Today sees the debut of the musical reunion of former Depeche Mode bandmates Vince Clarke and Martin L. Gore in the form of ‘Spock,’ the first single off the newly christened VCMG’s as-yet-to-be-titled album, due out next year. Check out streams of the original mix and two remixes.
The newly reunited Dead Can Dance are offering fans a free download of a four-track digital EP entitled ‘Live Happenings — Part 1’ to help tide them over in anticipation of the group’s 2012 reunion album and world tour, which is slated to begin in July and encompass North and South America, Europe, Australia and the Far East.
Pioneering synthpop outfit Heaven 17 is treating fans to a free digital EP featuring a new acoustic recording of its 1982 hit ‘Let Me Go,’ plus live recordings of ‘(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang”‘and ‘Penthouse & Pavement.’ The ‘Rarities 2011’ EP is available as a free download in exchange for an e-mail address.
Still another week before the release of Kate Bush’s new album ’50 Words for Snow’ — a 65-minute collection featuring ‘seven brand new tracks set against a background of falling snow’ — but you can now stream the full record in advance of its release via NPR Music.
There’s still more than a week before R.E.M.’s career-capping best-of is released, but, thanks to the folks NPR, you can now stream the full 40-song ‘Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011’ — which, for fans, means 37 songs you know and love plus those three new tracks.
Indie-rock heroes Superchunk, ‘in the tradition of doing something we did last year,’ have posted a brand-new cover of The Misfits’ ‘Where Eagles Dare,’ which originally appeared as the B-side to the horror-punk band’s 1979 single ‘Night of the Living Dead.’
A few tracks from Q magazine’s tribute to U2′s ‘Achtung Baby’ dribbled out in advance of the issue’s arrival this week, but we’re now finally able to present the full set — featuring Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Jack White, The Killers, Garbage and U2 itself (in remixed form) — thanks to YouTube uploader ToneNoir.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 