(Parlophone)
Nostalgic melancholy fills Blur’s ninth studio release, a courageous album that shows the band have something germane to say about getting old
‘We’re taking down the scaffolds very soon,” sings Damon Albarn, midway through Barbaric, presumably one of the songs he wrote for Blur’s ninth studio album while on tour with Gorillaz last year. Whether it was intended as such or not, the image of a venerable building being revealed to the public once more seems like an anticipatory nod towards Blur’s second reunion, 33 years on from their debut single.
It has, thus far, been a remarkable success. There have been stadium gigs and festival headlining slots, at which the old hits were rolled out to giddily euphoric response, and the touching sight of Albarn being reduced to tears on stage by the reception afforded them at Wembley.
