News editor: Mikael Kahrle

December 30 1999

Richard 23:s La Tschak debut single out now

• Finally Front 242 man Richard 23:s side project La Tschak (previously called Tschak) has released its debut single on Arcade Belgium. In La Tschak, Richard not only compose and make the music, he does the complete vocals as well. The single is a strong electro release which moves Richard closer to the dance scene. /Jens Krause

 

Trance duo Antiloop back

• “Start Rockin’” is the title of the new single from successful Swedish trance act Antiloop. The official release date is February 7. But on New Year’s Eve an excerpt will be published on the Antiloop web site. Furthermore the song will start spinning on radio and TV in mid-January. Illegal copies of the song have circulated among DJ:s for some time now. An album will follow. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Melotron cancel And One tour

• The support act of And One’s "Virgin Superstar" tour, Melotron, has now cancelled and hits the roads on their own at an earlier time.

The first taste from the new Melotron album "Advance" appears on January 17 in the form of a single called “Dance with the Devil” (Bloodline/SSC). /Jens Krause

December 28 1999

Front 242 will play five new songs live

• On February 12, Front 242 will give a concert in Brussels, where they will play five new songs for the first time and use a new lightshow. The complete show will be broadcasted over the Internet and television (Canal +). /Jens Krause

 

Delgado writes music for Berlin millennial celebration

• A quite special event will take place in Berlin on December 31. In the city centre at the Siegessäule over 100 laser cannons are being set up. The light show in the sky will hopefully be seen at a distance of 200-300 km. The whole show is organized by the Berlin agency Art in Heaven and one and a half million people are expected to watch it in central Berlin.

Mike Oldfield was initially hired to write the music for the spectacle, but has cancelled. Instead, Gabi Delgado of DAF/DOS, was asked to perform his musical visions for the next millennium. He is a Berlin resident since about ten years.

All major German TV-channels will broadcast the show and it’s likely that a CD and video from the event will be released. /Jens Krause

 

Kraftwerk album on July 2?

• Kraftwerk have moved their new album release about half a year into the future. They want to use Expo 2000 and it’s campaign featuring their tune and launches their album on July 2. /Jens Krause

December 23 1999

Two Covenant singles on the way

• The new single “Dead Stars” with Covenant will be released on January 10. The CDM will include a radio, club and dub version of the single song as well as the extra track “We Break Down”. A sample of “Dead Stars” can be found on the website of their Scandinavian company, SSC.

This is the second single from the new album “United States of Mind”. We have two album release dates: February 7 (Scandinavia) and 29 (USA). There will be one normal and one double limited edition CD.

A third single, “Afterhours”, will arrive on March 3.

Covenant recently put out a limited edition vinyl 12" with two versions of the song "It's Alright" and an extended dance mix of "Tour de Force". /Mikael Kahrle

 

Robert Görl is back with a new album

• Old DAF-man Robert Görl is back with the simplistic and monotonous electronica album ”Final Metal Pralinées” on Disko B Records. On the cover a logo is printed with the text ”Robert Görl, since 1979”. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Martin Gore remix

• Depeche Mode's Martin Gore, in collaboration with Paul Freegard and Gareth Jones, has remixed a song for Ken Andrews and his new band On. Andrews was previously a member of Failure (the band who performed "Enjoy the Silence" on the tribute album "For the Masses").

The song "Soluble Words" will be available in selected independent retail stores as a limited edition digipak in early January. Apart from Gore's contribution it also features remixes by Boom Boom Satellites and Electric Company. /Erik Almgren

 

Depeche Mode convention in Basildon

• The International BONG Convention 2000 will be held on Saturday April 15, 2000 in Basildon, Essex UK. So if you're a totally dedicated Mode-fan and just can't get enough, you really don't have choice, do you? Just pack your bags… /Erik Almgren

 

Sista mannen på jorden release second album

• The second album from Eddie Bengtsson’s electropop project Sista mannen på jorden is named ”Luft” and scheduled for March 27. Like with the debut album ”Ligg tyst ett tag med...” no single will be taken from the CD.

The songs have been finished for a long time. One will be in English, the rest in Swedish. This makes it difficult for SMPJ to reach outside Scandinavia, or?

