Name: Quickies
Brand: The Magnetic Fields

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

0075597922080

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2020-05-29

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Warner Music Group

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

Total Cap

5 / 7" / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

0075597920567

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Softpack

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1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

The Magnetic Fields

Genre GB

Alternative / Modern

Label GB

Nonesuch

Nonesuch is a US record label that was created in 1964 as a budget label for classical releases. It eventually expanded to include adventurous music from around the globe and world-premiere recordings of contemporary composers. Nonesuch has gone through various ownership changes over the years, including being acquired by Warner Communications in 1970 and becoming a sub-label of Warner Bros. Records in 2004.

Under the leadership of Jac Holzman, Nonesuch was established as a budget label for classical releases licensed from large record companies in Britain and France. Designed by Bill Harvey, the packaging emphasized affordability with releases marketed as "Recordings at the Price of a Quality Paperback."

In 1970, Nonesuch became part of Warner Communications (Kinney/WEA) and continued to release music under its own name along with other Elektra-based labels like Elektra and Asylum Records. The merger between Elektra and Atlantic labels in 2004 resulted in Nonesuch becoming a sub-label of Warner Bros. Records within the Warner Music Group.

The Magnetic Fields is an American indie pop group founded and led by Stephin Merritt. Merritt serves as the primary songwriter, producer, and vocalist for the band. The Magnetic Fields is known for their malleable musical style, which encompasses genres such as synthpop, indie pop, and noise pop. Merritt's lyrics often explore themes of love with a touch of irony, humor, and bitterness. The band has also spawned various side-projects including The 6ths, Future Bible Heroes, and The Gothic Archies.
Named after the novel "Les Champs Magnétiques," The Magnetic Fields was established as a platform for Stephin Merritt's exceptional songwriting skills. With his versatility as a multi-instrumentalist in addition to being the main creative force behind the band's music production process, Merritt has crafted a distinct sound that defies easy categorization.
While their songs span various subgenres within the realm of pop music, it is primarily their catchy synthpop-infused melodies and cleverly crafted lyrics that have garnered them recognition. Often exploring unconventional gender roles through his songwriting approach, Merritt's lyrics are both thought-provoking and entertaining.

Nonesuch Records release the Magnetic Fields’ Quickies, a set of five vinyl EPs that features twenty-eight new short songs by Stephin Merritt, ranging in length from thirteen seconds to two minutes and thirty-five seconds.

Merritt explains his thinking behind the Quickies concept: “I’ve been reading a lot of very short fiction, and I enjoyed writing 101 Two-Letter Words, the poetry book about the shortest words you can use in Scrabble. And I’ve been listening to a lot of French baroque harpsichord music. Harpsichord doesn’t lend itself to languor. So I’ve been thinking about one instrument at a time, playing for about a minute or so and then stopping, and I’ve been thinking of narratives that are only a few lines long. Also, I had been using a lot of small notebooks, so when I reach the bottom of the page, I’ve only gone a short way. Now that I’m working on a different album, I’m enforcing a large notebook rule so that I don’t do Quickies twice in a row.”

Quickies features Merritt and other Magnetic Fields band members Sam Davol, Claudia Gonson, Shirley Simms, and John Woo. They are joined by longtime friends and collaborators Chris Ewen, Daniel Handler, and Pinky Weitzman.

Quickies

Music GB

Buy The Magnetic Fields - Quickies (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.