What is the Gagging Law?

You might have heard about the “gagging law” currently being voted on by MPs. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s really bad news. If it goes through, it will have a chilling effect on British democracy and on our right to speak up on the issues that matter to us.

Basically, the law slashes the spending limits on campaigning for the year before any election. Campaigns that have impact don’t cost the earth, but they aren't free.

Community groups, charities and campaigning organisations would all be hit. Election time is when ordinary people have the most influence on our politicians. On the big issues of the day – whether or not to go to war, the future of our NHS, the environment, welfare, immigration, etc. – we'd all be gagged.

The problem is that this law has come out of nowhere and not many people have heard what’s going on. If we’re going to defeat it, we need to get the word out further. If every single person who’s ever joined a local campaign group or taken action with their favourite charity knew that they could be stopped from doing that again, the outcry could explode.

Here’s a simple five minute video you can watch for more information. Can you take a look, and then help get the word out by passing it on to your friends and family?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/gagging-law-video

Return of Nine Inch Nails

Trent Reznor Announces the Return of Nine Inch Nails: Extensive Touring for 2013 and 2014

"The band is reinventing itself from scratch"

By Amy Phillips on February 25, 2013 at 09:00 a.m.

Photo by Rob Sheridan

It's been four years since Nine Inch Nails' "Wave Goodbye" tour heralded the end of an era for Trent Reznor's pioneering project. But since that time, Reznor has maintained that NINwasn't over forever, just changing focus.

Now, Reznor has announced that Nine Inch Nails will return to action in a big way in 2013. Tours are planned for this summer and fall, all the way into next year. The lineup will include Reznor, Eric Avery of Jane's Addiction, Adrian Belew of King Crimson, and Josh Eustis of Telefon Tel Aviv, as well as previous NIN collaborators Alessandro Cortini and Ilan Rubin.

Here is the statement from Reznor:

"NOTE FROM TRENT:

Nine Inch Nails are touring this year.

I was working with Adrian Belew on some musical ideas, which led to some discussion on performing, which led to some beard-scratching, which (many steps later) led to the decision to re-think the idea of what Nine Inch Nails could be, and the idea of playing a show. Calls were made to some friends, lots of new ideas were discussed, and a show was booked - which led to another, which somehow led to a lot of shows.

The band is reinventing itself from scratch and will be comprised of Eric Avery, Adrian Belew, Alessandro Cortini, Josh Eustis, Ilan Rubin, and me. The first shows will begin this summer, followed by a full-on arena tour of the US this fall, and lots of other dates worldwide to follow through 2014.

Lots of details and dates to come. See you soon.

TR"

Meanwhile, How to Destroy Angels, Reznor's project with his wife Mariqueen Maandig and longtime collaborators Rob Sheridan and Atticus Ross, will release their debut albumWelcome oblivion March 5 on Columbia. Listen to the album in full over at Pitchfork's streaming platform Pitchfork Advance.

Delta Machine Heaven

New Studio Album ‘Delta Machine’ Set For Release March 26th on Columbia Records Depeche Mode to Debut Video for First Single ‘Heaven’ on VEVO Next Friday, February 1st

(Columbia Records; New York, NY; January 24, 2013) – Depeche Mode have announced they will release their highly anticipated 13th studio album, entitled Delta Machine, on March 26th worldwide via Columbia Records. The album, recorded over the last year in Santa Barbara, California and New York City, was produced by Ben Hillier and mixed by Flood. In addition to the album announcement, Depeche Mode have also confirmed that the video for the first single “Heaven” will debut on VEVO next Friday, February 1st. Alongside a standard CD format, Depeche Mode will release Delta Machine in an exclusive Deluxe Edition with four additional new tracks and accompanied by a 28 page hardcover book including photos by longtime artistic collaborator Anton Corbijn (please see track listing, as well as album and single configurations below).

Martin Gore said of the release, “Writing this album was incredibly daunting as I wanted the sound of this collection to be very modern. I want people to feel good about listening to this record, to get some kind of peace. It’s just got something magical about it.”

Dave Gahan added, “With this release we’ve completely shifted our idea of how to create an album. When we hit a wall where we realize the album is beginning to sound too normal, we’ll mess it up and really give it that organic Depeche Mode Sound. Delta Machine is no different, and I can’t wait for all of our fans to hear it.”

Following the release of their new album, Depeche Mode will embark on a European stadium tour, kicking off in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park on May 7th. They will perform 34 shows in 25 European countries, featuring appearances at Milan’s famed San Siro Stadium, the Stade De France in Paris, and Moscow’s Locomotive Stadium before wrapping up the European leg of their tour in Minsk, Belarus on July 29. A full North American tour will follow, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.

The tracklisting for Delta Machine is as follows:

STANDARD:

1 - Welcome To My World

2 - Angel

3 - Heaven

4 - Secret To The End

5 - My Little Universe

6 - Slow

7 - Broken

8 - The Child Inside

9 - Soft Touch / Raw Nerve

10 - Should Be Higher

11 - Alone

12 - Soothe My Soul

13 - Goodbye

DELUXE EDITION: (includes hardcover 28-page booklet)

DISC 1

1 - Welcome To My World

2 - Angel

3 - Heaven

4 - Secret To The End

5 - My Little Universe

6 - Slow

7 - Broken

8 - The Child Inside

9 - Soft Touch / Raw Nerve

10 - Should Be Higher

11 - Alone

12 - Soothe My Soul

13 - Goodbye

DISC 2

1 - Long Time Lie

2 - Happens All The Time

3 - Always

4 - All That’s Mine

The tracklisting for the “Heaven” CD single is as follows:

“Heaven” CD SINGLE:

1 - Heaven

2 - All That’s Mine (b side bonus track)

“Heaven” CD MAXI:

1 - Heaven

2 - Heaven (Owlle Remix)

3 - Heaven (steps to heaven rmx)

4 - Heaven (Blawan Remix)

5 - Heaven (Mathew Dear vs Audion Remix)

January 24, 2013