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Kraftwerk To Release First Album In Nine Years
German electronic-music pioneers Kraftwerk will release their first album in nine years next week.
The album opens with "It's More Fun to Compute," originally recorded in 1981 for a planned 12-inch that was never released.
A six-minute remake of their hit "Autobahn" originally intended for The Mix but never released, also is included. It, too, captures a different side of the song by nixing the vocal track.
The album's accompanying book includes a history of the band, excerpts from rare interviews and a full discography that includes promo-only releases and bootlegs.
Metallica on DVD
On June 13, Elektra will release the DVD counterpart to "S&M," Metallica's 1999 album of tracks from its run of concerts with Michael Kamen and the San Francisco Symphony. The DVD sports the same 21 songs featured on the CD, but also includes two bonus versions of the track "No Leaf Clover."
Users will have the ability to isolate the sound of just the band or the orchestra, and switch to multiple camera angles. The DVD version of "S&M" also features backstage footage from the concerts.
Ben Folds Five Keep Busy
Although Ben Folds Five won't begin work on a new studio album until this summer, the band won't be out of the spotlight for long. The trio has two soundtrack appearances forthcoming, led by a cover of Steely Dan's "Barrytown" on the "Me, Myself And Irene" soundtrack, due June 13 on Elektra. The group will also contribute a new song to the teen romance flick "100 Girls."
As previously reported, Folds appeared in a recent commercial for Priceline.com alongside "Star Trek" star William Shatner. He also makes a guest appearance on Rickie Lee Jones' forthcoming covers album, due this fall on Artemis.
In early August, Ben Folds Five will headline the Summersonic Festival in Tokyo. Flaming Lips, 311, eels, Green Day, and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion are also on the bill. Meanwhile, BFF bassist Robert Sledge will be touring the U.S. this spring with former Squirrel Nut Zippers member Tom Maxwell and the Minor Drag.
Nine Inch Nails Set For U.K. Rock Fest
A new two-day indoor rock festival joins the U.K. concert calendar on July 1-2, when SFX Promotions will stage The Lost Weekend, planned as an annual event combining a bill of major rock acts and "alternative lifestyle" stalls and attractions.
Headlining the first installment of the event will be Nine Inch Nails, playing their only indoor U.K. show of the year on July 1. Skunk Anansie will headline on July 2, in what will be their sole U.K. date of 2000.
Also appearing on July 1 will be A Perfect Circle - featuring Maynard James Keenan of Tool - whose "Mer De Noms" album is out in the U.K. May 22 on Virgin, and Queen Adreena, fronted by former Daisy Chainsaw vocalist Katie Jane Garside. The July 2 bill features Rollins Band and Machine Head, whose new single "The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears" is due for a June 26 release in the U.K.
LFO, B*Witched Set For Nickelodeon Tour
Nickelodeon's second "All That Music & More" tour will feature LFO, B*Witched, Blaque, and a host of other acts on a trek that will begin June 29 at the Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore, Calif. The 44-date tour runs through early September, winding down Sept. 3 in Saratoga, N.Y.
Also set to appear on the tour are teen vocalists Hoku and Sammie, Swedish teenage pop group A*Teens, and singer Angela Via. Cast members from the Nickelodeon TV show "All That" will host the event, and up-and-coming groups will be featured on a second stage. Attendees can sign up for a chance to appear on Nickelodeon shows such as "Double Dare" and will have the opportunity to meet the performers.
Here are the dates for the Nickelodeon All That & More tour:
June 29: Los Angeles
June 30: San Diego
July 1: Las Vegas
July 2: Irvine, Calif.
July 7: Concord, Calif.
July 8: Mountain View, Calif.
July 9: Sacramento
July 11: Phoenix
July 12: Albuquerque, N.M.
July 14: Houston
July 15: Dallas
July 18: W. Palm Beach, Fla.
July 22: Charlotte
July 23: Nashville
July 24: Ft. Wayne, Ind.
July 25: Columbus, Ohio
July 28: St. Louis
July 29: Evansville, Ind.
July 30: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Aug. 2: Kansas City
Aug. 3: Tinley Park, Ill.