- When we played in Germany, the audience didn’t seem to care – I’m not sure they realised the lyrics were actually in Swedish, Bengtsson says.

Eddie Bengtsson also wrote a contribution to the Swedish part of the Eurovision Song Contest, but will not be among the ones who participate. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Haujobb remixes

• The CD ”Ninetynine Remixes” by German electronics Haujobb is out now on Accession Records. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Statemachine in no hurry

• The next Statemachine album ”Short & Explosive” will not be released until October 16, 2000. Let’s see if anyone remembers them by then. However, a single, yet to be named, will be available on February 28. /Mikael Kahrle

December 21 1999

Vacuum album release closer

• Pop trio Vacuum’s new single “Icaros” was delivered to radio stations in Sweden last week. Depending how successful the single is, a release date for the next album with the preliminary title “Culture of Night” will be set.

In the future Marina Schiptjenko and Mattias Lindblom will stay in the spotlight, but Alexander Bard will step back and only work in the background. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Wumpscut double CD scheduled for the spring

• German EBM project Wumpscut will compile a double album for a possible late March or early April release. The CD will be called ”Bloodchild” and consist of rare tracks, two new ones ("Hang Him Higher" and "Praise Your Fears") and a multimedia part with images, sounds and lyrics. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Ex Sundown and Tiamat member launches EBM group

• A well made demo CD showed up from the Stockholm act Lithium. Lithium consists of former Tiamat and Sundown man Johnny Hagel, Carl Nilsson from the industrial band Moth and the guitarist Patrik Hultin. They want to make industrial music with a futuristic spirit and sound a bit like a primitive form of the late Skinny Puppy. E-mail: lithium_mail@yahoo.com. /Mikael Kahrle

December 17 1999

Details on the new Manson album

• The next Marilyn Manson album will be called "In the Shadow of the Valley of Death”. Bon Harris (ex-Nitzer Ebb) and Dave Sardy (Barkmarket and Slayer) will work on the album. Marilyn Manson himself and Dave Sardy will produce the material. Manson states that as much as one hundered songs have been written. The band will change their image and the album will be accompanied by the mercury symbol.

- This record finishes what “Antichrist Superstar” began and its sound is unlike any of our other albums. I can say, however, it is the most violent, yet beautiful creation we have accomplished, Manson says. /Mikael Kahrle

 

De/Vision into the “Void”

• Two new release dates have been set for new De/Vision material. On January 31 a new single by the name of "Foreigner" will turn up. A month later, on February 28, the long awaited new album "Void" will finally be released. A small German tour has also been scheduled for February. A sample of "Foreigner", as well as other tracks, is available on their web site. /Niklas Forsberg

 

The Cardigans’ favourite game?

• The Cardigans’ latest album is named “Gran Turismo” and there is also a computer game with that title. The new game “Gran Turismo 2” is released this week in the US and The Cardigans hit “My Favourite Game” starts the game – of course.

Garbage and Beck are two other names included in game. /Mikael Kahrle

 

US release for Alphaville’s “Salvation”

• The US label Metropolis has licensed the latest - but far from new - Alphaville album “Salvation”. The American release date will be January 25 and bonus tracks will be included.

Alphaville also plans to put out the single “Inside Out” during the winter. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Madonna records two songs for movie

• Madonna will not only perform in the new movie “The Next Best Thing”, she will also record two songs for the soundtrack. One is the new “Time Stood Still” and the other is a cover of Don McLean’s “American Pie”. The soundtrack CD will show up early next year. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Kent number one and plan tour

• Kent has made it straight to number one in the Swedish sales charts for their new album “Hagnesta Hill” (see review). They are doing fine in other Scandinavian countries as well.

They will go on tour in late winter/early spring.t/Mikael Kahrle

 

Iris album scheduled for January 17

• The American synthpop duo Iris album “Disconnect” arrived to us yesterday and contains high class commercial electro pop. The two American singles “Saving Time” and “Danger Is the Shame” are included as well as “Annie Would I Lie To You”. Another single, “Lose in Wanting” will be available in the US in January.

