Blur have announced a surprise new studio album, The Ballad Of Darren, set for release on 21 July.
Announcing the album on Steve Lamacq’s 6Music show, the band previewed the new album by playing The Narcissist.
Produced by James Ford and recorded at Studio 13, London and Devon, The Ballad of Darren is the band’s ninth studio album, their first since the chart-topping The Magic Whip in 2015, with artwork featuring an image by British photographer Martin Parr.
Damon Albarn said – “This is an aftershock record, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now.”
Graham Coxon adds: “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.”
As part of a press statement, bassist 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 explains :“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.”
Today’s surprise announcement comes ahead of the band’s return to the place where it all began – Colchester in Essex – for their first ever performance at local landmark Colchester Arts Centre tomorrow (19 May), marking the start of a short run of warm-up performances which will see Blur visit Eastbourne Winter Gardens on 21 May, The Halls Wolverhampton on 26 May and O2 City Hall Newcastle on 28 May.
These warm-up dates are kicking off a summer of highly-anticipated live shows which will bring Alex, Damon, Graham and Dave together again to perform their iconic and much-loved songs across Europe over the coming months.
The band’s first ever show at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 July sold out in minutes – with a second Wembley Stadium show added for Sunday 9 July.
- Read more: Blur albums: the complete guide
The complete tracklisting for The Ballad of Darren is:
- The Ballad
- St Charles Square
- Barbaric
- Russian Strings
- The Everglades (For Leonard)
- The Narcissist
- Goodbye Albert
- Far Away Island
- Avalon
- The Heights
The Ballad of Darren will be available as a digital download and stream (10 tracks as above); Standard CD (10 tracks) and Deluxe CD (12 tracks, w. expanded packaging), Standard Vinyl LP – 12” heavyweight black vinyl; and exclusive to blur.co.uk – Deluxe Vinyl pressed on 12″ clear vinyl with black swirls, in a gatefold sleeve, with poster, bonus 7” vinyl, album CD (12 tracks) and integrated booklet, including exclusive handwritten notes, sketches and lyrics; and Cassette (10 tracks).
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