Aug. 4: Noblesville, Ind.
Aug. 5: Cincinnati
Aug. 6: Detroit
Aug. 8: Toronto
Aug. 10: Portland, Maine
Aug. 11: Boston
Aug. 12: Wallingford, Conn.
Aug. 13: Rochester, N.Y.
Aug. 15: Adrian, Mich.
Aug. 18: Richmond, Va.
Aug. 19: Baltimore
Aug. 20: Hershey, Pa.
Aug. 22: Youngstown, Ohio
Aug. 23: Erie, Pa.
Aug. 24: Burgettstown, Pa.
Aug. 26: Holmdel, N.J.
Aug. 27: Scranton, Pa.
Aug. 28: Essex Junction, Vt.
Aug. 30: Camden, N.J.
Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Wantagh, N.Y.
Sept. 2: Allentown, Pa.
Sept. 3: Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Drum'N'Bass Label Head LTJ Bukem Drops Debut
From his label's humble beginnings, Bukem, along with business partner Tony Fordham, has built London-based Good Looking Records into an internationally revered imprint.
The Good Looking Organisation now handles most aspects of the music business in-house, including design, promotion, and management. Artist/DJ bookings are handled by Apex International, a subsidiary of Good Looking.
From Bukem's first commercial release on Good Looking Records -- 1990's "Demon's Theme" -- the label has slowly amassed a respectable catalog, including such DJ-mixed compilation series as "Logical Progressions," "Earth," and "Progression Sessions."
Earlier this year, the label debuted the first three volumes of a new compilation series, the non-mixed "Points In Time," which features classic tracks from Good Looking's vaults that have never before been available on CD. Volumes 4-6 were released April 4.
Over the course of 10 years, Good Looking Records delivered ample product, yet a certain something was missing: a solo album from the label's mastermind.
On March 27 the label issued Bukem's debut album, "Journey Inwards," in Europe. The two-disc set was released April 4 in the U.S. by Kinetic Records, which licensed the album from Good Looking and which has a multi-album deal with Good Looking for all future Bukem product.
"It has been a long road to finally get my debut album ready," explains Bukem. "I spent about one year in the studio and came up with the bulk of what is now the 14 tracks that make up 'Journey Inwards.' "
In the years that Bukem has been creating dancefloor rhythms, many industry insiders have wondered whether or not Bukem would ever get around to recording an actual album.
"I had 15 years of music ringing in my ears," the artist says. "My life had been spent listening to everything from hip-hop, house, and drum'n'bass to soul and funk. It wasn't easy to get what I wanted out of my head and onto the soundboard. When it finally did all come together, I was as happy as all the people asking and waiting for the album."
On March 27 Bukem began a tour of the U.S., which he says is targeting 20 cities.
"At one point I will be going back to England to do my DJ residencies at clubs like Ministry of Sound and Shepherd's Bush Empire," Bukem notes. "Then I'll come back to America for a few more dates."
After the U.S., Bukem says he will continue touring in Canada, Brazil, Japan, and Europe. "But as far as number of dates go, we have more dates in the U.S. than anywhere else."
He continues, "Although I'm DJing at all the performances, maybe next year I will do a completely live performance [with a band]. But if I'm going to do that, it has to be done correctly."
Looking ahead, Bukem says to expect "even more releases [from the label] in the near future."
By year's end, the club community can expect a two-disc album from world-renowned drum'n'bass DJ/producer Blame, "Earth, Volume 5," "Logical Progressions, Volume 4" (mixed by MC Conrad, who will be accompanied by a live band), "Soul Food, Volume 2," and volumes 7-9 of "Points In Time."
Says Bukem, "While most people want to talk only about my album, I would rather look at the big picture. And one album isn't the whole of our existence. That is the difference between Good Looking and other labels.
"Most producers make music for our society, the dancefloor, or A&R guys," he continues. "This is not going to satisfy your yearning as a producer. If I could make one statement to all the producers out there, it would be to produce music for yourself. Don't get caught up in the hype or get scared that no one will sign your music. Just believe in yourself and make the music from within."
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