The album is licensed from A Different Drum to October in Sweden and the Scandinavian release date is January 17. /Mikael Kahrle

December 16 1999

Swedish release date for “Expo 2000”

• The Kraftwerk single “Expo 2000” will be released in Sweden on February 7. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Broder Daniel single collection next year

• The Swedish Alternative rock band Broder Daniel will release a “Singles” compilation next year. A release date hasn’t been set. /Mikael Kahrle

 

The next Pet Shop Boys single set

• “You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk” is the title of the next Pet Shop Boys single, taken from the album “Nightlife”. The single is scheduled for mid-February. /Mikael Kahrle

 

In the Nursery plan European tour

• British In the Nursery plan to go on a European tour in late April followed by some festival dates.

The new, impressive and typical ITN eight track album “Groundloop” was completed a few weeks ago, but will not be released until January 28.

In the Nursery music is being used in the trailer for the movie “Random Hearts” and will be used in the German production ”Marmor, Stein & Eisen Brich”.t/Mikael Kahrle

December 15 1999

Marilyn Manson reveals future plans today

• Today, on December 15, Marilyn Manson will release his future plans for the next album at his web site. There will be a live Internet transmission directly from the studio at 10.00 pm EST.

In advance, he has released the following statement:

“Mishandled fear bred pop consumerism, a fear to fit in. Diabolical fear bred religion and all those that cower before it and die in its guilt-inspired name. Together, we hold their greatest fear of all… knowledge. That is, knowing it is us that will destroy the world, not them.” /Mikael Kahrle

 

Ex-Smashing Pumpkins member in movie

• D’Arcy Wretzky, until recently a member of Smashing Pumpkins, have now realised her movie plans. She will appear in “Pieces of Ronnie”, starring Mickey Rourke. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Kraftwerk single not to be released outside Germany yet

• The new Kraftwerk single “Expo 2000” will probably not be released outside Germany until January or February at the earliest. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Dawn of Oblivion return with a new single

• The Swedish goth rockers Dawn of Oblivion plan to release a new single called “Haunted” in connection to a gig at the Malmö club Vogon Variety on December 18. The band is currently working on their new album "Mephisto's Appealing", scheduled for a possible spring release. /Mikael Kahrle

December 13 1999

Einstürzende Neubauten tattoo search for delayed album

• The next Einstürzende Neubauten album has a new release date, April 1. This is also the date the legendary band celebrates its 20 year anniversary.

They are currently looking for persons with Neubauten tattoos for the cover. Henry Rollins and others can mail photos and comments to en@freibank.com. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Trent Reznor works with side project and plan new Bowie collaboration

• The long talked about Nine Inch Nails side project Tapeworm, will for certain become a reality sometimes during next year. Three tracks are completed along with a clutch of instrumentals. According to keyboardist Charlie Closer, the band might even appear on the B side to a Nothing Records release or even on a movie soundtrack. Apart from the NIN members, Phil Anselmo (Pantera), Page Hamilton (Helmet) and James Keenan (Tool) will contribute to the sound of Tapeworm.

Trent Reznor will probably work with David Bowie again next year. It's said that he has agreed to remix a couple of songs from Bowie's current album "Hours". It's not yet decided which these are. /Erik Almgren

 

Plans for Wave Gotik Treffen 2000

• Leipzig’s Wave Gotik Treffen 2000 will take place on June 9-12. Artists mentioned so far: Diary of Dreams, Dreadful Shadows, Dive, Malaise, Faith and the Muse, Gitane Demone and The House of Usher. /Johan Astemark

 

New extensive box set with electronic music legend

• Wendy Carlos is known for her change of sex, from the man William Carlos to the woman Wendy Carlos.

While being William Carlos, he released the groundbreaking classic “Switched on Bach” thirty years ago, with electronic realisations of J S Bach compositions. The album won three Grammy awards and was the first platinum classical record.

On November 29, Rykodisc released a “Switched-on Boxed Set” – a four CD collection. All material is remastered and the set includes 200 pages of notes and illustrations, MIDI of a performance, a virtual analogue synthesizer and sleeve notes by good old Robert A Moog. /Mikael Kahrle

 

New interesting project by former PIL men

• There's a lot going on at Invisible Records. Former PIL members Jah Wobble and Martin Atkins (also Ministry, Pigface, Killing Joke and Murder Inc) are working together in a band for the first time since PIL's classic album "Metal Box". The band is yet unnamed but will also include Geordie Walker (Killing Joke, Murder Inc) and Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Ministry, Pigface and Murder Inc). The material is currently being mixed down in preparation for a March 2000 release. The album will be followed by a tour. And who knows, perhaps this exciting constellation can be seen at several of next year's summer festivals?

