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The Ballad of Darren
Studio album by Blur
Released	21 July 2023 (2023-07-21)
Recorded	January–May 2023
Studio	Studio 13, London & Devon
Length	36:04 (standard) 42:30 (deluxe CD edition)
Label	Parlophone Warner
Producer	James Ford
Blur chronology
The Magic Whip (2015) The Ballad of Darren (2023)
Damon Albarn chronology
Cracker Island (2023) The Ballad of Darren (2023)
Singles from The Ballad of Darren
"The Narcissist" Released: 18 May 2023 "St. Charles Square" Released: 29 June 2023

The Ballad of Darren is the upcoming ninth studio album by the English rock band Blur. It is scheduled for release on 21 July 2023 by Parlophone and Warner Records. It was produced by James Ford at Studio 13 in London and Devon. It is Blur's first album since The Magic Whip (2015).

Background and recording

The band's eighth studio album The Magic Whip was released in April 2015 to critical acclaim and became the band's sixth UK number-one album. In April 2017, Damon Albarn's project Gorillaz released their fifth studio album, Humanz which was followed by three other albums, released in June 2018, October 2020, and February 2023 respectively. Albarn also released his second solo album, The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows in November 2021. Guitarist Graham Coxon, worked on soundtracks, for the shows The End of the F***ing World and I Am Not Okay with This while also releasing his debut album with side project the Waeve in February 2023, meanwhile drummer Dave Rowntree released his debut solo album, Radio Songs, in January 2023.

Albarn wrote demos for the album while touring with Gorillaz, in 2022. He recalled: "I recorded in a lot of conference rooms but I did actually have a wonderful moment in Montreal. Opposite my room was this fantastic mural of Leonard Cohen." Some of the songs were demo'd during that time, and by New Year's Eve he had 24 songs. In January 2023, Blur began recording material at Albarn's Studio 13 in London and Devon. James Ford, who previously worked with Gorillaz and Coxon's band the Waeve, produced the album. The record was finished by the first week of May 2023.

Each member of the band shared a brief commentary on the record. To Albarn, the record signifies "an aftershock, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now". Coxon added that, with age, it becomes more important "that what we play is loaded with the right emotion and intention". Albarn claimed the album reflects their generation but also "has enough of the modern world in it to kind of be relatable to people younger as well."

Artwork and title

The album's cover is a 2004 photograph of a man swimming alone in the Gourock Outdoor Pool in Gourock, Scotland, taken by Martin Parr. Rowntree said of the cover: "There’s quite a bit about that image which is about overcoming some sort of physical situation. There is something about the safety of this lido which can get worryingly rough, which it does, and there are stories of this place where this guy would go down and exercise and there would be sharks washed in by the sea."

The album's title references Darren "Smoggy" Evans, the band's former bodyguard, who currently works for frontman Damon Albarn. Albarn said: "Darren is many people. It is directly one person. There’s a picture of Darren in the album. Not on the front cover. It was going to be but then we put it on the inner sleeve because it’s not the sort of attention Darren will want."

Release and promotion

In June 2021, frontman Damon Albarn first hinted at new music from Blur and Gorillaz, ahead of his second solo studio release The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows. At the time, he was in talks with drummer Dave Rowntree but plans had not come to fruition yet. On 14 November 2022, bassist Alex James spoke on the possibility of new music from the band in nearly eight years. The band announced a London reunion show at Wembley Stadium in summer 2023. The album was announced on 18 May 2023, alongside a short video directed by Toby L. The video shows the band in the studio with a snippet of "The Narcissist" playing in the background.

Singles and videos

The album's lead single, "The Narcissist," premiered on Steve Lamacq's BBC Radio 6 Music show, on 18 May 2023. That same day, an animated lyric video directed by Fons Schiedon, was released on the band's YouTube channel.

Tour

On 27 April 2023, Blur announced tour dates in the UK, Europe, Japan and South America. Starting on 19 May, the shows mark the first time the band has toured since 2015 and their first live appearance in four years.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree

References

1. "Reviews for The Magic Whip by Blur". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
2. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
3. "Gorillaz To Release New Album In 2018". Radio X. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
4. Condon, Dan; Shiel, Tim (27 October 2020). "Damon Albarn talks us through Gorillaz's star-studded Song Machine". Double J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
5. AllEyezOnGorillaz (31 August 2022). Gorillaz Interview 2022 - New Album Announcement - BBC Radio 1 (video). Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022 – via YouTube.
6. Blistein, Jon (22 June 2021). "Damon Albarn Teases New Solo LP With 'The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
7. Trendell, Andrew (20 April 2022). "Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall team up to form The WAEVE". NME. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
8. Moore, Sam (17 January 2018). "Graham Coxon to release his original soundtrack for 'The End of the F***ing World'". NME. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
9. "Dave Rowntree - Radio Songs Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
10. ^ Jones, Damian (20 May 2023). "Blur on recording their new album 'The Ballad Of Darren': "There were moments of utter joy"". NME. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
11. ^ Lamacq, Steve (18 May 2023). "Blur join Steve Lamacq live with the world premiere of brand new music". BBC Radio 6 Music. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
12. Minsker, Evan (18 May 2023). "Blur Announce New Album The Ballad of Darren, Share New Song "The Narcissist": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
13. Cohen, Jonathan (18 May 2023). "Blur Announces Surprise New Album Led By Single 'The Narcissist'". Spin. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
14. ^ O'Connell, Dan (18 May 2023). "Blur announce new album The Ballad of Darren and new single The Narcissist". Radio X. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
15. ^ Trendell, Andrew (18 May 2023). "Blur announce new album 'The Ballad Of Darren' with single 'The Narcissist'". NME. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
16. Whiley, Jo (18 May 2023). "Blur join Jo Whiley". BBC Sounds. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
17. Blake, Logan (29 June 2021). "Damon Albarn Hints At New Music From Both Blur And Gorillaz". Spin. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
18. Wilkes, Emma (14 November 2022). "Blur's Alex James on possibility of new music: "I never know what's going to happen"". NME. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
19. Renshaw, David (14 November 2022). "Blur announce 2023 London reunion show". The Fader. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
20. L, Toby (Director) (18 May 2023). Blur - The Ballad Of Darren (Announcement) (Trailer). Blur. Retrieved 20 May 2023 – via YouTube.
21. Schiedon, Fons (Director) (18 May 2023). Blur - The Narcissist (Official Visualiser) (Music Video). Blur. Retrieved 20 May 2023 – via YouTube.
22. Young, Alex (27 April 2023). "Blur Confirm First Tour in Eight Years". Consequence. Retrieved 18 May 2023.

• 2023 albums
• Blur (band) albums
• Parlophone albums
• Upcoming albums
• Warner Records albums
• Albums produced by James Ford (musician)