Blur Release First Music In Eight Years 'The Narcissist' - Noise11.com
Blur at Rod Laver Arena photo by Ros O'Gorman. music news, noise11.com

Blur at Rod Laver Arena photo by Ros O'Gorman

Blur Release First Music In Eight Years ‘The Narcissist’

by Music-News.com on May 19, 2023

in News

Blur will release their first album in 8 years, titled The Ballad of Darren and comprising 10 new tracks, on 21st July on Parlophone. First track ‘The Narcissist’ is out now.

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.

The Ballad of Darren track listing is: The Ballad, St Charles Square, Barbaric, Russian Strings, The Everglades (For Leonard), The Narcissist, Goodbye Albert, Far Away Island, Avalon and The Heights

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.”

Today’s surprise announcement comes ahead of the band’s return to the place where it all began – Colchester, Essex*– for their first ever performance at local landmark Colchester Arts Centre tomorrow, marking the start of a short run of warm-up performances which will see the blur visit Eastbourne Winter Gardens on 21st May, The Halls Wolverhampton on 26th May and O2 City Hall Newcastle on 28th May.

These warm-up dates are kicking off a summer of highly-anticipated live shows which will bring Alex James, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Dave Rowntree 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 8th Julysold out in minutes – with a second Wembley Stadium show added for Sunday 9th July

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

music-news.com

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Phil Jamieson Photo credit: Lindsay Moller
Phil Jamieson Is Going Out Solo and Acoustic In 2024

Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson is going out solo for 2024 with a month of gigs from 11 January to 11 February 2024.

20 hours ago
Black Grape
Black Grape Reunite With New Music and Live Dates

Black Grape have announced a brand new album and UK tour.

1 day ago
Dave Grohl Foo Fighters at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 30 January 2018. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Could Nirvana Be Planning An ABBA Like Event?

Nirvana's Krist Novoselic hasn't completely ruled out the Grunge legends doing an ABBA Voyage-style show with late frontman Kurt Cobain's hologram.

1 day ago
Sinead O'Connor at Point Nepean, Victoria 2008 photo by Ros O'Gorman
Unreleased Sinead O’Connor Song Features In TV Drama The Woman In The Wall

What is maybe Sinead O’Connor’s final song ‘The Magdalene Song’ has premiered in the season finale of the BBC series ‘The Woman in the Wall’.

2 days ago
Silverchair at Big Day Out 2002 photo by Ros O'Gorman
ABC Removes All Silverchair Songs From Australian Story So Part Two Can Stream

Days after the first episode of the two-part Silverchair Australian Story program was removed from the ABC’s streaming service iView, the ABC has covered its tracks by taking out all unlicensed Silverchair music from part two so the second half can stream. Part one at this stage has not been re-edited.

2 days ago
Travis Barker, music news, noise11.com
Travis Barker of Blink-182 Sidelined With Covid

Travis Barker has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of his Blink-182 concert in Portugal.

2 days ago
Daniel Johns of Silverchair 2005 photo by Ros O'Gorman
Daniel Johns Explains Why Silverchair Australian Story Episode Was Pulled From iView

Former Silverchair singer Daniel Johns has gone public with his reasons for having the Australian Story Silverchair episode taking down from ABC TV’s streaming service iView.

3 days ago