blur – Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, and Dave Rowntree – have announced that their first new album in eight years, The Ballad of Darren, will be released on July 23 via Parlophone.
The 10-track record is produced by James Ford and features artwork by Martin Parr.
“This is an aftershock record, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now,” said Albarn with Coxon adding, “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.”
“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,” said James and Rowntree commented, “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.”
Click here to pre-order The Ballad of Darren and check out the album teaser below. More information about blur can be found at Blur.co.uk.