The Magnetic Fields

OH Productions presents The Magnetic Fields

The Magnetic Fields is the project of studio wunderkind Stephin Merritt. Merritt writes, produces, and generally sings all of their material, as well as plays many of the instruments, concocting a sort of indie pop synth rock. While the Magnetic Fields may draw upon the electronic textures of vintage acts like ABBA, Kraftwerk, Roxy Music with Eno, Joy Division, and Gary Numan, Merritt’s vision is far more pointed toward the alternative rock underground. His songs are also far warmer and more pure pop-oriented than these reference points might lead you to believe, sounding at times like late 20th-century equivalents to Phil Spector or Brian Wilson.


Merritt had been recording on his own four-track from a very young age, but didn’t issue the first Magnetic Fields album until 1990, when he was well into his twenties. The first pair of discs featured the choirgirl vocals of Susan Amway. On subsequent releases, Merritt handled the vocals himself in a deep croon not far removed from his European influences. The synth-pop quotient also became heavier, although Merritt has always taken care to mix in quite a few natural instruments with the electronic ones, often with the help of Claudia Gonson (percussion) and Sam Davol (cello, flute). The emphasis has always remained on the pop hooks and eccentric, romantically reflective lyrics rather than the bedrock synthetic rhythms and textures.

In addition to his work with Magnetic Fields, Merritt has involved himself in several side projects, the most notable being the 6ths’ 1995 album Wasps’ Nests album. Merritt sang only one track himself on this disc, for which he acted as composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist, employing singers like Barbara Manning, Dean Wareham (Luna), Lou Barlow, Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo), Chris Knox, and Robert Scott (the Bats) to handle the lead vocals. After releasing 1997’s New Despair as the Gothic Archies, Merritt finally returned to the Magnetic Fields aegis for 1999’s 69 Love Songs, released as both a trio of separate discs as well as a limited edition three-CD box set. Merritt spent the next few years releasing more side projects, including records from the Gothic Archies, Future Bible Heroes, the 6ths, as well as numerous soundtracks.

It wasn’t until 2004 that Merritt and his Magnetic Fields finally got around to making i, a collection of songs that begin with the aforementioned vowel. Distortion followed in early 2008; shortly thereafter, Merritt set to work on an acoustic folk-influenced album, Realism, which comes out in January 2010. Whereas Distortion was an album of power-pop songs with heavily distorted guitars, in homage to the Jesus and Mary Chain’s Psychocandy, Realism finds Merritt drawing inspiration from late-60s/early-70s orchestral and psychedelic folk. Realism’s all-acoustic recording line up featured no electronic instruments, and used untraditional percussion instruments, ranging from tabla to tree leaves.

OH Productions is proud to present the Magnetic Fields’ only northern date, and their first visit to Manchester since 2006.