Junkie XL Gets Out More Guitar For Today

02/28/06 7:00pm

by Phil Villeneuve (CHARTattack)

The XL in Junkie XL's name stands for eXpanding Limits of perception and reality, something the sought-after artist/producer/remixer hopes to do with his new album.Today will be released via Ultra Records in North America and Roadrunner internationally on April 18.

The follow-up to 2004's Radio JXL: A Broadcast From The Computer Hell Cabin — which featured guest vocals from the likes of The Cure's Robert Smith, Gary Numan and Public Enemy's Chuck D — was completely inspired by the three years that the Dutch artist (real name Tom Holkenborg) has just spent working and living in Los Angeles.

"That's why this album is a perfect snapshot of where I am at the moment musically," Holkenborg told Billboard.com. "That's why it's called Today. Where I am tomorrow, I don't know."

The new album is less electronic and more guitar-driven than Hell Cabin and mostly features vocals by L.A.-based Nathan Mader. The little-known singer lends his pipes to the title track lead single, which has a video directed by Glenn Cole.Holkenborg is also at work on an unrelated project for the upcoming film Dead Or Alive that's based on the video game of the same name.

"The music is almost like a very new version of what the old scores were for James Bond movies and Mission Impossible," Holkenborg said. "It has really strong themes and cool use of guitars, sound and orchestral stuff."Holkenborg also recently remixed Coldplay's "Talk."