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News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson |
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The Knife showered in Grammy awards Jan 31 2007 | By: Mattias Huss (Uppsala, Sweden) In a rare instance of substance over style, The Swedish Grammy awards jury put practically all their votes on The Knife over artists like Basshunter (who had to make do with an award for best ringtone song). The Knife got the awards for artist of the year, album of the year, pop group of the year, composer of the year, music DVD of the year and producer of the year. The rather entertaining videos (in Swedish) they sent to the award ceremony instead of showing up in person can be seen on YouTube. First M'era Luna artists revealed Jan 30 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) M'era Luna Festival in Hildesheim, Germany, August 11-12, has revealed the first wave of live artists: Anne Clark, Welle:Erdball, My Dying Bride, Diorama, Cultus Ferox, Down Below, Die en Grey, Bloodpit, Krypteria and Schandmaul. Not really a big bang but there's much more to come. Last year's M'era Luna line-up was extremely strong. Further fan interaction from Leæther Strip Jan 30 2007 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA)
Now that we've seen some photos of the fans, Leæther Strip's Claus Larsen has decided to co-write one song with a lucky someone. He plans to release this tune as a free download much like "Frank Tovey Taught me Things." The winner, obviously, is responsible solely for the lyrics: – You've got 100% artistic freedom and I won't change a word in the lyric I chose. I will read every single word you write and I won't make any music before the text is chosen, so the words will be the main thing I will build the song around and not the other way around. No money is involved for me or you, the price is something to tell your grandkids about, Larsen says. A deadline has not been yet established but if you're feeling lucky, you may e-mail your contributions here.
Bizarre songs about "new life and old factories" Jan 30 2007 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA) "I'm a Rock'n'roller" (Metarc) has just been released and is another extension of Mr. John Sellekaers. This release is currently only available in digital format as no label was secured for its release. One can find themselves a copy via I-Tunes or a rapidly expanding number of digital outlets. Uncotones have released one vinyl EP back in 2001 which has been deleted for a number of years. Their style is a bizarre take on minimal electro which surely has not been heard before but don't take our word for it. From the Metarc site "Uncotones is a brussalsa lectrosymphonette duo. Their laboratory looks like a junkyard with plenty of old-fashioned organs, broken wave generators and other odd machines. Helium sneer mixed with instant potatoes could be the motor fuel of John Sellekaers (Xingu Hill, Dead Hollywood Stars) and Gabriel Séverin (Silk Saw, Ultraphonist, Rob(u)rang). They’re singing songs about new life, old factories and post human desire." Ryuichi Sakamoto – a busy man indeed Jan 30 2007 | By: Mike Whyte (Tokyo, Japan)
Ryuichi Sakamoto has left his mark on the movie industry recently, through his track "Only Love Can Conquer Hate", as well as "Bibo No Aozora" featuring in the Golden Globe winner "Babel". The soundtrack to the movie also includes a collaboration with David Sylvian on "World Citizen". Along with this, Sakamoto also recently curated a special yearly edition of Mary Ann Hobbs experimental music show – an honour that has befallen such people as Björk and Sophia Coppola in the past. The show is available for streaming via the BBC Radio 1 website. Finally, A new album by Sakamoto, in collaboration with Christian Fennesz, is scheduled for release later in the year. The full-length disc will be the follow-up to the "Sala Santa Cecilia" EP, also recorded by the pair. Erasure sees the "Light at the End of the World" Jan 28 2007 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden) Quite a dramatic title, eh? “Light at the End of the World” is the name of the new Erasure album, which is coming out on May 21 (May 22 in the US). On April 2 we get the new single “I Could Fall in Love with You” (no dates for the US yet). The band, as well as producer Gareth Jones and Mute label boss Daniel Miller seem very happy with the result, so it should be interesting to see how things turns out. Free download with Front Line Assembly side project Jan 28 2007 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden) Front Line Assembly's Chris Peterson has been doing some dark, industrial drum'n'bass together with his friends Jason Filipchuk and Ryan Holland for quite a while. They go under the name Revelstoker (Jason comes from the town of Revelstoke), and now we can finally hear the result as they will include the song "Twister" in an upcoming compilation "Statement of Purpose" by the Xynthetic label. What's more, the compilation includes a new Dryft track (from Mike Cadoo of Gridlock and Bitcrush fame) and you can download it for free. But not until February though.
