New Music Review: The Magnetic Fields; “Andrew In Drag” (LISTEN)

The Magnetic Fields’ new single “Andrew In Drag” is a promising sign that their new album may be a return to form.

The song abandons the ill-fated experiments of the last two Magnetic Fields albums (Realism and Distortion) and sees Stephen Merritt returning to what he does best – catchy synth pop. Loaded with the kind of Casio (or Casio-esque) sounds The Magnetic Fields were known for before 69 Love Songs, “Andrew In Drag” is the best song the band has released in years. Besides the percolating synths, the song features a catchy chorus and melody, plus the kind of clever, tongue-in-cheek lyrics Merritt has become known for.

“Andrew In Drag” will be available as a 7” from Merge Records, with the B-side “The Next Time In Love I Fall.” You can pre-order it now; it will ship on January 31^st.

The track is the first single off the new album Love at the Bottom of the Sea, which will be released on March 6^th on Merge Records in North America and Domino Records overseas. Besides the single, the album title is also hopefully a sign that the band is pursuing a sound more akin to their classic 90s synth pop than the recent misfires of Distortion and Realism. The release of Love at the Bottom of the Sea will coincide with the beginning of a spring tour for the band.

The Magnetic Fields – Andrew in Drag by MergeRecords

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