The irresistible pull of the Magnetic Fields
I’ve been listening to ‘I’ by the Magnetic Fields for a few weeks now. I haven’t wanted to write anything about it on here, because the whole Magentic Fields/ Stephin Merritt thing is very new to me, and I feel like a late intruder at a family party.
I only heard about them recently by browsing someone else’s iTunes library at work (a few of us share..it’s very co-operative if a little competitive) and coming across an album with 69 tracks: his classic 69 Love Songs.
Little did I know I’d stumbled on something so universally acclaimed so incredibly late (yet again).
So, I is a great album. But I’m not going to get any further drawn than that. I read a dissertation-like review by journalist and fan Douglas Wolk in the Nation the other week (unfortunately, not on their site), and frankly after that, anything I say will feel quite leaden and clumsy. Will be following his blog in future.
The one thing I can add is that with those smart lyrics, catch melodies and deep croony voice…it really, really reminded me of a mellowed down version of the greatest band to come out of Northampton: The Jazz Butcher.
I’d completely forgotten about the sheer wonder that is JB’s Scandal In Bohemia. If you’ve one of the Magne-scenti, and you’ve never heard it, you should give it a go. Even if you’re not you should. Go ahead: make an 80s almost pop-star very happy.