Blur’s ninth studio album, “The Ballad of Darren,” was released on 21 July 2023 by Parlophone and Warner Records. Produced by James Ford at Studio 13 in London and Devon, it marks the first time since 2003’s “Think Tank” that the longtime producer Stephen Street was not involved. Following their previous album, “The Magic Whip” (2015), this is Blur’s shortest album, with a runtime under 50 minutes.
The album has been described as featuring elements of lounge pop and has been compared to Radiohead’s “A Moon Shaped Pool” and Blur’s own “Think Tank.”
Artwork and title of Blur: The Ballad of Darren
The cover of the album features a 2004 photograph taken by Martin Parr, depicting a man swimming alone in the Gourock Outdoor Pool in Scotland. Drummer Dave Rowntree explained that the image symbolizes overcoming physical challenges and the safety of the lido, which can become rough. There are also stories of sharks being washed in by the sea at that location.
The title of the album, “The Ballad of Darren,” references Darren “Smoggy” Evans, the band’s former bodyguard, who currently works for frontman Damon Albarn. Albarn clarified that while the title is directly about one person, it represents many people, and there’s a picture of Darren in the album, though it’s on the inner sleeve, not the front cover, to respect Darren’s privacy.
Release and promotion of The Ballad of Darren
Hints of new music from Blur and Gorillaz were first mentioned by Damon Albarn in June 2021, leading up to his second solo studio release, “The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows.” On 14 November 2022, bassist Alex James hinted at the possibility of new music from the band after an eight-year hiatus. The band announced a reunion show at Wembley Stadium in summer 2023. On 18 May 2023, the album was officially announced, accompanied by a short video directed by Toby L., which showed the band in the studio with a snippet of the song “The Narcissist” playing in the background.
The Ballad of Darren Tracklist
1. The Ballad
2. St. Charles Square
3. Barbaric
4. Russian Strings
5. The Everglades (For Leonard)
6. The Narcissist
7. Goodbye Albert
8. Far Away Island
9. Avalon
10. The Heights