The Killing Joke spin off band Murder Inc will release the appropriately titled "Locate Subvert Terminate - Complete Murder Inc" early next year.

This double CD set will include everything the band ever recorded plus live tracks from the band’s first European tour. /Erik Almgren

 

The Sisters of Mercy headline at next year’s Eurorock

• The Sisters of Mercy has just confirmed they have agreed to play at the Belgian Eurorock Festival on Saturday August 5 2000. /Mikael Kahrle, Andy

 

Alan Wilder release single with four songs and four videos

• The release date for the new Recoil album “Liquid” has been moved to March 6 due to timing efforts for a worldwide simultaneous release.

An enhanced single, “Strange Hours”, will be released around the same date. The single track list: “Strange Hours” edit, “Jezebel” (Filthy Dog Remix), “New York Nights”, “Don’t Look Back”, “Strange Hours” video, “Drifting” video, “Stalker” video and “Faith Healer” video. All four Recoil videos ever made on one single...

“Don’t Look Back” features Sonya Madan from Echobelly.

Songs from “Liquid” have been played prior to the new Nine Inch Nails shows. Trent Reznor asked Alan Wilder for permission in London. /Mikael Kahrle

December 9 1999

Front 242 and Front Line Assembly booked to Woodstage festival

• The two electronic giants Front 242 and Front Line Assembly will both play at eastern Germany’s largest festival, Woodstage Open Air. It takes place on June 3 in Glauchau/Sachsen and starts the German festival summer with a bang. /Jens Krause

 

New Love Like Blood goth metal album

• Love Like Blood’s forthcoming album "Bitter Sweet Creed" was produced by Simon Efemy (Pantera, Helmet, Paradise Lost, Amorphis). After what we’ve heard, it seems like Love Like Blood will follow the metal trend like many other goth bands. The album will be released in the year 2000. /Johan Astemark

 

Details about Jarre album and Egypt show

• The new Jean Michel Jarre album is called "Metamorphoses" and is scheduled for February 3, 2000.

The millennium performance at the Pyramids in Egypt on December 31 is based upon a three act millennium theme opera called “The Twelve Dreams of the Sun”. It will take place on a central stage situated on the Guizeh Plateau, creating a magical night during which the sun dreams about our times and its own mythological Egyptian origins.

Other recent Jarre activities includes a mid price reissue of the live album “Hong Kong” (CD and minidisc) and a concert at Apple Expo in Paris in September, where Jarre worked with Imacs and visual 3D technology. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Can christmas gift free to download

• Everybody can download “Silent Night” by Can for free at http://www.spoonrecords.com/ during one month. The “cover” was originally released in 1976, then rereleased 1981 but has been unavailable for some time. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Fields of the Nephilim’s spin off project Nefilim’s spin off project Nephilim AD...

• Carl McCoy and Tony Petitt are working on the project Nephilim AD. The sound is said to be softer than that of Nefilim. An album will be released during next year.

Still no news about Fields of the Nephilim. /Johan Astemark

December 6 1999

Kraftwerk single released today

• Believe it or not, Kraftwerk is back with a new single. The German release date is December 6 – today.

The single features four versions of a quite typical Kraftwerk song called “Expo 2000”, built upon the short jingle for the Expo 2000 world exposition Kraftwerk made earlier this year.

“Expo 2000” is released in both CD and vinyl formats with a 3D cover based upon the world fair’s design.

No word about a video clip, so probably there is none.

We have, however, heard a rumour about an album release on January 1! This seems very unlikely and has yet to be confirmed.

