The Magnetic Fields made their way through England over the weekend and into Monday, when they played at London's Barbican Centre. They have now brought the music of their latest Nonesuch release, Realism, to the Continent for one more week of shows, including stops in Sweden, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands.

While in Manchester, for the start of the tour last week, the BBC's LGBT Citizen Manchester featured an interview with band frontman Stephin Merritt. Contributor Claire Mooney, who spoke with Merritt for the show, describes him as "a fantastically fascinating bloke who's a brilliant songwriter as well singer." She found him "compelling" and their discussion to be "one of the most honest interviews from a songwriter about how hard it is to work on the art of it." You can hear it again online at bbc.co.uk.

The band's set at the Barbican on Monday elicited "well earned applause," says the Evening Standard's David Smyth. In a four-star review, Smyth says the quintet "offered plenty of variety in the 27 different takes on love" in the show's set. Read the concert review at thisislondon.co.uk.
 
The Arts Desk's David Cheal says the band makes "music that’s clever, witty, strange and funny, but also thoroughly and, at times, profoundly emotional." He found the Baribcan concert to be "a delightful show, and one that reminded me why we go to see live music: in the hands and voices of these people, the songs came alive." Cheal concludes: "what a great band; and what a lovely, sad, funny evening." Read his review at theartsdesk.com.

For more information on this week's tour, head to nonesuch.com/on-tour. To pick up a copy of Realism with instant downloads of the complete album MP3s at no additional charge, visit the Nonesuch Store.