Blur are back with their first new album since 2015; it’s called The Ballad Of Darren and will be out on July 21 through Parlophone. Each of the band members has given a short statement on the record.
Damon Albarn said – “This is an aftershock record, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now.”
Graham Coxon said – “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.”
Alex James said – “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.”
Dave Rowntree said – “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.”
The first song to be shared from it is “The Narcissist”, a strolling indie jam that finds Albarn in his affably alienated bag. As he strolls around the streets in search of himself, he takes acid and descends into a world of darkness and warns others not to look into them, lest they should be infected too. As this tale progresses, the song builds into a delightful breeze of melodious tones, and Albarn seems to find his way through the shadows reaching a conclusion: “But I won’t fall this time / with godspeed I’ll heed the signs”.
Watch the visualizer for “The Narcissist” below or find it on streamers.
Blur’s new album The Ballad Of Darren will be out on July 21 through Parlophone (pre-order/save). You can find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
