After a succession of EPs and singles, UK synthpop group Magnetic Skies are gearing up to launch their inaugural album, “Empire Falling,” available from 3rd November.

Originally conceived in 2019 as a studio-focused venture by lead singer and keyboardist Simon Kent along with Jo Womar, also on keys, the duo were motivated by a mutual appreciation for 1980s synth-infused post-punk music. They commenced crafting their distinctive sound, releasing a series of EPs throughout 2020. As time progressed, the outfit transitioned to live performances, incorporating guitarist Carlos Aguilar and drummer Lenin Alegria into their ensemble. This expanded line-up is responsible for their first full-length album, “Empire Falling,” set for release on 3rd November. The album’s production and mixing were largely undertaken by Kent himself, with supplementary mixing contributions from Rob Aubrey, known for his engineering work with Big Big Train, Asia, and Tony Levin.

Speaking about the album, frontman Simon Kent remarks, “The record is introspective, lyrical, and guides the listener on an emotional odyssey, ranging from melancholic nostalgia to joy and elation. My aspiration is for the audience to connect with the music and lyrics on a personal level and to evoke emotional resonance. This album serves as an apt conclusion to the band’s formative chapter, encapsulating the musical evolution that took place as we transitioned from a duo to a quartet, and as we learned to collaborate effectively.”

The album also features the band’s debut single for 2023, “You Shine On,” along with an earlier single, “Suffocate.” Additional tracks include ‘The KVB Remix’ of “The Last Time,” as well as Magnetic Mix versions of “Into Paradise,” “You Shine On,” and “Darker Night.”

You can experience Magnetic Skies’ live performances on the following dates:

• Sun 24th September – Music In The City Festival, Southampton
• Sat 30th September – The Railway Inn, Winchester
• Sat 14th October – The Loft, Portsmouth
• Sun 19th November – The Lexington, London (supporting B-Movie)
• Sat 25th November – The Winchester Gate, Salisbury

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Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Marc Massive of Massive Ego has resurfaced solo, presenting an EP and a short film entitled “Idol Lies”. Massive had to part ways with Massive Ego, the band he had spearheaded since 1996, due to a breakdown.

Marc assures us that it’s not the end of his career, stating: “However, time is a healer and creativity never ceases. Reinvention and rejuvenation emerge from self-help, therapy, and the exploration of one’s inner spirit through meditation, manifesting, reading, and writing. Leaving the past to rest while crucially allowing new ideas to flourish.”

Below, you can find the four-track EP.

There’s also a short film for “Idol Lies”. Here’s Marc’s take on the film: “Imagine dark pop surrealism intersecting with a fond 50’s B-movie tribute, a surprising tone considering the sombre story that sparked it. Presented as ‘the naked truth’ and situated amidst the decaying attractions of a derelict seaside pier. It portrays a personal journey, filled with hidden symbolism that accentuates a declining musician’s descent into paranoia, forced into retreat while his critics celebrated his downfall. ‘Idol Dies’ through ‘Idle Lies’. All against a backdrop of formidable mental health challenges and catastrophic thinking, to confronting his inner demons on the arduous journey back from the edge. The story unfolds as a continuous musical narrative through the rides and attractions of the pier. Removing the disguise, the self-imposed chains of a once-admired alter ego. Finished off in a ‘Ziggy’-worthy finale, the pretences of a contrived facade laid to rest, eventually disclosing his true self, newfound spirit and a yearning to forgive, appreciate and rise anew.”

Marc is currently working on his memoirs, running, bird-feeding, and composing songs.

You can find the short film “Idol Lies” below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Die Krupps have just released a brand new single from their upcoming cover album “Songs from the Dark Side of Heaven”. Out now is their version of Gang Of Four’s “To Hell With Poverty” featuring a special guest appearance from Killing Joke co-founder and drummer Big Paul Ferguson. You can check it out below.

The cover album will be out on May 28th and holds reworks of those tracks that influenced them over the years. Included on this album which sees a vinyl and CD release are covers from Sparks, The Neon Judgement, Devo, Blue Öyster Cult, Gang Of Four, The Stranglers, Queen, B-Movie, Fad Gadget, Herringer & Siciliano.

The album also holds special guest appearances by – as mentioned above – Killing Joke’s Big Paul Ferguson, The Stooges’ James Williamson, The 69 Eyes’ Jyrki 69 and The Dictators’/Manowar’s Ross The Boss.