Coachella bill with Jesus and Mary Chain reunion Jan 25 2007 | By: Alex Veronac (Geneva, Switzerland)
In a surprise move, we see the Jesus and Mary Chain reunite when joining the 9th annual Coachella Valley Music Festival in the end of April. The band come together after brother William Reid left onstage in 1998 at a Los Angeles gig. The famed UK quartet originally known for their melodic feedback-based noise have been a great influence on other British bands including those later termed Britpop. The Coachella Festival has been known for making exclusive reunions happen and the announcement that Rage Against the Machine will be playing with original members shows the organizers need for statement. Vocalist Zack de la Rocha returns to the stage as his solo studio projects have not been released. The question remains for these two acts: What did it take for them to sign the contract? The California based festival also brings other Release tinged talent to the stage such as Björk, Sonic Youth, Happy Mondays, Placebo, VNV Nation, Interpol, Peaches, Richie Hawtin and Satellite Party (Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell's new project). Tickets go on sale January 27 for the newly expanded three day festival based in Indio, CA just east side of Los Angeles.
Client's "Heartland" produced by Youth and Hague Jan 25 2007 | By: Mike Whyte (Tokyo, Japan) and Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)
The highly-regarded electropop trio Client deliver another new single on February 23 with "Drive". It will be released in two versions (one of them as a limited edition). The two versions will feature exclusive B-sides and a plethora of clubland remixes from the likes of Boosta and Lexy & K-Paul, among others. Busy Client have just released two other singles: "Zerox Machine" (which is a quite rocky affair released in the UK this week) and "The Lights go out". Client are now signed to Loser Friendly (UK), SubSpace Communications (Scandinavia), Out of Line (rest of Europe), Metropolis (USA), Noiselab (Mexico) and release details may vary from territory to territory. "Drive" will be followed by third album "Heartland". The album is being produced by a couple of heavy-hitters in the music scene – Youth (Killing Joke, Primal Scream, The Verve) – as well as Stephen Hague, who has the inimitable New Order to his list of production credits. A new festival might follow after SAMA Jan 25 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) As a follow-up to Monday's News on the end of the Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards, we asked SAMA boss Fredrik Rundqvist why they have decided to end SAMA after ten years. – There were several reasons. All involved work for free, he claims, and goes on to say: – It's difficult to maintain a high level of quality of the work and artist bookings in the same format for ten years. Release has noticed that people have become less enthusiastic over the years and the complaints can not just be dismissed as the usual nagging (people constantly complain about everything in the scene). Rundqvist reveals he considered quitting after last year's event. – But of course we should end this in style and celebrate our ten year anniversary. I also believe a lot of people would like to know its the last SAMA – in advance, so they may visit SAMA one last time. We believe we can deliver a strong final SAMA but I must confess I'm filled with nostalgia and I wonder if it's the right decision to end it all. He says there are lose plans for a new event which will be radically different. Fredrik Rundqvist is also part of the leadership in Playground Music and Subspace Communications. He was once the label manager for Mute Records in Scandinavia. During the early years, Release was part of SAMA and the awards were based on our annual reader's poll.
Dependent is (soon) no more Jan 25 2007 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden)
The German electro/industrial label Dependent will close its door in the summer of 2007. The already announced albums by Rotersand, Mind.in.a.box, Suicide Commando, Pride & Fall and Autoaggression will still come out. But after those it’s over. Owner Stefan Herwig claims Dependent is not bankrupt, but they refuse to release records in a market where copyright is being undermined, and where they constantly lose money to build artists. He also doesn’t want to work in a business where the majority of users want to download the music for free instead of buying it. In a scene this small, every penny counts, there will certainly be a big hole after Dependent leaves. New full-scale outdoor festival in Gothenburg park Jan 25 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) On a presentation at a Gothenburg hotel on Saturday, booking company Luger announced they will put together a new 10 000 people festival in the Slottsskogen park in Gothenburg, Sweden, called Way out West (August 10-11). They say most of the music will be alternative and they mention electro, rock, pop, indie, singer/songwriter and country. Front 242 and Elegant Machinery to WGT Jan 25 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Front 242 (old or new school gig?), Elegant Machinery (where is the new CD?), Architect, Felsenreich and Wolfenmond will play at Wave Gotik Treffen. For more on WGT, scroll downwards.
