Niki N. Phaser

              So, the rumours were wrong… Manic Street Preachers‘ next album will not be titled It’s Not War – Just the End of Love, but Postcards From A Young Man. It will be their 10th, due to be released this September, and even though they call it “one last shot at mass communication” let’s hope they are not getting crazy ideas like retiring. They might also mean just that this new album will be more radio-friendly than Journal for Plague Lovers, last year’s ultimate alternative masterpiece. At least, that’s what James Dean Bradfield told NME. Their last pop-oriented release was Lifeblood (which is, btw, the album that made me fall in love with this band), so things are looking good. And if you are in the UK, your luck is double, because that is where they start the tour promoting this new one. September through November will see them taking new material to the major joints on the island. Till then, keep your eyes on the Manics’ site:

INFO MANIC

                In a recent video message, Amy Lee gave the good news to fans all over the world: a new Evanescence album, the third, is in the works. They’ll start recording this month. And that’s not all. The band are also showcasing a new song, which is in fact an unreleased track from The Open Door, their 2006 LP. It is titled Together Again and it sounds like a perfect soundtrack for a Tim Burton horror animation (and I think you know what I mean). It was also available as  a download, with the proceeds going to a Haiti benefit.

               Being a B-side from their previous album, this might not be relevant in guessing what their current project will sound like. They have been writing throughout the summer “some pretty interesting stuff” and the new thing is expected to hit the stores sometime in the fall.

TOGETHER AGAIN here

                   French pop-princess Alizée is about to take another step in her career, meaning a new album is on the way. It is entitled Une Enfant Du Siècle and it will be her fourth, marking also a decade since her spectacular debut with Gourmandises. On this one she is working with producers/remixers Chateau Marmont, as well as David Rubato or Jérôme Echenoz (maybe some of you noticed Mylene Farmer’s absence). She’ll most likely further the more mature sound initiated by her previous release, Psychédélices, which was more club-oriented, as opposed to the disco-oriented sound of her first two records (you figure out the difference). Not that it would be a bad thing — Jamais Plus is quite a delight.

                   Une Enfant Du Siècle will be out this march, but you can pre-order a special edition, containing vinyls, a poster, photos signed by the singer herself, here:

OFFICIAL SITE