Eban & Charley

Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields, The 6ths, Future Bible Heroes, Gothic Archies) once commented in an interview that he enjoys bubblegum music and experimental music, and very little in between. On this, his first release under his own name, away from his many musical alter egos, Merritt gets to explore both sides of his musical psyche, and the results are simply stunning. Merritt composed, arranged, performed, and recorded all of the material on "Eban & Charley" in his own studio. It was an opportunity to indulge both his love of lush, perfect pop songs as well as his more abstract tendencies. Merritt even put together his own unique take on traditional standards – "O Tannenbaum" and "Greensleeves." "Eban & Charley" is a mesmerizing film, and Stephin Merritt has created an equally subtle and fascinating score, surely enhancing his stature as one of the most talented and respected composer/songwriters of his generation.