British band Blur announce their first album in eight years

MISE À DAY

Blur have announced the release of their ninth studio album, 'The Ballad of Darren', for July.

The disc is the British group's first in eight years, following the release from “The Magic Whip,” in 2015. The album features 10 new tracks, with the first single, “The Narcissist,” out now.

“It's a backlash record, a reflection and a commentary on our current situation,” frontman Damon Albarn said in a statement obtained by Pitchfork.

Guitarist Graham Coxon added: “The older and crazier we get, the more we need what we play to be loaded with the right emotion and the right intention. Sometimes a simple riff just isn't enough.”

Bassist Alex James added, “For a long-term relationship to be meaningful, you have to be able to surprise each other, and that's what we continue to do.”

Formed in London in 1988, the band – made up of Alex James, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Dave Rowntree – went on hiatus in 2015 before announcing their reunion last year. 

Blur have planned a concert on May 20 to promote this new album, in their hometown of Colchester, Essex, at the Colchester Arts Centre. The group is also due to give two concerts at Wembley Stadium in July and take part in the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, ​​as well as the Festival de Beauregard and Les Vieilles Charrues in France.

The release of “The Ballad of Darren” is slated for July 21st on Parlophone.