Blur. Photo by Kevin Westenberg
Blur are coming out with a new album this summer. The Ballad of Darren is out July 21 via Parlophone, and will be the ninth studio project from Damon Albarn and Co.
The Ballad of Darren is produced by James Ford (co-producer of The Now Now by Gorillaz, Albarn’s animated pop group, as well as projects by Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, and many more). Its first single, “The Narcissist,” is streaming below.
Each member of the band issued a separate statement on the new album and its recording. Read them all below:
“This is an aftershock record, reflection, and comment on where we find ourselves now.” - Damon Albarn
“The older and madder we get, it becomes more essential that what we play is loaded with the right emotion and intention. Sometimes just a riff doesn’t do the job.” - Graham Coxon
“For any long-term relationship to last with any meaning you have to be able to surprise each other somehow and somehow we all continue to do that.” - Alex James
“It always feels very natural to make music together. With every record we do, the process reveals something new and we develop as a band. We don’t take that for granted.” - Dave Rowntree
Blur’s previous album, The Magic Whip, was released in 2015. This summer, the band will tour across Europe and the U.K., including two shows at London’s Wembley Stadium.
The Ballad of Darren cover
The Ballad of Darren tracklist
1. The Ballad
2. St Charles Square
3. Barbaric
4. Russian Strings
5. The Everglades (For Leonard)
6. The Narcissist
7. Goodbye Albert
8. Far Away Island
9. Avalon
10. The Heights
