Damon Albarn Has A New Project for 2019 and it's Big!

Damon Albarn has announced details of new project ‘The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows’, which he’ll be taking on tour in May 2020.

The Blur and Gorillaz frontman’s new work is inspired by the landscapes of Iceland, and will see him take it on the road with an ensemble and ambitious visuals by Icelandic filmmakers in the Spring. One date at The Barbican in London will Albarn team up with conductor André de Ridder.⁣

“The land of the midnight sun, Iceland is a unique country, filled with an abundance of natural beauty; glaciers, volcanoes, thermal springs, mountains and stunning headlands,” a synopsis reads. “Stretching across two continents; it’s a land where North America and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. What can be more fascinating than the signs of the passage of time and the fragility of nature.

“This new piece from Albarn, a frequent visitor to Iceland for almost three decades, will see the musician perform this new, very personal piece with an ensemble of orchestra instrumentation, electronics, vocals and piano. The title is taken from a John Clare poem entitled Love and Memory.”

Full tour dates are below. Visit here for tickets and more information.

MAY
17-18: Brussels, (Bozar)
20: Budapest, (Mupa)
21: Eindhoven, (Muziekgebouw)
23-24: Paris, (Philharmonie)
25: Lyon, (Auditorium – Orchestre National de Lyon)
26: London, (Barbican)
27: Nantes, (Cité des Congrès)
29: Luxembourg, (Philharmonie)
31 – June 1: Dublin, (National Concert Hall)

This comes after Albarn appeared to announce the end of The Good, The Bad & The Queen this summer. The band, which also features The Clash’s Paul Simonon, The Verve’s Simon Tong, and Afrobeat legend Tony Allen, reunited last year for their second album ‘Merrie Land’. “This is our last gig,” Albarn told the audience at the Netherlands festival. “This is our last gig. After this, poof. Done.” 

The Best Gifts You Can Buy A Music Fan

Music fans; they’re two a penny, because who doesn’t love getting lost in the transcendental bassline of your favourite song and a rift that makes you want to stand up and lose control of your limbs? In other words, music inspires so many and picks you up when you’re most in need. There’s nothing quite like putting in your headphones, shutting out the rest of the world, and blasting out your most cherished songs – at sensible volumes, of course. 

It’s not all too hard to try and find music-related gifts for the diehard fan in your life, providing, of course, your loved one’s taste in music isn’t so niche and obscure that no one else seems to have ever heard of it before. Let’s hope, for your sake, that this is not the case. Buckle up and prepare to find out how best to shop for a music fan in four easy steps. 

What Do They Like? 

Figure out which bands they like before even entertaining the idea of getting them a musically inspired gift. This should go without saying, but just because Ed Sheeran, Post Malone, and Cardi B are all the rage and dominating the charts right now, doesn’t mean that they’re universally popular. Always, always be sure of their music tastes before making your next move. 

Tickets To See A Performance

Nothing is better than seeing the musicians you love perform in front of you live, so endeavour to get some of the best seats in the house by using TicketSales.com to secure them. Getting tickets to see their favourite artists will bowl them over with joy and excitement, so if you’re eager to see the face of the music lover you love light up, you should definitely look at the upcoming events. 

Stay Away From Tat

You know what’s being referred to here, and as fun as themed gifts can be, they’re also a bit rubbish and end up cluttering up the home. Steer away from doing this by getting gifts that no one else will have purchased before and ones that are a little bit more personal, practical, and most of all, thoughtful. 

Resist the urge to buy plastic goods that will only contribute to landfill in the end, and instead opt for a gift that’s original and communicates the care and thought that you put in to selecting it. Consider the likes of a framed and signed copy of a vinyl, a CD, or a sketch of the artist made in black and white rather than just a poster. 

Lessons

Chances are that the music fan in your life might know their way around a musical instrument pretty well, but if they don’t and you know they’d like to, then invest in a music lesson or two for them. With this said, you’ll need to find out which instrument they’d most like to learn, so delve into their interests or just come out and ask. You want to get this present right, so resist the urge to guess. Piano and guitar lessons can be easily found online, so have a cursory search to locate the most highly rated and reviewed teachers in your area and get the music fan you know on their list.

Would Blur Exist Without The Beatles?

