Magnetic Fields’ ringleader Stephen Merritt is set to release an album of rare early tracks.
Stephen Merritt - Obscurities
The Magnetic Fields have long been revered by indie fans, particularly for Merritt’s precise songwriting, most notably on their triple-concept album 69 Love Songs.
Following last year’s “folk album” Realism, Merritt has unlocked the vault and will release a 14-track album of his early recordings, aptly-titled Obscurities.
Five of the tracks have never been released before now, and three of them are from the never-realised science fiction musical The Song From Venus that Merritt was working on with Lemony Snickett before 69 Love Songs.
There’s also an outtake from that album, ‘The Sun And The Sea And The Sky’, which wasn’t included because Merritt admits “it wasn’t actually about romantic love”.
There are also tracks from projects The 6ths, Buffalo Rome and The Gothic Archies.
Other tracks are pulled from rare 7-inchs, cassette tapes, compilations and audio books.
The album will be released on CD and digitally via Domino Records on October 7.
