nine Inch Nails and Gridlock. /Johan Carlsson

Der Plan returns after 15 years
• Like so many other antique stars, old Germans Der Plan, make a comeback now. They deliver “Der Verschworung”, their first new album in 15 years. Der Plan were pioneers in the Neue Deutsche Welle scene. Expect happy melodies, humour and of course analogue synthesizers. Don't confuse Der Plan for Swedish indie band The Plan. /Johan Carlsson

"Devotional" double DVD with extras



• The long-awaited "Devotional" live DVD by Depeche Mode is finally set for release. September 20 in Europe and September 21 in USA are the dates, and as usual with DM the DVD has a lot of features. It’s a two-disc affair, and the entire concert is included, together with tracks that weren’t on the VHS, namely “Halo” and “Policy of Truth”. Disc two features the live projections for eight songs, some videos, a MTV documentary, a monologue by Anton Corbijn and photo galleries. /Johan Carlsson

Seabound on tour in Europe
• The two German electroboys in Seabound are going on tour through Europe this September, together with labelmates Pride and Fall. They’re starting their nine dates in Heidelberg, Germany on September 15 and ending in Poznan, Poland on September 25. A strictly limited 3” CD, featuring unreleased material of both artists, will be given out to the audience for free. /Johan Carlsson

Tweaker makes "Doom III" theme song



• Chris Vrenna was a founding member of Nine Inch Nails, before he quit and started his own project Tweaker. He has released two full-length albums, and also composed music for quite a few computer games, for example “American McGee’s Alice”, “Enter the Matrix” and “Quake”. Now he has made the theme song for Id Software’s upcoming opus “Doom III” as well as two other games, “Tabula Rasa” and “Area 51”.
Electronic/industrial artists are popular in the gaming world. Front Line Assembly, Haujobb, Trent Reznor (together with Chris Vrenna), Future Sound of London, Raymond Herrera from Fear Factory and Nivek Ogre have all made music for games. /Johan Carlsson

Kraftwerk goes to America

Kraftwerk live in Arvika, July 2004.
Photo by: Mikael Kahrle

• According to the Kraftwerk Techno Pop fan site, the band has confirmed seven new live dates in Brazil (São Paolo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia on Nov. 5, 6, 8), Argentina (Buenos Aires on Nov. 10), Chile (Santiago on Nov. 12), Mexico (Mexico City on Nov. 16) and USA (Miami on Nov. 19). Kraftwerk last visited South America in 1998. It's obvious they work hard to reach out outside Europe.
As previously announced, Kraftwerk head for Spain and Portugal this weekend. /Mikael Kahrle

New CDM from Swedish synthpop act Michigan

• Swedish synthpop act Michigan has a new seven track CDM on its way - "Red Dawn" is the first sign of the upcoming second album. DJ Ram, Backlash, Children Within and Michigan have remixed the single track and we are also served an album and a non-album track.
Michigan, Colony 5, Hype (with Robert Enforsen, ex Elegant Machinery) and Thermostatic will perform live at Gothenburg club Spacelab's one year anniversary on September 3. This night marks the opening of a second floor with a new stage at the venue Henriksberg. Next Spacelab: on Friday (the old way, on one floor). /Mikael Kahrle