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News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson |
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Second Depeche Mode single chosen September 12 2005 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden) When Depeche Mode recorded their appearance for the German version of Top of the Pops, they played two tracks. One was the first single “Precious” from the forthcoming album “Playing the Angel”, which you've probably already heard and enjoyed. The second one is “The Pain that I'm Used to”, which apparently is the second single, according to Empty World 3. Furthermore, due to new chart rules in Germany, the release date for the album has been changed to October 14, instead of October 17. "Precious" has also been pushed forward to September 30. The "Precious" video can be watched on line from today onwards, by installing the "Depeche Mode Receiver". Front Line Assembly on tour with Covenant? September 12 2005 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden)
The mastermind behind Front Line Assembly and Delerium – Bill Leeb – has posted on the Mindphaser fan forum for the first time since its humble beginnings in 1997 or so. He's saying (among many things) that he and fellow member Rhys Fulber are planning a tour of North America next year in time for the new FLA release, together with Swedish EBM band Covenant. Rhys's own project Conjure One will be on the bill too. They are also interested in playing some European festivals like M'era Luna. Remember, this should be put in the “might happen” file until we have some solid facts.
Slagsmålsklubben line up playful Swedes September 12 2005 | By: Sussi Pettersson (Gothenburg, Sweden) Swedish playful electronic pop act Slagsmålsklubben has recently started up their own record label, Djur and MIR Recordings. They have collected 18 songs by young music makers around the country, and they contribute with one tune, "Kasta sten", themselves. The music on the collection splays, but is in the same easy-going spirit as the label owner's. Catch Front 242 live in Guadalajara... September 12 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Front 242 are currently planning for a 19 gig tour of USA, Canada and Mexico. It starts on November 3 and takes them to places like Mexico's Guadalajara and Tijuana before the fun is over a month later. Sings the praise of Dead Can Dance September 12 2005 | By: Sussi Pettersson (Gothenburg, Sweden) Darkwave/gothic/ethereal record label Projekt has released a tribute to reunited Dead Can Dance on September 6. "Summoning of the Muse" contains twelve songs interpreted by bands like Arcana, Faith & the Muse and Black Tape for a Blue Girl. North American Depeche Mode dates set September 9 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) and Alex Veronac (Toronto, Canada) The exact schedule for Depeche Mode's upcoming tour of North America was released yesterday. The 2006 European tour takes place later than the 2005 North American one, but was announced as early as June 6 (except for the last four Nordic dates, announced recently). The North American trip - and thereby the whole tour - starts on November 2 (and not in October, as previously indicated). The Bravery and The Raveonettes will share the support job. The tour looks like this: November: 2 Fort Lauderdale (Florida), 3 St Pete (Florida), 5 Atlanta (Georgia), 7 Houston (Texas), 8 Dallas (Texas), 9 San Antonio (Texas), 11 Denver (Colorado), 12 Salt Lake City (Utah), 15 Vancouver (British Columbia), 16 Seattle (Washington), 18 San Jose (California), 19 San Diego (California), 21 Los Angeles (California), 25 Phoenix (Arizona), 26 Las Vegas (Nevada), 29 Chicago (Illinois), 30 Detroit (Michigan). December: 1 Toronto (Ontario), 3 Atlantic City (New Jersey), 4 Montréal (Quebec), 7 New York City (New York), 9 Washington DC. Then, after a break, it's off to Europe and Dresden on January 13. The Nephilim emerge September 9 2005 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA) The new album from Fields of the Nephilim is called "Mourning Sun" and will be released on November 18 via Oblivion (SPV). A limited edition of the album includes bonus tracks and video. Here, you can listen to three sound clips. "Mourning Sun" is sanctioned by the band and was originally slated for an early 2005 outing. The current line-up aside from Carl McCoy is unknown at this time. As for live dates, none have yet been announced. This will be the first new work from McCoy since the controversial "Fallen" album. In related news, some of McCoy's ex-band mates in NFD have re-released their debut album "No Love Lost" with a bonus disc of live tracks and unreleased material. Additionally, the new album from even more ex-Fields members, Last Rites is due out soon and is entitled "The Many Forms". Even more "Advanced Electronics" September 9 2005 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden)
The successful compilation series "Advanced Electronics" has now reached volume four, and once again it's a double disc affair. Lots of different artists are included, such as SITD, VNV Nation, Hocico, Glis, Melotron, Mesh, Timo Maas, Suicide Commando, Funker Vogt, Welle:Erdball and many more. Most of the tracks and remixes are exclusive, making it a pretty good deal. It's out on October 5 on Synthetic Symphony. Sonar 06 September 9 2005 | By: Mike Whyte (Tokyo, Japan) Even though we are barely at the end of summer, the trail of festivals is hotting up for 2006 already. The dates for the next Sonar festival (the showcase festival for experimental and innovative electronic music) has been announced as the 15th, 16th, and 17th of June 2006 to again be held in Barcelona. As of now, it is far too early to know any artist line-ups, but expect the highest in quality coming from the cutting edge in both music and multimedia fields. More updates to follow in the coming months. Lowe to go east September 9 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg)
Stockholm pop trio and SAMA newcomer 2004 Lowe has, long after they released their debut "Tenant", finally signed an international distribution deal. "Tenant" will be out in Poland, The Czech Republic and Hungary on October 10 via Vision Music. Lowe say negotiations for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, BeNeLux, USA, Canada and Russia are underway. Project-X sign with Memento Materia September 6 2005 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA) We have known this for some time but not it is official that Sweden's long-running EBM act Project-X have linked a new deal with Memento Materia; the first output of this collaboration will be an EP commemorating the band's ten year existence. The release itself will be put out strictly in 3" CD format and will be limited to just 500 copies. - We have never been more excited than this, the whole label issue is solved and we can concentrate and focus on the music again, front man Torny Gottberg says. The ex-Energy Rekords band chose to not use Gottberg's own Progress Productions. Project-X are currently working on their upcoming new album. Mick Harvey goes solo - again September 6 2005 | By: Kristoffer Noheden (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Where its two predecessors consisted of Harvey interpreting Serge Gainsbourg, “One Man’s Treasure” has a much wider scope. With covers of songwriters like Lee Hazlewood, Jeffrey Lee Pierce and Robbie Fulks alongside two new Harvey compositions, the album stands firmly with its feet in classic singer/songwriter soil. But Harvey’s skills as arranger elevates the end result far above the traps of overt traditonalism, making the album at least on par with the last couple of Nick Cave albums. Harvey will be playing a few European dates to coincide with the album release, starting in Paris on September 8 and ending in London on September 15. Iris picks up the guitar September 6 2005 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden)
American synthpop band Iris has just released their third album “Wrath”. The sound is an evolution from the last album “Awakening”. A preview listen reveals the sound to be more organic now, with a more guitar oriented sound. But the Iris sound is still alive and kicking it seems. Look out for our upcoming review.