Would Blur Exist Without The Beatles?

“No Beatles means no Britpop, which means no Blur, which means no Song 2, which causes air guitar to disappear as an art form.” This was the answer of The Ringer’s Michael Baumann when he was asked what sounds at first like a simple question: “What is the farthest-reaching consequence of the erasure of the Beatles?” Go ahead and give that question a couple seconds to sink in. And if you’re like us, prepare to basically see your own brain’s gears going into overdrive.

Even those who are even just a little bit familiar with music history will know just how influential The Beatles were in shaping modern rock. And if you’re wondering what spurred this discussion to make the rounds online, look no further than the trailer for the upcoming Yesterday, a film that postulates a world in which the entire planet forgets about The Beatles overnight. According to the trailer, only one man remembers the greatest British pop-rock band in the world, and he uses it to get famous as hell. The man’s rise to stardom replicates Beatlemania in the modern era – a strange combination of pandemonium and mass amnesia, and an unexpected twist on the typical Beatles-inspired movie musical. Again, it makes perfect sense, until you think about the ramifications of The Beatles having never existed at all.

CREDIT: By Roy Kerwood - Photo by Roy Kerwood. Previously uploaded to en: with same image name May 11 2006., CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44119817



For starters, Baumann was right when he said that Blur wouldn’t exist – as confirmed by Damon Albarn. According to Albarn, John Lennon’s Imagine was what inspired him to take up songwriting in the first place, adding that he would’ve loved to work with Lennon, if only he wasn’t shot when Albarn was still stuck in school. Meanwhile, Lottoland’s list of the top influential rock songs, point out how the classic I Wanna Hold Your Hand was essential to sparking the musical revolution of the 60s. Without The Beatles, a decidedly different sound would have come out of that revolution, creating further waves in the evolution of British rock. Another instant casualty would be Graham Coxon’s work on the re-recording of the Beatles’ debut album, Please Please Me. These are just some of the more horrific possibilities posed by the upcoming Yesterday.



While early criticism of the movie points out how the trailer doesn’t seem to address these historical implications, we have to admit that the very concept has spurred a renewed interest in The Beatles and just how far their influence extends, The idea of Yesterday happening would definitely mean no Britpop as we know it. If Blur did still exist, they would definitely sport a different sound, which is a concept we’d rather not get further into. In short, The Beatles defined what rock was, is, and will be. Not bad for a couple of lads from Liverpool.

Blur just played their first surprise gig in 2019!

Head's up! Blur played a surprise gig on March 30th 2019 in an unexpected turn of events at the frontman's Africa Express gig. The band assembled on stage during Albarn's performance and performed 3 songs: 1) Song 2, 2) Clover over Dover and 3) Tender.

This marks the first time that the band has played together in 2019, and also the first time that the song Clover Over Dover has been played live in the history of the band's performances. The songs were greatly enjoyed by the audience, who had no idea what they were in stall for.

However, for those of you who know, Damon's gigs have always been full of surprises. Previous performers at the show include Paul McCartney, Paul Weller and Johnny Marr alongside famed African musicians including Baaba Maal, Oumou Sangaré and Fatoumata Diawara. It is definitely another pleasant surprise that we get to see the great band in action.

Take a look at some of the videos of the band playing these songs below.

Happy Birthday to Damon Albarn!

Another day, another year! The Blur frontman turns 51 today on March 23 2019. To celebrate, we've compiled a series of photos featuring Albarn throughout the years. Enjoy!

Watch the Best Live Damon Albarn Performance of 2018

It's that time of the year again where we re-live all that Damon Albarn has done. Whether it be Gorillaz or Blur, he has sure achieved a lot. Now, we recently stumbled across some live footage of Gorillaz's acoustic performance at KROQ, and we were extremely impressed with Damon Albarn's upbeat mood and amazing singing. He was, to put it simply, outstanding in his vocals, pitch, tone and energy.

Take a look below and let us know what you think!

Blur- the 20-year challenge

Here's the 20-year challenge for Blur- the band that will forever live on in fans' hearts as the 90s, youthful Britpop wonder that changed British music for a whole generation. Note- we couldn't do the 10-year challenge as Blur was not active in 2019 and we could not find any group photos!

Did they change at all?