The artwork is of course a clear reference to Pink Floyd’s 1973 album “The Dark Side of the Moon” as created by George Hardie which depicts the light refracting from a triangular prism.

Tracks (same for CD and Vinyl):

1. The Number One Song in Heaven (originally by Sparks)
2. Chinese Black feat. Jyrki 69 (originally by The Neon Judgement)
3. Whip it (originally by Devo)
4. (Don’t fear) The Reaper feat. James Williamson (originally by Blue Öyster Cult)
5. To Hell with Poverty! feat. Big Paul Ferguson (originally by Gang Of Four)
6. No more Heroes feat. Ross The Boss (originally by The Stranglers)
7. Another One bites the Dust (originally by Queen)
8. Marilyn Dreams (originally by B-Movie)
9. Collapsing New People (originally by Fad Gadget)
10. New York (Version 9/11) (originally by Herringer & Siciliano)

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Out on May 28th is the first ever cover album by Die Krupps, well, the second actually since they did the “A Tribute To Metallica” after all. On the album they are reworking those tracks that influenced them over the years. Included on this album which sees a vinyl and CD release are covers from Sparks, The Neon Judgement, Devo, Blue Öyster Cult, Gang Of Four, The Stranglers, Queen, B-Movie, Fad Gadget, Herringer & Siciliano.

The album also holds special guest appearances by Killing Joke’s Big Paul Ferguson, The Stooges’ James Williamson, The 69 Eyes’ Jyrki 69 and The Dictators’/Manowar’s Ross The Boss.

Tracks (same for CD and Vinyl):

1. The Number One Song in Heaven (originally by Sparks)
2. Chinese Black feat. Jyrki 69 (originally by The Neon Judgement)
3. Whip it (originally by Devo)
4. (Don’t fear) The Reaper feat. James Williamson (originally by Blue Öyster Cult)
5. To Hell with Poverty! feat. Big Paul Ferguson (originally by Gang Of Four)
6. No more Heroes feat. Ross The Boss (originally by The Stranglers)
7. Another One bites the Dust (originally by Queen)
8. Marilyn Dreams (originally by B-Movie)
9. Collapsing New People (originally by Fad Gadget)
10. New York (Version 9/11) (originally by Herringer & Siciliano)

The following 3 singles were already released announcing this release.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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You can now listen to Erol Alkan’s extended rework of “Singularity” taken from New Order’s forthcoming single, out on March 25, 2016 and available right here on vinyl. The new single, available on 12” and download, features remixes from Erol Alkan, Liars, Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers and JS Zeiter, and is available now for pre-order in different versions.

The video for the original track (which you can see here) is a fast-paced collage of footage taken from “B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989”, the story of Mark Reeder’s life in 1980s West-Berlin. Damian Hale, the man responsible for the visuals that make up New Order’s stage show, edited the video. “Singularity” features scenes of a city divided by the Wall showing a cultural inter-zone in which everything and anything seemed possible.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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New Order has announced the release of their video for their latest single, “Singularity,” out March 25, 2016 on Mute. The video is a fast-paced collage of footage taken from “B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989”, the story of Mark Reeder’s life in 1980s West-Berlin. Damian Hale, the man responsible for the visuals that make up New Order’s stage show, edited the video. “Singularity” features scenes of a city divided by the Wall showing a cultural inter-zone in which everything and anything seemed possible.

You can watch the video here:

It’s not just a coincidence that Reeder pops up in New Order’s video. In 1981, Reeder formed the synthpop-rock duo Die Unbekannten (later renamed as Shark Vegas) and toured Western Europe with New Order in 1984. In 1986, Shark Vegas released the 12″ single “You Hurt Me” which was produced by Bernard Sumner. In September 2009, he released a collaboration album of reworks of tracks by Blank & Jones titled “Reordered” for which he rewrote and replayed all the tracks. This album features vocals by artists as Robert Smith of The Cure, Steve Kilbey of The Church, Bernard Sumner, Claudia Brücken of Propaganda and Anne Clark. On his last studio album 6 of the 13 tracks feature vocals by Bernard Sumner.

Oh, in 1991, Reeder discovered the teenage Paul van Dyk, guiding and paving his way to build up his now international DJ superstardom. In short, he’s a well connected man.

In the meantime New Order has also been announced as headliner at the Teenage Cancer Trust show of April 23rd at the Royal Albert Hall.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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