The Magnetic Fields' recent return to Merge has already born fruit in the form of some classic reissues and a rarities comp. Now, the Stephin Merritt-led group have announced their first new studio album since returning to their former label. Entitled Love at the Bottom of the Sea, it's due out March 6.
Not only are the Magnetic Fields back with their old label, they've also rediscovered their former synth-tinged style. An announcement from Merge notes, "After putting out three synthesizer-free albums, the Magnetic Fields are returning to the signature mix of synth and acoustic sounds they established in the '90s with Merge releases such as The Charm of the Highway Strip and Get Lost."
None of the 15 songs is more than three minutes long, and they feature Merritt backed by his usual cast of contributors. The songwriter said in a statement, "Most of the synthesizers on the record didn't exist when we were last using synthesizers," so don't be too surprised if this one sounds a bit on the modern side.
If you can pre-order Love at the Bottom of the Sea from Merge soon, you can get it on limited-edition eggshell-coloured vinyl. The first 100 people who order will also receive a free signed poster and a button. You can order a copy here.
As if this weren't exciting enough, the band will be heading out on tour this spring. The extensive outing includes dates in Toronto and Montreal, so scroll past the tracklist to see the schedule.
Love at the Bottom of the Sea:
1. "God Wants Us to Wait"
2. "Andrew in Drag"
3. "Your Girlfriend's Face"
4. "Born for Love"
5. "I'd Go Anywhere with Hugh"
6. "Infatuation (With Your Gyration)"
7. "The Only Boy in Town"
8. "The Machine in Your Hand"
9. "Goin' Back to the Country"
10. "I've Run Away to Join the Fairies"
11. "The Horrible Party"
12. "My Husband's Pied-a-Terre"
13. "I Don't Like Your Tone"
14. "Quick!"
15. "All She Cares About Is Mariachi"
Tour dates:
3/6 Hudson, NY - Helsinki Hudson
3/7 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
3/8 New York, NY - Barnes and Noble
3/11 Minehead, UK - All Tomorrow's Parties
3/14-16 Austin, TX - SXSW
3/18 Vancouver, BC - The Vogue
3/19 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theater
3/20 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theater
3/21 Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
3/23 Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theater
3/24 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
3/26 Chicago, IL - Vic Theater
3/27 Chicago, IL - Vic Theater
3/28 Iowa City, IA - Englert Theater
3/30 Toronto, ON - Sound Academy
3/31 Montreal, QC - Le National
4/3 New York, NY - Beacon Theater
4/4 New York, NY - Beacon Theater
4/6 Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center
4/7 Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center
4/9 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
4/11 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
4/12 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
4/13 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
4/24 Brighton, UK - Komedia
4/25 London, UK - Royal Festival Hall
4/27 Manchester, UK - RNCM
4/28 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
4/29 Cork, Ireland - Opera House
5/1 Porto, Portugal - Casa da Musica
5/2 Lisbon, Portugal - Teatro Maria Matos
5/4 Murcia, Spain - Estrella Levante SOS 4.8
5/6 Barcelona, Spain - Sala Apolo
5/7 Madrid, Spain - Teatro Rialto
5/9 Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
5/11 Gothenburg, Sweden - Annedalskyrkan
5/12 Stockholm, Sweden - Filadelfiakyrkan
5/14 Berlin, Germany - Passionskirche
5/15 Hamburg, Germany - Kampnagel k6
5/16 Amsterdam, Netherlands - De Duif
Not only are the Magnetic Fields back with their old label, they've also rediscovered their former synth-tinged style. An announcement from Merge notes, "After putting out three synthesizer-free albums, the Magnetic Fields are returning to the signature mix of synth and acoustic sounds they established in the '90s with Merge releases such as The Charm of the Highway Strip and Get Lost."
None of the 15 songs is more than three minutes long, and they feature Merritt backed by his usual cast of contributors. The songwriter said in a statement, "Most of the synthesizers on the record didn't exist when we were last using synthesizers," so don't be too surprised if this one sounds a bit on the modern side.
If you can pre-order Love at the Bottom of the Sea from Merge soon, you can get it on limited-edition eggshell-coloured vinyl. The first 100 people who order will also receive a free signed poster and a button. You can order a copy here.
As if this weren't exciting enough, the band will be heading out on tour this spring. The extensive outing includes dates in Toronto and Montreal, so scroll past the tracklist to see the schedule.
Love at the Bottom of the Sea:
1. "God Wants Us to Wait"
2. "Andrew in Drag"
3. "Your Girlfriend's Face"
4. "Born for Love"
5. "I'd Go Anywhere with Hugh"
6. "Infatuation (With Your Gyration)"
7. "The Only Boy in Town"
8. "The Machine in Your Hand"
9. "Goin' Back to the Country"
10. "I've Run Away to Join the Fairies"
11. "The Horrible Party"
12. "My Husband's Pied-a-Terre"
13. "I Don't Like Your Tone"
14. "Quick!"
15. "All She Cares About Is Mariachi"
Tour dates:
3/6 Hudson, NY - Helsinki Hudson
3/7 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
3/8 New York, NY - Barnes and Noble
3/11 Minehead, UK - All Tomorrow's Parties
3/14-16 Austin, TX - SXSW
3/18 Vancouver, BC - The Vogue
3/19 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theater
3/20 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theater
3/21 Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
3/23 Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theater
3/24 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
3/26 Chicago, IL - Vic Theater
3/27 Chicago, IL - Vic Theater
3/28 Iowa City, IA - Englert Theater
3/30 Toronto, ON - Sound Academy
3/31 Montreal, QC - Le National
4/3 New York, NY - Beacon Theater
4/4 New York, NY - Beacon Theater
4/6 Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center
4/7 Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center
4/9 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
4/11 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
4/12 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
4/13 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
4/24 Brighton, UK - Komedia
4/25 London, UK - Royal Festival Hall
4/27 Manchester, UK - RNCM
4/28 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
4/29 Cork, Ireland - Opera House
5/1 Porto, Portugal - Casa da Musica
5/2 Lisbon, Portugal - Teatro Maria Matos
5/4 Murcia, Spain - Estrella Levante SOS 4.8
5/6 Barcelona, Spain - Sala Apolo
5/7 Madrid, Spain - Teatro Rialto
5/9 Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
5/11 Gothenburg, Sweden - Annedalskyrkan
5/12 Stockholm, Sweden - Filadelfiakyrkan
5/14 Berlin, Germany - Passionskirche
5/15 Hamburg, Germany - Kampnagel k6
5/16 Amsterdam, Netherlands - De Duif