3 times Gorillaz foreshadowed Brexit, and all it's consequences

Let's face it- Gorillaz is a political band. They've always sung about society- from guns, drugs to presidential elections. Damon Albarn's a man who loves social commentary, and he feels strongly for the recent turn of events in the world, including the US elections and of course, the infamous Brexit incident that everyone in the UK is anxious to talk about.

Here's a roundup of the 3 best Gorillaz songs that talk about all things Brexit, even if it isn't immediately obvious.

1) Humility

Given the references to loneliness and isolation in the lyrics ("Calling the world from isolation 'Cause right now, that's the ball where we be chained And if you're coming back to find me You'd better have good aim Shoot it true I need you in the picture") it's not surprising that many fans have inferred that Gorillaz has spoken to us about Brexit. The UK leaving the EU invokes fears of isolation, nationalism and extremist attitudes, not to mention that the UK will well and truly be lonely- in every sense of the word.



2) Clint Eastwood

Gorillaz's biggest hit may uncover more than you think- the lyrics are apt, chilling and telling ("My future is coming on It's coming on It's coming on It's coming on It's coming on") and invokes feelings of uncertainty, confusion and...chaos amidst the tripping, happy tune. It may not be obvious, but this Gorillaz tune may be darker than you think.



3) Hallelujah Money

This is the most politically-drive, statement-making song from The Now Now, Gorillaz's latest spine-chilling album. This song features singer Benjamin Clementine and explores the themes of power, big business and humanity. Legend has it that it was inspired by Donald Trump and most definitely Brexit- it's a true foreshadowing of the future, and all of it's negative effects on humanity.

Damon Albarn does the 20-year challenge - has he changed?

We all know that Blur frontmen don't age- or do they? Here's Damon Albarn doing the 20-year challenge (if he had Facebook, he'd be proud) as we see him in 2019 and 1999. 

What do you think of the change?

Damon Albarn- the 10 Year Challenge

Since everyone's into the 10-year challenge (if you're living under a rock- check out these funny memes that everyone's been posting), we thought it'd be fun to do one on behalf of Damon Albarn himself. Here is his 10-year challenge!

Has he aged at all?

Damon Albarn working with EDM master Flume on new material

Breaking news- Flume, an EDM producer and DJ has been reported to be working with Damon Albarn for the last 18 months on new material. According to NME, Flume – AKA EDM DJ and producer Harley Streten – is currently working on the follow-up to his second album ‘Skin’, which was released in 2016. He told his audience on a social media post late last year that in 2019 “I’ll be back in your life, I promise,” ending a long hiatus.

According to an old Damon Albarn interview, Albarn has been in the studio with Flume before. Albarn mentioned in passing that he and Flume had worked on something in the studio together. He did give any information on what the tracks were called, when they would be released or specify whether their project would constitute a Gorillaz collaboration or a side project. Speculations have emerged about what exactly the frontman was working on with Flume back then, but new Gorillaz or one-off tracks cannot be struck out.

Anyhow, it's all good news for Damon Albarn fans as it means that something, just maybe, could be coming up.

Stay tuned for more!

Gorillaz performs a rendition of Song 2

On 20 October 2018 at the Demon Dayz Fest LA, Damon Albarn's other well-known band Gorillaz played the familiar Song 2 theme but in characteristic Gorillaz style with dub/funk elements. While recognition was still dawning on the audience, Graham Coxon joined Gorillaz onstage and launched into his original riff before he and Gorillaz went on to perform the classic arrangement to an enthusiastic reception.

Watch below for some fun nostalgia!

The Good, The Bad and The Queen Tour Dates 2018

Head's up, Damon Albarn's supergroup will be touring again and the tickets are selling out fast. The supergroup recently decided to release a new album and they're out and about the UK playing again. For Blur fans out there this is a great chance to see some of Damon Albarn's finest work.

A little about the band- made from the finest of musical royalty, The Good the Bad and the Queen are a project from King of Britpop himself, Damon Albarn. After making his name with Blur and then stepping up his game with the critically acclaimed Gorillaz, Albarn has made a name for himself as one of the most accomplished and innovative musicians around. With Simon Tong (The Verve), Paul Simonon (The Clash), and Tony Allen, legendary drummer of Africa 70.

