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Blur Unveil Lead Single “The Narcissist” off New Album ‘The Ballad of Darren’

blur will release their first album in 8 years, titled ‘The Ballad of Darren’ and comprising ten new tracks, on July 21st via Parlophone Records. The band are now streaming the lead track, “The Narcissist.”

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Blur

blur will release their first album in 8 years, titled The Ballad of Darren and comprising ten new tracks, on July 21st via Parlophone Records. The band are now streaming the lead track, “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 comments:

“This is an aftershock record, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now.”

“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.” – Graham Coxon

“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.” – Alex James

“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.” – Dave Rowntree

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 May 21st, The Halls Wolverhampton on May 26th and O2 City Hall Newcastle on May 28th

The Ballad of Darren Track Listing:

1. The Ballad
2. St Charles Square
3. Barbaric
4. Russian Strings
5. The Everglades (For Leonard)
6. The Narcissist
7. Goodbye Albert
8. Far Away Island
9. Avalon
10. The Heights

blur ‘The Ballad of Darren’ album artwork

blur ‘The Ballad of Darren’ album artwork

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