The Magnetic Fields, whose new album, 50 Song Memoir, is due March 10 on Nonesuch, have unveiled the video for the album track "'81 How to Play the Synthesizer," via its YouTube channel. The song, which may be downloaded now with pre-orders of the album on iTunes and the Nonesuch Store, is one of fifty on the five-disc set that chronicles the fifty years of songwriter Stephin Merritt's life with one song per year. You can watch it below.
The video was directed by John Erickson, Alex Basco Koch, and José Zayas and produced by Ghost Corporeal. It was originally created for the Magnetic Fields' 50 Song Memoir concert tour directed by Zayas. Audiences across the United States can have a look at all of the great visuals that are part of the stage extravaganza in person when the tour begins in full swing on March 15. For tickets, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.
For another sneak peek at the live show's visuals, the fifty-day countdown to the album's release continues on the band's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.
50 Song Memoir may be pre-ordered now at iTunes and in the Nonesuch Store, where "'81 How to Play the Synthesizer," "'83 Foxx and I," and one song from each of the five decades of Merritt's life may be downloaded immediately. 50 Song Memoir is available in five-LP and five-CD editions including an extensive interview by Daniel Handler and facsimile handwritten lyrics by Merritt, and as a standalone bound book with a full-album download card. For a limited time, pre-orders at the Nonesuch Store also come with an exclusive print signed by Merritt.