Earlier this year, Visconti gave an update on the progress of the long-awaited new album:“In the middle of 2017, I started working with Damon Albarn,” he told The Irish Times. “We’re about two thirds of the way through and taking a break, as Damon is off on a Gorillaz tour, but we will resume in April and it will be probably be out before next Christmas,” he revealed.

The producer also said that the album was inspired by the North of England. “It’s an ode to the North of England, bizarrely…it’s sort of set in Blackpool, between Starr Gate and [historic pub] Uncle Tom’s Cabin, if you want to be geographically precise.”
Get your tickets here!

Laser Hair Removal by Pulse Light Clinic

Are you tired of having hair over your body? Sick of shaving all day, every day? I want to introduce to you a lovely clinic called Pulse Light Clinic in London, which offers a special kind of Laser Hair Removal Treatment that is proven to work.  

Laser hair removal works because a concentrated beam of light is aimed at hair. The light is absorbed by the pigment, which damages the follicle enough to retard future growth. Lasers can remove hair for anywhere from several months to years, as the results differ widely from person to person. Different skin tones are suitable for this treatment, but we normally find that the darker the hair and skin the more effective these treatments will be.

I know a lot of women struggle with hair problems, so you definitely should try this out before you decide what it's like. The treatments will be effective soon after the treatment, and it is guaranteed to work.

Laser can actually help with irritating ingrown hairs. Aside from clearer, smoother skin and permanent hair reduction, laser hair removal also boasts benefits including helping to reduce ingrowing hairs and less irritation of the skin. This is because the treatment encourages hair to grow straight. Incredible isn't it? 

Advantages of laser hair removal include:

• Reduction of ingrown hairs
• Smoother skin
• Not having to shave or wax
• Less irritation to the skin
• Permanent hair reduction
• Reduces excessive hair growth ( PCOS)
• Smaller pores & easy stress free body

The best thing about the clinic is that it offers FREE consultations for people. All you have to do is to book yourself for a free consultation and patch test via telephone, online booking or walk in. Pulse Light Clinic is open Monday to Friday 10 am till 8pm across all clinics Bank, Fenchurch Street and Oxford Street). On the weekends the Bank Clinic is open from 10am till 5 pm. Our Oxford Street Clinic is open only on Saturday from 10 am till 5 pm.

At the consultation, a specialist will do a quick assessment of your skin and hair to see if you are suitable for laser hair removal followed by a patch test. After 48 hours you can start your first treatment! Isn't it exciting?

Watch the video to find out more about Pulse Light Clinic's service and please book an appointment if you're interested!

Graham Coxon creates new soundtrack for Netflix Hit Show

Once and future Blur guitarist Graham Coxon has cultivated a solo career since 1998 that has simmered in North America among the Britpop frontrunners’ ardent cult. He’s overdue for a visit, however. Coxon’s upcoming Chicago date is his first since 2005, and part of his first one-man North American tour. “It’ll mainly be acoustic guitar, but I’ll have an electric on hand to make some noise for people who like that sort of thing,” he says.

Coxon is beloved for the barely controlled chaos heard on Blur favorites like “Song 2.” As an ardent student of folk masters Bert Jansch and Davy Graham, Coxon is also adept at fingerstyle acoustic fretwork. His riotous side is deployed on delirious solo cuts like “Advice,” while his melodic acoustic sensibility manifests during songs like “In the Morning.”

“Both approaches have pluses and minuses,” says Coxon. “‘Advice’ is just kind of smacking the hell out of a guitar, whereas ‘In the Morning’ is quite long with a ton of fingerstyle playing.

“They’re exhausting in different ways,” he adds with a laugh.

The soundtrack for Netflix series “The End of the F—ing World” is Coxon’s ninth solo effort. The reception for the black comedy’s quirky score helped coax him onto the road. “It did get quite popular in America, so I thought I could go play that stuff,” he says.

The summery folk of “Walking All Day” taps Coxon’s intuition and spontaneity. “That came out of nowhere,” says Coxon. “The character is slashing with a stick through the forest in his jeans and no top, looking like something out of ‘Deliverance.’ I thought, ‘A country blues kind of thing might fit here.’ It was done in 40 minutes.”

“The Snare” nods to Link Wray’s “Rumble.” “I’m a longtime fan of Link Wray,” says Coxon. “I love that 6/8 rhythm and twangy guitar. I was going for an approximation of underground ’50s and ’60s B-movie music.”

Coxon looks forward to touring on a smaller scale. “I like that romantic idea of having a dead simple setup that I could probably carry in a rucksack,” says Coxon. “I’m traveling in a van with minimal crew, and we’re just going to enjoy a bit of life on the road. Some of my fondest memories during my mid-20s with Blur were looking out the window at changing American countryside, and meeting people at truck stops and restaurants.”

In December, Coxon released “Falling” to support the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a charity directed at reducing suicide among men. “I’ll probably have a go at playing that on the tour,” says Coxon. “It was written by a family friend who took his own life. CALM encourages men to actually talk about stuff if they’re feeling rubbish — don’t keep it inside. It’s also important to care about friends openly and be available. I think men lead by example. If somebody confides in you, you’re more likely to confide in them.”

Coxon’s recent activity includes guesting on stage and in studio with Blur partner Damon Albarn’s band Gorillaz. Blur’s future is unclear, but Coxon isn’t pessimistic. “It’s a never-say-never thing, absolutely,” he says. “I think it’ll happen when we’re all really missing it and we’ve all got time to spare. It’s a lovely job. You get to play big places, you’re fed well and stay in a decent hotel. You play a nice guitar through an amplifier that’s turned up loud, and you see a lot of smiling faces.”

* Graham Coxon, 8 p.m. Sept. 21, Park West, 322 W. Armitage, $29.50 (18+over);ticketfly.com.

Source: https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/graham-coxon-blur-music-chicago-things-to-do/ 

Blur to make a New Album in 2019

Damon Albarn has once again stirred up emotions- and this time it's with the news that a new Blur album is possible in 2019. In a recent interview, the Blur frontman stated that:

“A reunion is never not a possibility. I think most definitely at some point we’ll play those songs again. I’d hate to think I’d never play with those musicians again. But it has just got to be the right time.”

"You want to feel that people really, really, really want you to do it, otherwise you’re kind of becoming a tribute act to yourself,” he explained. “You destroy everything that you’ve created if you do. Given the massive and always-rotating cast of characters in the Gorillaz’ vast universe, Albarn has even contemplated merging the two into one “Some days I really fancy doing a Blur song in the middle of a Gorillaz set,” he admitted. "I’ve never tried it, but I probably shouldn’t.”

It looks like we'll be seeing a lot more Blur this year, and a lot more of Damon Albarn's creative energies.

As one of the most famous Britpop bands of all time, Blur has a huge legacy and a new album will be sure to top the charts. Stay tuned for more!

New Photos of Damon Albarn

Here are some relatively new photos of Damon Albarn, photographed on March 27, 2017 at The Greenwich Hotel in New York. This photo shoot is previously unreleased to the public.

Listen to the entire Gorillaz album now!

The Now Now, Gorillaz's new album has been streaming live in its entirety today, following a concert in Tokyo to the fans. Watch it below now!

Damon Albarn on Gorillaz's low-key album (featuring Noel Gallagher) The Now Now

So Damon Albarn has finally opened up about his mysterious new Gorillaz album, The Now Now. According to a recent interview, "Unlike so many of their previous releases, the band’s latest, The Now Now (due June 29), is a comparatively intimate affair, minus the usual wide-ranging guest roster — Humanz alone featured Noel Gallagher, De La Soul, Vince Staples, Popcaan, and Grace Jones, among others — and attendant Mt. Everest of studio coordination such a major undertaking involves.

Frontman Damon Albarn, who turned 50 this spring, was happy to swerve into Now‘s simpler, more stripped-down territory, enlisting drop-ins from just a few select friends (Snoop Dogg and 75-year-old jazz-guitar legend George Benson), and production by James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Mumford & Sons, Depeche Mode) and longtime collaborator Remi Kabaka."

Quoting from his latest interview in June 2018, Albarn says:

”This record was really easy to make. I did it in a month with just James Ford and Remi, and finished it at the end of February, which, that’s quite nice, you know?”

The album is mostly sung by Damon Albarn himself, instead of his usual hiding behind the multiple collaborators that made Gorillaz famous.

