Indie greats Magnetic Fields plan new long album

The Magnetic Fields, whose sweeping stylistic range and often morose lyrics have made them indie music icons, on Wednesday revealed plans for a new lengthy album.

Founded by prolific songwiter Stephin Merritt, The Magnetic Fields enjoyed a breakthrough success with the three-disc 1999 album "69 Love Songs," which true to its name featured 69 songs exploring love, although not all of the tales are happy ones.

Claudia Gonson, the New York-based band's keyboardist and occasional singer who doubles up as manager, wrote in a message to fans that The Magnetic Fields "are hard at work at a new, long album, entitled '50 Song Memoir.'"

She did not reveal further details but said the album would come out in early 2017.

The band also announced concerts in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, with more dates promised. Merritt in recent years has limited live appearances as he suffers from hyperacusis, an ear disorder that makes hearing the audience's applause painful.

Merritt is known for varying widely in musical style from giddy bubble-gum pop to grim ballads full of self-loathing. He has also recorded with several side projects including Future Bible Heroes, The 6ths and The Gothic Archies.

The last Magnetic Fields album, "Love at the Bottom of the Sea," came out in 2012. Other albums, showing Merritt's appreciation of concepts, include "i" in which each song begins with the alphabet's ninth letter.