EMI Germany has updated the Kraftwerk part of their site with single sound clips of all four versions as well as other interesting stuff. The clips are too short to impress. /Mikael Kahrle, Jens Krause

 

Early 2000 album release for Apoptygma Berzerk

• The new Apoptygma Berzerk album "Welcome to Earth" is now set to be released worldwide on the January 10, 2000. The "Eclipse" single from this album was released in August. For those who want to have a taste of further new material, a clip of the new song "Starsign" can be downloaded from the Apoptygma Berzerk web site. /Niklas Forsberg

 

The latest on Depeche Mode: mysterious remix CD and possible festival shows

• In America, an album circulates, with very beautiful remix versions of all Depeche Mode "Ultra" songs in drum’n’bass and electro style. The record is called "Ultra" (remixes by M L Gee) and some insiders suspect Martin Gore is behind it.

At the moment Depeche Mode work feverishly on new material. They still expect to be able to release new songs during next year.

We’re also told they plan to play at several European festivals next summer. /Jens Krause

 

Another new German electronic act

• The young German male/female electro pop duo Time to Change has just released a CDM on their own called “My Joy”. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Strange disappearance

• Kliché, the Swedish synthpop trio, have lost their singer, Johan Lång after eleven years with the band. The remaining members, R. Johanneson and J. Hellman, intend to continue with a new female singer; Nena Pontgren, 29 years old from Stockholm. Together, they are working on new material for a forthcoming album. An official statement from Johan Lång is yet to be released. It seems noone knows his whereabouts. /Niklas Forsberg

 

Kent D day

• A short reminder: today, on December 6, Kent’s new album “Hagnesta Hill” is released. Check out Competition later this week and try to win albums and posters. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Dance or Die plan a new album

• The Berlin dark electro heads Dance or Die are currently working hard on a new album, scheduled for a Spring 2000 release. /Jens Krause

 

Zoth Ommog still alive

• German trio Ravenous released their awaited single "Silver Ray" this autumn and a second single might appear in early 2000 before their third full length album will show up. Due to change of their recording equipment, the new album has been postponed until the beginning of next year.

Another band on Zoth Ommog, EBM duo Funker Vogt, are also in the process of writing new material for a possible March or April release. /Niklas Forsberg

December 3 1999

Best of-CD with Love Spirals Downwards

• The American atmosphere masters Love Spirals Downwards (pic) will release a best of album, "Temporal", early next year. It will include six songs that previously never have appeared on any of their albums. /Erik Almgren

 

Martyn Ware talks about the next Heaven 17 album

• Heaven 17 are currently two thirds through writing their forthcoming album. But we might yet have to wait for a while.

- It's an important album for us, says Martyn Ware to Release. We want to prove to people that we're not a retro act. We don't just want to make a pop record. So we will wait until we're completely happy with it. /Mattias Huss

 

Synthpop debutants helped by Carlos Peron

• The German synthpop band Emergenz from Rostock have just completed recordings of their first single. They have worked with Carlos Peron (ex-Yello, Wolfsheim producer). This maxi should appear in the Spring over Strange Ways/Indigo. After listening to it, it sure seems like a possible hit. /Jens Krause

 

Oomph! and Nina Hagen teams up on single

• The new Oomph! single "Fevers" features the old East German punk rock diva Nina Hagen on vocals. The song is taken from Oomph!’s latest album “Plastik”. They recently toured Scandinavia together with Skunk Anansie. /Jens Krause, Mikael Kahrle

 

Trance duo Earthbound released debut album this week

• The trance duo Earthbound released their self entitled debut album on December 1 on Fluid/Stockholm Records (The Cardigans, Antiloop, Vacuum). Previously they have released five singles, of whom the two latest, “Essence of Life” and “One Nation – Trance Nation” have become chart hits.

All singles are included on the album, which is double. Earthbound wanted to show a less radio friendly side of them selves on disc two.

Earthbound consists of Anders Eriksson and Fredrik Johansson, to young men from Borås in Sweden. They have always been into electronic music and before Earthbound they played in the synthpop act Entribe. When the discovered rave and trance they suddenly knew what to do.

- Trance was perfect for us. It’s melodic, but at the same time hard. That’s exactly what we want to do, says Anders Eriksson to Release.

Now, Earthbound have gone from an underground existence to TV appearances, chart success and they are favourites on dance floors throughout Scandinavia and the UK.

