SMALL FACES

While waiting to see the reception she gets for her major film debut in “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” Courtney Love has reconvened her band Hole in Los Angeles to start work on the follow-up to “Live Through This,” which the nation’s critics named the best album of 1994. Reportedly, nine songs are written and ready to record, though no timetable has been set for a release. Don’t expect it to be ready before Oscar time in March, though. . . .

With David Gahan back to work after his overdose, arrest and rehab stay, Depeche Mode is set to release the single “Barrel of the Gun,” in February, previewing the April release of its first new album since “Songs of Faith and Devotion,” which debuted at No. 1 in 1993. The band will be in London and Morocco this week with director-photographer Anton Corbijn shooting a video for the single. . . .

Prince, who has done recent “surprise” performances in Chicago and New York, is expected to do the same in Los Angeles, though neither date nor location has been set. Of course if they had, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Meanwhile, the Artist has taped a guest role on an episode of the returning ABC-TV show “The Muppets,” set to air in February. . . . Also on an upcoming “Muppets” show will be Coolio, who is also booked as a guest for “Politically Incorrect” on its Jan. 6 inaugural show after moving to ABC from Comedy Central. . . .

Singer-songwriter Mary Lou Lord will follow a new EP on the Kill Rock Stars label by starting work on her major-label debut for Sony’s Work Group. Bongload Records founders Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf will produce the album. . . . Rothrock and Schnapf will also produce the major-label debut for Silver Lake’s Lutefisk, which is signing to A&M; for albums to follow the January release of “Burn in Hell” on Bongload. . . .

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have a new album, produced by the ubiquitous team of Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie (Hole’s “Live Through This,” among others), due in March.