After extensive touring in support of their 2010 comeback ‘History of Modern,’ Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark will return to the studio early next month to begin work on a follow-up, already titled ‘English Electric,’ according to a post on the band’s Facebook page credited to Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys.

Paul Weller this morning announced he’ll release his 11th solo album — the 14-track ‘Sonik Kicks,’ featuring appearances by Noel Gallagher and Graham Coxon — in March, and will preview the new collection with two pre-release London concerts at which he’ll perform the new album in its entirety.

A long-planned rarities compilation from London post-punk outfit The Lucy Show — ‘Remembrances’ — finally will be released next month, collecting 17 tracks that never have been released on CD, including the band’s 1983 debut single, alternates takes and five demos of tracks that appeared on 1985’s ‘…undone.’

The musical reunion of former Depeche Mode bandmates Vince Clarke and Martin L. Gore that was first revealed last summer will see the light of day later this month when the duo releases the first in a series of techno EPs under the moniker VCMG — to be followed by a full-length album in early 2012, Mute Records announced today.

As Peter Hook first revealed to Slicing Up Eyeballs in August, the since-reunited New Order will release the songs left over from 2005 swan song ‘Waiting for the Sirens’ Call’ — in an eight-track CD/LP package called ‘Lost Sirens’ that is due to be released in December by Rhino Records.

The Pet Shop Boys not only are expecting to release a new studio album in 2012, they’re currently assembling a brand-new B-sides compilation — a sequel to 1995’s 2CD set ‘Alternative’ that will be called ‘Format,’ and span the years 1996 to 2009 — for release in February, the duo revealed in a new interview this week.

The future of Sonic Youth may still be uncertain, but fans can at least take solace in Matador Records’ announcement today that Lee Ranaldo will release a new solo album called ‘Between The Times & The Tides’ next spring — and judging by the recent live debut of the songs, it’s a fairly rock-oriented affair.

Killing Joke’s reunited original lineup has plans for a busy 2012, with recording underway for a new studio album due early in the year, an elaborate live CD/DVD package set for release in January and a tour of the U.K. and Europe set to open in March.

The Mike Peters-fronted Big Country is commemorating its U.K. comeback tour earlier this year with a collection called ‘Dreams Stay With You: Live 21st April 2011,’ a full 19-track performance spread across two CDs and two DVDs — and which you can preview via a clip of the show-closing ‘In a Big Country.’

EMI this week released the first in a new series of Peel Sessions compilations, a 2CD set called ‘Movement: BBC Radio 1 Peel Sessions 1977–1979’ that compiles recordings by 41 different punk, post-punk, reggae and 2 Tone acts including Joy Division, XTC, The Jam, Simple Minds, The Specials, Public Image Ltd. and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

The Cure will release a 2CD live recording next month of its full, 32-song set at the U.K.’s Bestival this past September, marking the first official live album from Robert Smith and Co. since 1993’s back-to-back ‘Show’ and ‘Paris’ releases recorded during the ‘Wish’ tour — and the first time ever the band has released a complete concert on disc.

Magazine — the post-punk act that Howard Devoto formed in 1977 after leaving the Buzzcocks — is poised to this week release ‘No Thyself,’ the band’s fifth studio album and first in 30 years, before embarking on a short U.K. tour this November.

David J is poised to release a new solo album called ‘Not Long For This World’ — featuring new songs and covers of tracks by Smog, Ed Harcourt, Tom Waits and Dennis Wilson — and he’ll revisit his Love and Rockets tenure by playing two California shows next week with tribute act Luv’n Rockets.