Stephin Merritt might be one of the busiest songwriters in indie music. A successful movie soundtrack now under his belt, Stephin has finished up work on a new MAGNETIC FIELDS album, "i". Since he is always a man of themes, apparently all 14 tracks on the new record start with "i". The new release will be available on May 4 through Nonesuch.

Stephin has also collaborated with director Chen Shi-Zheng for their second project together. The opera, "Peach Blossom Fan", will be premiering on April 9th in Los Angeles. As if all of this wasn't enough... The Magnetic Fields are going out on tour. It will be a quick jaunt through the US stopping in Philly, Western Mass., NYC, Boston, Minneapolis and cummulating with 3(!) shows in Chicago.