 There have been lots of surprises this year in music, but the release of a new Blur album on the back of a series of sold out shows across the world wasn't exactly on our musical bingo card. But having listened to The Ballad of Darren, the band's first studio album since 2015's The Magic Whip, we couldn't be happier that the indie stalwarts are back with a proverbial bang. But this is no nostalgia-trip; this is one of the most experimental and exploratory albums the band have ever made. From references to characters from Roman poetry to existential contemplation, here's what you can expect from The Ballad of Darren, Blur's ninth studio album. Wait up, who is Darren? Darren is a real person, despite Blur's tradition of using character-led lyrics in their back catalogue (Tracy Jacks anyone?) and The Ballad Of Darren seamlessly summarises what this album is all about. Darren 'Smoggy' Evans was the band's longtime head of security and used to encourage frontman Damon Albarn on a regular basis to finish a song that he had started writing several years ago. But intriguingly the character of Darren also represents us all, of the album title, Albarn commented that: 'Darren is many people. It is directly one person.' He isn't talking in riddles, but uses this collection of songs to speak for us all – and this certainly rings true as the album navigates its way around the profound sense of loss that we have all experienced. The band are fresh off the back of two massive nights in Wembley Stadium (Picture: Shutterstock) It's entirely self-reflective, revealing and effortlessly exhibits their exquisite musicianship of each band member who all have ample chances to showcase their prowess and skills both individually and collectively. Bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree are superb throughout and James in particular when he partakes in his joyful fretwork acrobatics is undeniably sublime w){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
There have been lots of surprises this year in music, but the release of a new Blur album on the back of a series of sold out shows across the world wasn’t exactly on our musical bingo card.
But having listened to The Ballad of Darren, the band’s first studio album since 2015’s The Magic Whip, we couldn’t be happier that the indie stalwarts are back with a proverbial bang. But this is no nostalgia-trip; this is one of the most experimental and exploratory albums the band have ever made.
From references to characters from Roman poetry to existential contemplation, here’s what you can expect from The Ballad of Darren, Blur’s ninth studio album.
Darren is a real person, despite Blur’s tradition of using character-led lyrics in their back catalogue (Tracy Jacks anyone?) and The Ballad Of Darren seamlessly summarises what this album is all about. Darren ‘Smoggy’ Evans was the band’s longtime head of security and used to encourage frontman Damon Albarn on a regular basis to finish a song that he had started writing several years ago.