- But the best part is that the “tough” guys that worked with their cars and stuff back when we we’re into computers, now play our music in their car stereos – without knowing it’s us, Anders laughs. /Mikael Kahrle

December 1 1999

News about News

• We improve News! From now on, we will publish one or a couple of News more often, instead of a large edition two-three times per month. We guess this will make our most popular part even more popular. As of now, News has more than three times more visitors than any other part of Release On Line. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Vince Clarke running for soundtrack Academy Award?

• Vince Clarke has written soundtracks for two movies, "Blood" and "The Bullfighter", none of which has as yet been shown. Clarke’s partner in The Clarke and Ware Project, Martyn Ware of Heaven 17, praises his friends soundtrack writing abilities:

- In five to ten years, Vince is gonna get an Academy Award for best film soundtrack. He really has got the gift for combining moods. /Mattias Huss

 

And One release and tour dates

• We have now gathered further details about And One’s future:

The album “Virgin Superstar” will finally be released on March 27. First the single “Wasted” is scheduled for February 28.

The preliminary track list (songs might be deleted or added) for the new album:

1) “You Don’t Love Me Anymore”, 2) “Wasted”, 3) “Goodbye Germany”, 4) “Life to Lose”, 5) “Wet Spot”, 6) “Virgin Superstar”, 7) “Not the Only One”, 8) “Forever J”, 9) “My Story”, 10) “Don’t Need the Drugs”, 11) “Panzermensch”, 12) “Lawrence of Arabia”, 13) “Mr Jenka”.

A 27 date German tour has already been booked together with Melotron. It starts in Rudolstadt on April 14. The finale is in Berlin on May 27. The date before that, on May 26 (Dresden) is front man Steve Naghavi’s birthday and there will be a special party after the gig.

And One plan to visit several summer festivals like Zillo and Bizarre. /Jens Krause, Mikael Kahrle

 

The Sisters of Mercy joke

• The info regarding The Sisters of Mercy we included in the last News edition was, as expected, false. The whole thing was a joke from a mailing list member. /Mikael Kahrle, Leon X

 

Camouflage works on their new album

• The boys in Camouflage are currently working on their new album. They plan a 2000 release followed by festival performances. /Jens Krause

 

The new Kent album arrived today

• The new Kent album “Hagnesta Hill”, to be released in Sweden on Monday, December 6, arrived to us today.

We believe noone will be disappointed by this strong and varied, yet typical Kent album. Kent have chosen 13 songs out of as much as 38, prepared for “Hagnesta Hill”. During their extensive touring 1997-99 they used to build new songs during some of their sound check time and they were extremely creative.

“Hagnesta Hill” was supposed to be recorded in a cheap and basic way.

- But of course it didn’t work out. At first we were planning to hire a house where we could live and record, Kent’s Joakim Berg says. But it turned out to be difficult. We needed a place with the necessary electricity, living space and so on but we had to change our plans.

Instead, “Hagnesta Hill” was recorded in three small studios in Stockholm. And the famous, nowadays almost deserted, Puk Studio in Denmark, where amongst others Depeche Mode have recorded classic stuff. The mixing took place in Brussels and Paris.

As previously stated, the international release of an English version will not follow until next year.

“Hagnesta Hill” features interactive material which can be accessed over the Internet, from the release date and on.

With the new album Kent hope to beat the Swedish sales figures for their previous three albums: “Kent” (52 000), “Verkligen” (91 000) and “Isola” (105 000). Since the first single “Musik Non Stop” has been a huge success, it’s indeed likely. The single title is by the way, not the only Kraftwerk reference. In the impressive “En himmelsk drog”, a part from “The Model” is used.

Kent are very pleased with their new material.

- The only thing that could make us break up is if we come to the conclusion that our new songs aren’t as good as the old ones, Joakim Berg says.

And Kent are still very much alive. /Mikael Kahrle

 

Enigma want to release the first album in the new millennium

• Enigma will return, surprisingly soon from now, with a new single, “Gravity of Love”, just before Christmas to be exact. The song is bombastic and typical for Enigma.

Michael Cretu, the man behind Enigma, then wants to release the first album of the new millennium. By doing so, he thinks he can lay the first stone for the musical direction of the new millennium... /Jens Krause