David Byrne and Fatboy Slim have paired up for Here Lies Love, a 22-track song cycle about the life of former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos. Due April 6, the album includes two CDs, a DVD, and a 100-page book detailing the project. In addition to Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love features performances by Santigold, Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine), Sia, Steve Earle, St. Vincent, Natalie Merchant, Tori Amos, Sharon Jones, Nicole Atkins, and many others.

Realism, The Magnetic Fields' latest Nonesuch release, is available in stores across the globe today. Last night, the band joined fans and friends to celebrate the occasion at New York's Beauty Bar, with Stephin Merritt at the DJ booth. Now we celebrate with the launch of the fifth and final segment of the video series in which Merritt and Claudia Gonson discuss the new record, here answering: "Why Realism?"

Pat Metheny's new album, Orchestrion, is out now. In a review on the ABC News site, the Associated Press says the latest project from this "inveterate tinkerer who constantly imagines new soundscapes" finds Metheny taking "the notion of a solo album to a new dimension through some technological wizardry."

Pat Metheny's Orchestrion—which pairs him with remarkable, custom-made robotic instruments for a "solo" recording unlike any other—is out tomorrow. The Kansas City Star says that "one of the most creative performers and composers of his time, has now blazed another trail." The Lexington Herald-Leader, calls it "a grand reminder of Metheny's gift for compositional melody." All Music gives it four stars, exclaiming: "Metheny exceeds our expectations, and perhaps even his own."

The Carolina Chocolate Drops' Nonesuch debut, Genuine Negro Jig, is out now. The Sunday Times says to "file under quality music." After a Boston show, the Boston Herald said "an evening spent in this young trio’s exciting presence proves they are really about one thing: entertainment." The reviewer described Rhiannon Giddens voice as "among the most dynamic, startling instruments" he has ever heard.

Nonesuch Records releases Highway Rider, a double-disc of original work by pianist and composer Brad Mehldau, on March 16. The album is his second collaboration with producer Jon Brion and features performances by Mehldau’s trio—drummer Jeff Ballard and bassist Larry Grenadier—as well as drummer Matt Chamberlain, saxophonist Joshua Redman, and a chamber orchestra led by Dan Coleman. In a Nonesuch Store Exclusive, orders include an early demo recording in which Mehldau explains to Brion how he'd like the title track to unfold.

Ali and Toumani—an album of duets from the late guitarist Ali Farka Touré and kora player Toumani Diabaté—will be released February 23 on World Circuit / Nonesuch Records and is available for pre-order in the Nonesuch Store with the exclusive bonus track "Kenouna." MusicOMH gives the album four-and-a-half stars, calling it "the most perfectly pitched and unselfish of pairings, a meeting of wonderfully-matched musical minds and skills." NPR calls Touré "one of the most remarkable artists of the past century."

There's just one day left before the release of The Magnetic Fields' latest Nonesuch release, Realism, and that means two things: the fourth installment of the five-part video series about the new record (today revealing which room in the house offers the best acoustics for recording) and the CD release party, which the band hosts at New York's Beauty Bar tonight. All are welcome; admission is free. The Independent names Realism its CD of the Week.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops' Nonesuch debut, Genuine Negro Jig, is set for release in the UK this Monday, January 25, one day before the band launches the UK leg of its current tour. The US release has now moved up one week, to February 16. The Times of London gives the album four stars, as does the Guardian, saying the band is "sounding as fresh and enthusiastic as ever ... They are well worth ­checking out."

Natalie Merchant is poised for the release of Leave Your Sleep, out April 6 [update: now April 13] on Nonesuch Records. This release is the culmination of seven years’ research and collaboration and is, in Merchant’s words, “the most elaborate project I have ever completed or even imagined.” A two-disc set, Leave Your Sleep is a collection of songs adapted from poems selected by Merchant and featuring musical collaborations with a broad spectrum of artists.

Earlier today, Nonesuch.com launched the second of five videos featuring a lively conversation between The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt and Claudia Gonson, discussing their forthcoming Nonesuch release, Realism. Now that you've heard a bit about the album straight from its creators, you can listen to Realism in its entirety in the exclusive album premiere on MySpace.

Introducing a two-disc song cycle about Imelda Marcos, performed by a who's who of singers, is no simple task, but David Byrne has done it in a new video presentation, available at nonesuch.com/media, about Here Lies Love, his collaboration with Fatboy Slim and such vocalists as Tori Amos, Steve Earle, Cyndi Lauper, Natalie Merchant, Kate Pierson, Santigold, and St. Vincent. The album, due out April 6, is now available for pre-order in the Nonesuch Store.