Leæther Strip comeback confirmed September 6 2005 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden) We knew Dane Claus Larsen was on his way back with his Leæther Strip. Now, it seems he has started his own Myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/leaetherstrip, and he says is planning to release new material soon. Well, count me in! He was a forerunner to the sound of today's hard EBM bands, and has made some classic stuff over the years. More news as we get it. AD
Surround version of "Playing the Angel" September 2 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg)
We also have new information on "Playing the Angel": it will arrive in three versions: a standard CD, a deluxe CD/SACD/DVD edition and a double vinyl edition. The deluxe edition includes a bonus DVD with an exclusive "Bare" studio performance of "Clean", the "Precious" video, "Making the Angel" short film, a Ben Hillier gallery and last but not least, a 5.1 surround version of the album (in both DTS and Dolby Digital). In further News, Depeche Mode will guest CD:UK tomorrow and Top of the Tops on September 8. Plasticity club closes down after five good years September 2 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg) Next Friday, one of our favorite clubs, Gothenburg's Plasticity opens its doors for the very last time. Owner Henrik Wittgren has decided to close down his beloved club due to a number of reasons, explained in a letter on the web site. The last night, five of the club's favourite DJ:s will do their best to make the finale something to remember. But we have many other memories. In 2000, Plasticity started as something of a continuation of another synthpop/industrial club, Electropolis. Through the years a vast number of live acts have visited Plasticity, some of them are: Psyche, Assemblage 23, Alice in Videoland, Invisible Limits, Statemachine, De/Vision, TOY, Icon of Coil, The April Tears, Second Decay, The Legendary Pink Dots and... Morlocks. The remaining club scene in Gothenburg is healthy and crowded with Romo Night, Spacelab, Statisch, Populär, Killing Music and several others, including Wittgren's two other creations Synthbar and Saturn. We bring order to the "Precious" chaos September 1 (additions made Sep. 2) 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg)
CDBONG35: 1. "Precious" (Album Version) 2. "Precious" (Sasha's Spooky Mix - Single Edit). LCDBONG35: 1. "Precious" (Sasha's Gargantuan Vocal Mix - Edit) 2. "Precious" (Misc. Full Vocal Mix) 3. "Free". On September 2, we also received late info on a DVD: DVDBONG35: 1. "Precious" (Music Video) 2. "Precious" (Motor Remix) 3. "Precious" (Michael Mayer Ambient Mix). None of the these editions offer the radio version, released as a one track promo reviewed by us here. Johan Carlsson gives it an eight and writes that Martin Gore still has it and all is once again right in Depeche Mode-land. A "limited edition collectors slipcase" will be available to hold all three single formats, as revealed on Friday. There are also another CD and two 12" promos with a number of remixes not included on the commercial releases. New Architect album release imminent September 1 2005 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA) Architect's "The Analysis of Noise Trading" (Hymen) is due for release in the autumn of 2005. For those who do not know who Architect are, it is yet another project of Mr. Daniel Myer of Haujobb fame. This will be the third full-length album by Architect and will undoubtedly be followed by a vinyl-only EP as has been the case with the two previous works "I Went out Shopping for Some Noise" (2004, Hymen) and "Galactic Supermarket" (1998, Ant-Zen). Mr. Myer has also been busily working on an as-yet untitled second album by another project of his called S'Apex. A release date is not known but the label will be Red Sparrow. News from Dismantled and Adrian White September 1 2005 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden)
Dismantled, fronted by Russian-born Gary Zon, successfully toured USA just recently, including a gig at the computer games convention Quakecon in front of 6 000 people. Dismantled's new album “Standard Issue” has been pushed back to Spring 2006 because of extended touring. Meanwhile, the band's drummer and busybee, former Front Line Assembly and Delerium live drummer Adrian White, has recorded the new Canadian Red Cross song together with Kristy Thirsk. The song was produced by FLA producer Greg Reely and Leah Randi (who features on Delerium and FLA records) plays bass. Furthermore, his solo album “Promise”, under the moniker Silent Alarm, should be out early next year. Megahype signs newcomer Rezonance September 1 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg)
The small label behind pop acts Lowe and June Six, Megahype in Stockholm, has signed its third artist, Rezonance. These Swedes are going to deliver the debut album "Black Filters" in late October. The sound is said to be a mix of alternative rock/pop and electronic music influenced by Nine Inch Nails, Björk, Massive Attack and Recoil. |
Bad Seed Mick Harvey released
his third solo album (not
counting his soundtrack
works) on August 29. 
Following
yesterday's Depeche Mode
story on the "Precious"
single formats, we have
added fresh information
regarding
a DVD single and a slipcase
(see yesterday's entry). 
We
have received the details
for Depeche Mode's new
single "Precious",
to be released on October
3. The song can already
be purchased on line but
its two CD editions (and
one DVD edition) will not
be released until October
3. The B-side "Free" is
only included on the limited
edition CD single, while
the regular CD version
holds two "Precious" versions:
