BEHIND THE SCENES AT X: BLUR ALBUM SPECIAL
31st January - from XFM.co.uk:
BEHIND THE SCENES AT X: BLUR ALBUM SPECIAL
Head of Music Andy Ashton brings you more of the backstage action at Xfm and
reveals who’s been in recently, forthcoming releases making their way into
the studio and his opinion on the tracks that are lighting up the Playlist.
So good news for Blur fans, I've finally heard some of the new album.
Kevin McCabe from Parlophone popped in early this week to play through a few
future singles and to give us our first taste of the new Blur album (which
is still untitled). The first to be completed with no discernable input
from co founding guitarist and writer Graham Coxon. And that really is the
first thing to say about this album, It really is the "Damon Albarn Album".
So what does it sound like? Well…it’s a bit tricky to describe track by
track as there are no titles revealed at this stage. It was more a case of
“This one’s a Fatboy Slim one" and "This one isn’t a Fatboy one".
Apparently two of the three tracks produced by Fatboy Slim make the album.
I've heard one of them, so let’s start there.
A very classic sounding Blur pop track, similar to ‘Song 2’ in the sense
that it is custom built for radio. A driving dance tune with overdriven
guitars compressed to bursting point. Norman’s production keeps it buzzing
along like a chainsaw, very electric sounding with a hooky sample throughout.
Although it sounds mega-tight they've managed to get a really nice loose and
live feel as well, which is a bit weird as I read it back but you'll see
what I mean.
From there we listened to the first single, again annoyingly untitled as
yet. This is more typical of the over all sound of the album. It begins
with a sort of Delta Blues picking on steel string guitar (apparently
played by Damon) and then its all lush melody / harmonies over a mid-paced
blues type arrangement. The electronic feel continues with some striking
electronic bursts. It is incredibly catching, kind of in the way a lot of
the stuff from the ‘Mali Music’ album was. Very dreamy and almost
gospel. In fact my first reaction was Industrial Gospel! And I've never said
that before when listening to an album.
The other two tracks I listened to in full were of a similar feel to single
one. But a skip through the album revealed some pretty diverse stuff. Again
the theme seems to be very organic acoustic sounds married with electronica
that in places sounded like, believe it or not... Jean Michel Jarre! I kid
you not!
Well anyway I hope that’s given you a brief insight into what to expect from
the new Blur. I like it, but it's more in the way I like Damon’s solo stuff
than in the way I love Blur. Still does that really matter especially as
Graham is perfectly free and capable to carry on making and releasing music.
Hmmm, the jury is still out, but I reckon there’s a couple of bangers on
there that could keep a smug grin on the Damon’s lips for a while yet. All
good fun whatever happens.
--
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