The Gothic Archies - The Tragic Treasury

“The world is a very scary place.” The Gothic Archies are the part time project of the prolific baritone bard of New York, Stephin Merritt. Better known for his work with The Magnetic Fields, Stephin has resurfaced his other band, after a ten-year hiatus, and released a 13-track compilation album of sorrowful tunes. The Gothic Archies first appeared back in 1997, releasing an EP entitled The New Despair with the sole intention of parodying goth music. The EP included songs with titles such as "Your Long White Fingers" and "The Abandoned Castle of My Soul" Shortly after the release, the Gothic Archies promptly disappeared. Stephin Merritt’s most critically acclaimed work was 69 Love Songs created under the guise of his main band The Magnetic Fields. The three-disc odyssey contained precisely what the title suggested and quickly became an indie classic. The Tragic Treasury, the latest installment in The Gothic Archies' catalogue, however, contains no songs about love. Instead, it is a treasure trove of bleak Victorian unpleasantness, darkly comical and morose, much like witnessing the Adams family singing campfire ditties with a ukulele. The songs found on the album were originally written to accompany the A Series of Unfortunate Events children’s books written by Lemony Snicket (also a part-time member of The Gothic Archies and an accomplished accordion player.) The new album coincides with the release of the final book in the series, which hit the shops with a resounding death knoll on Friday the 13th. Merritt’s evocative and yet beautifully trivial wordplay is evident through the album, whether it’s about having your face removed, walking your gargoyle or praying for death whilst listening to a violin, there is something utterly miserable here for everyone. [www.nonesuch.com]