Merge Records describes Get Lost as “thirteen songs from the worst year of Stephin Merritt’s life.” If The Magnetic Fields’ 50 Song Memoir is anything to go off, that year is either “’94 - Haven’t Got A Penny” or “’95 - A Serious Mistake”… pretty bleak! Nevertheless, Get Lost plays like a smarter, cooler, 90s New York version of The Queen Is Dead - from the models on the cover to Merritt’s miserable oozing - played with synths and drum machines. The album jumps off with Merritt singing “the rest of life pales in significance / I’m looking for somebody with whom to dance” over a sparsely strummed ukulele, and only gets more sad from there. “Smoke And Mirrors” is the real banger here; I can’t help but wonder if this tune made its way into the east coast goth clubs of the day… highly recommended for fans of Depeche Mode and John Maus. Also check out “All The Umbrellas In London,” “Love Is Lighter Than Air,” “The Desperate Things You Made Me Do” and “The Dreaming Moon.” 180g black vinyl pressing with download code, recommended.

• 180g vinyl pressing
• printed inner sleeve
• digital download included
• limited edition
• music label: Merge 2008

reviewed by hannibal chew 02/2018