 “So if you don’t like my voice, it’s probably not worth investigating this record. If you do like my voice, I would strongly recommend you buy it. Not that it’s so divisive, but it’s an acquired taste, really.”

“My voice has gotten a lot better,” Albarn said. “A lot richer and deeper, I think. [But] I wouldn’t say I like it. I’m permanently dissatisfied, period, with what I do. I have little glimpses when I’m making something, like, ‘Ahhhh, I love this! This is great!’ And then that moment ends and I just sort of return to, ‘Am I ever really gonna find — I don’t know what it is, but am I ever really gonna find it?’ I don’t know.”

“The record’s all over the place, really,” he says, “but mainly, it’s songs written from the tops of buildings or on buses in America.” One track, “Idaho,” was in fact inspired by a specific trip out West. “We’d just played Red Rocks, so it was on the way from there to Seattle. We spent two days up in the mountains in this very beautiful place, very disconnected — almost like a land that time forgot.

I’ve visited the States a lot, but it’s the first time I actually paused in the great vast wilderness that is America. I couldn’t get enough of it, actually.” Those tracks called “Kansas” and “Hollywood” though? Don’t read too much into them. While he did book a recording session in an appropriately louche hotel penthouse overlooking Sunset Boulevard, “There’s no actual connection,” he says. “Sometimes my original GarageBand [software] titles just stay. I know where the words came from, but not why.”

\

So apart from being inspired by America, what's next for Albarn? Lots, according to him.

“I’ve made two records this year so far,” he says. Well, technically it’s three. Gorillaz, one from the Good, the Bad, & the Queen, and a collaboration with South African artists. “I mean it’s only June,” he says, “and I’ve been in South Africa, I’ve been in Mali, I’ve been all over South America… Mali is fascinating, and I just keep going back there. It has a very strong classical tradition with a lot of complicated music that you have to learn from a very young age.

I struggle with some of it, I really do, but I love that about it. I’m just learning how to become adequate on the balafon, and I ended up having lessons with a 12-year-old prodigy, an absolute genius… I’ll actually be doing something soon in Mali and in Paris about Sundiata, who was a sort of semi-mythical first emperor.”

New Gorillaz Track- Sorcererz (Listen Here)

Gorillaz released their 4th album track "Sorcererz" online today, just minutes ago. Take a first look at the song below. Once again, it features a rotating visual illusion of a music video, with a catchy, beaty song.

The album seems like it's going to be awesome, especially with it's synth pop and more focus on 2D's vocals instead of the many collaborations found in Humanz.

Gorillaz Not Now Tour Dates 2018

Gorillaz will hit the road this summer with The Now Now Tour playing festival dates across Europe, to include a headline appearance at Boomtown Festival, Hampshire on 11th August.

See the tracklisting for The Now Now here:

1. Humility - feat George Benson

2. Tranz

3. Hollywood - feat Snoop Dogg + Jamie Principle

4. Kansas

5. Sorcererz

6. Idaho

7. Lake Zurich

8. Magic City

9. Fire Flies

10. One Percent

11. Souk Eye

See Gorillaz's The Now Now tour European dates:

1 June Rock IM Ring, Nuremberg - GERMANY

3 June Rock AM Park, Mendig - GERMANY

9 June - Malahide Castle, Dublin - IRELAND

15 June - Sonar, Barcelona - SPAIN

21 June - Messe Arena Hall, Tokyo - JAPAN

5 July - Werchter Festival, Werchter - BELGIUM

6 July - Open’er Festival, Gdynia - POLAND

7 July - Roskilde Festival, Roskilde - DENMARK

11 July - Gurten Festival, Bern - SWITZERLAND

12 July - Lucca Summer Festival, Lucca - ITALY

14 July - Bilbao BBK Live, Bilbao - SPAIN

11 August - Boomtown Festival, Hampshire

First Look at New Gorillaz Song- Lake Zurich

New Gorillaz song "Lake Zurich" launched on May 31 2018. The new song is a bit retro, sounding like an 80s song with the constant back beat and the upbeat melody, and features a rotating, dazzling music video featuring a rotating optical illusion with the band members' heads.

The song is catchy and without much vocals, and sounds like something a Daft Punk album would include. In fact, it's better than any Daft Punk song!

Take a look below!