No SAMA after 2007 Jan 22 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) The date and venue for this year's Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards have been set to Goodfriday April 6 at Trädgår'n in Gothenburg. No live acts have been confirmed. This will be the tenth - and last - SAMA. Dozens of artists released by Wave Gotik Treffen Jan 22 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Leipzig's Wave Gotik Treffen has just announced a long list of live artists for this year's event on May 25-28. Among them, we find Qntal (special performance with Estampie and guests), The Cassandra Complex, Zeraphine, Moonspell, Orange Sector, Retrosic, Eisbrecher, Angels & Agony and Lycosia. Dependent also say their bands Dismantled, Rotersand, Seabound and Pride and Fall will probably perform, but they have not been confirmed by WGT. A hundred or so more to go. New Japanese and European IDM on compilation Jan 22 2007 | By: Mike Whyte (Tokyo, Japan) Sunao Inami, and the label Electr-ohm, have released their first compilation. Featuring artists from across Japan (also some European artists; seven countries represented in all), the 16 tracks on offer sit somewhere between the IDM, dark electro and industrial genres. Inami also pops up in the compilation with a couple of tracks himself; the CD opener "Instrumental", and the rather intriguingly titled "Legacy of Mangler". The CD is available now through the Electr-ohm label.
Debut compilation from Klangdynamic imminent Jan 22 2007 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA) Another new label, Klangdynamic, has emerged from Germany and will soon be releasing their first compilation entitled "Klangdynamische Bewegung Vol.1". It features several well-known acts from the electro world such as Human Decay and No Comment and a slew of those perhaps not familiar to Release readers like Nordschlacht, File Not Found and Die Perlen. The Knife awarded on Swedish radio awards Jan 22 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) Electro duo The Knife won the group and dance awards on the national Swedish radio awards show P3 Guld on Saturday. The members didn't show up to collect the awards but a pre-recorded message was played. One year after the release of the "Silent Shout" album it's obvious this one will be considered a classic for years to come. It's celebrated by more or less everyone, from hardcore electronic music fans to mainstream media.
New Nitzer Ebb album getting closer Jan 20 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Nitzer Ebb's Bon Harris to Release last summer: – We started to write new music a couple of weeks ago, and our plan is to release an EP of new Nitzer Ebb material before the end of 2006. If all goes well, we might even play some of the new material during this tour. This never happened. But now, we hear they aim at a full album instead. Harris and frontman Douglas McCarthy are going to meet any day now, in late January, to start the completion of the new songs. They were in a studio in Los Angeles in December, and after that, Harris has been working on his own. Check out the store at www.nitzerebbprodukt.com if you haven't already. Ooze-ing out of your speakers Jan 20 2007 | By: Mike Whyte (Tokyo, Japan) Chillosophy continue with their series of 12” releases with "Random Wondrous Things". This third release features the artist Ooze, alongside the vocal talents of Tishk. The main track is described as "jazzy electronica meets pop" and as a beautiful love song. The track is backed up by three remixes of the said track, produced by the artists Blue States (with a 60:s pop version), Jesse Somfay and Andreas Tilliander. Sounds like Yazoo Jan 20 2007 | By: Johan Carlsson (Stockholm, Sweden) Aptly named Alison, there’s a new band in town that sounds like Yazoo. The Swedish duo consists of former Release writer Karin Bolin and Jay-Jay Johanson’s brother Magnus, and their first single is called “Love Fool” (Electric Fantastic Sound). The single also includes a live rendition of Yazoo’s own song “Too Pieces”. Tension rises as Skinny Puppy are close to launch Jan 18 2007 | By: Alex Veronac (Geneva, Switzerland) and Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Skinny Puppy's new album "Mythmaker" is now close to its launch in one week. It was produced by the team behind the last album "The Greater Wrong of the Right" with the option of a 12" vinyl. For US customers, a version of "Mythmaker" comes as a vinyl release with a second collectors disc with "Politikil", "Optimissed" and "Pedafly" in remixes. European open air festivals are to be confirmed and regular gigs are planned as early as March when the "Mythmaker World Tour" kicks off. The first dates will undoubtedly take place in America for warm-up, followed by Europe and maybe Japan, finally. We gave "Mythmaker" (review here) a seven out of ten. Cevin Key has written to most of the Release writers one by one about the review which he believes is negative. - It's certainly a classic Skinny Puppy LP and my personal favourite, was one of the many comments he made. In further news: Ending in Spring 2003, was the fan subscription limited edition "From the Vault" series with seven CD:s that spawned a second pressing to the public record shops. In a bold move, the folks behind Skinny Puppy have decided upon another venture, as reported briefly in Release last autumn. The Subconscious "From the Vault II" fan subscription series will include new albums from Download (including Phil Western again), PlatEAU and Tear Garden, a re-release from Doubting Thomas and Skinny Puppy's "Back and Forth Vol 7". |
