blur are set to release their first album in 8 years, ‘The Ballad of Darren’, this summer.
The follow up to 2015’s ‘The Magic Whip’, the 10-track release will arrive on 21st July via Parlophone.
Their ninth studio album, it was produced by James Ford and recorded at Studio 13, London and Devon. It features artwork from British photographer Martin Parr.
The news comes alongside the first track from the album, ‘The Narcissist’, which you can check out below.
“This is an aftershock record, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now,” Damon Albarn explains.
“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,” adds Graham Coxon.
blur are set to return to active service tomorrow with a show at Colchester’s Arts Centre. They’ll then hit Eastbourne, Wolverhampton and Newcastle. The intimate shows are all a warm-up for two massive Wembley Stadium shows this July.
The tracklisting to ‘The Ballad of Darren’ reads:
The Ballad
St Charles Square
Barbaric
Russian Strings
The Everglades (For Leonard)
The Narcissist
Goodbye Albert
Far Away Island
Avalon
The Heights
