24th January 2000

Mal Holmes has sent an update from Fin Music revealing the music label's recent activities.

Fin have been working with an artist called Dean Johnson on a track called Cambridge Blues. Dean has been busy in the studio adding the finishing touches to his new album Loser Friendly which features Mally collaborating with Dean on drums and in the production of the album. Mal's contribution on drums are his first since his work on The Listening Pool's album Still Life back in 1993. Loser Friendly is scheduled for release on-line toward the end of March.

Fin have also recently signed a new R&B band called Promise and have a demo track, Waiting, on-line this week. Mal adds:

"It's an excellent tune with an acoustic guitar accompaniment working well with their superb vocals. The lads recently impressed a film crew who were visiting our studio compiling a careers advice video regarding the music business. They were filmed performing the track live in the studio, and later gave their own advice to other young musicians hoping to make their mark in the business. It's rumored that they may be accompanied by the film crew on their up and coming UK club tour ".

Spencer from North America writes to say that the Sealand website he maintains will be taken offline shortly.

"...due to issues of time, I have been horribly neglecting upkeep on my website, so I have decided to take it off the net. I hate to do it because the music of OMD has been so detrimental in my life throughout the years, (and I'm only 20!), and I still enjoy the music immensely. but, with other responsibilites demanding more and more of my time, (i.e. college, employment, ect.), I find it impossible to maintain Sealand".

"out of curiousity, what ever became of the three proposed NEW songs that were going to be released along side the b-side comp.? is that idea still going through?"

After all the hectic Millennium festivities it's nice to settle down into routine business on the OMD Website (despite the Millennium Bug hitting the Guestbook during the early part of January!). The good news is that we have concrete information regarding record releases...

More news on these developments will be posted as information becomes available.

After many technical problems, the OMD Discography is getting very close to completion. Moving on from the early abridged versions available via the website, the new Discography will take the form of a database covering all of OMD's UK record releases. As well as details on format, release date and track listing, this Discography will also feature background information and trivia on OMD's many songs. Stay tuned for more details on when the Discography will be posted on-line.

Also in the pipeline is an OMD Message Board. This is a slightly different variation on the existing OMD Guestbook which will allow fans to conduct threaded debates and discussions on any subject of their choice. There's still a few technical problems to iron out but this new feature should be online around the same time as the new Discography.