by Rock ‘n Roll Ghost
#
Damon Albarn has been back and forth about the end of both Blur and Gorillaz, depending on what day of the week it is, what mood he’s in and, if you are to believe him, which interview of his you read. Suffice it to say that almost no band stays broken up. So expect more Blur and Gorillaz albums and tours in the future.
For the time being Albarn has a new studio album, Dr Dee, that is poised for release May 8th on Virgin Records (CD, Vinyl, digital download). The 18 track album is inspired by the life of John Dee, a mathematician, alchemist, philosopher and adviser to Elizabeth I. The music for Dr Dee is described as “strange pastoral folk” by Albarn, featuring early English choral and instrumentation, West African and Renaissance stylings. Albarn recorded the album in his West London studio and in Salford with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. The album was mixed by Valgeir Sigursson in Reykjavik.
A stage production created by Albarn and Rufus Norris, depicting Dee’s fall from prominence to poverty and isolation, which showcased to critical acclaim at the Manchester International Festival last year, will play at English National Opera this summer as part of the Cultural Olympiad. Performance dates for Dr Dee at the London Coliseum are: 25th, 26th, 28th and 29th June and 4th, 6th and 7th July 2012.
The full track listing is: 1) The Golden Dawn 2) Apple Carts 3) Oh Spirit Animate Us 4) The Moon Exalted 5) A Man of England 6) Saturn 7) Coronation 8 The Marvelous Dream 9) A Prayer 10) Edward Kelley 11) Preparation 12) 9 Point Star 13) Temptation Comes In The Afternoon 14) Watching the Fire That Waltzed Away 15) Moon (Interlude) 16) Cathedrals 17) Tree Of Life 18) The Dancing King
In Blur news, the band’s entire body of work has been compiled by the band in one box set. Out July 31st, Blur 21 collects the band’s seven studio albums with over 5 1/2 hours of unreleased material, including 65 previously unreleased tracks and more than twice as many rarities, 3 DVDs, a collector’s edition book with rare and unseen photos, a new exclusive interview with the band, a special limited edition 7-inch vinyl featuring a track recorded under the band’s original name, Seymour as well as a digital download code for the albums and all of the bonus material. Blur 21 was re-mastered by Frank Arkwright in Abbey Road Studios and fully overseen by Blur‘s Graham Coxon and producer Stephen Street.
Blur‘s 7 studio albums are: Leisure (1991), Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994), The Great Escape (1995), Blur (1997), 13 (1999) and Think Tank (2003).
For full track-listing and a complete list of all bonus material and rarities on Blur 21 please visit BLUR.
Official Dr Dee Website
Official Blur Website
