In what is probably the most exciting news for Blur fans everywhere Graham Coxon has given the bands biggest hint yet that they are ready to start recording together again.
Since reforming in 2009 the band have released just one single, Fools Day, which was put out on limited edition vinyl for Record Store Day. It was previously confirmed by Blur front man, Damon Albarn, that they band would be meeting in early 2011 to start recording a new album.
Writing on Twitter, Coxon spoke of how he is ‘now off to see the Blur boys and have coffee and maybe switch a tape recorder on!’ Later, after fans had pressed for more details he replied: “We are having a meet-up, might get a guitar out.”
Ever since Blur reunited for a handful of dates two years ago, the desire for some new music from the former Britpop champs has only increased over time.
Last November Blur frontman Damon Albarn told NME that the band planned to reconvene in early 2011, but that firm plans were not locked down.
Since reforming in 2009 the band have released just one single, Fools Day, which was put out on limited edition vinyl for Record Store Day. It was previously confirmed by Blur front man, Damon Albarn, that they band would be meeting in early 2011 to start recording a new album.
Writing on Twitter, Coxon spoke of how he is ‘now off to see the Blur boys and have coffee and maybe switch a tape recorder on!’ Later, after fans had pressed for more details he replied: “We are having a meet-up, might get a guitar out.”
Ever since Blur reunited for a handful of dates two years ago, the desire for some new music from the former Britpop champs has only increased over time.
Last November Blur frontman Damon Albarn told NME that the band planned to reconvene in early 2011, but that firm plans were not locked down.
- The boys together last year
The Blur reunion rumors are flying around again! Click here to see what the twitterworld thinks of this recent development.
Any thoughts?
Rose:
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear it - they're my favorite band. They're really exceptional guys. And they're a very "present" band, evolving and creating "in the moment". I never got the impression that they conformed themselves to one era in their band's history. It's a very refreshing and unusual approach. Something works perfectly, and then they're off trying new things, trying to fine-tune those feelings, ideas and sounds that they're focused on today - what's relevant to them, their culture and our World, now, at this moment in time. Memory and nostalgia is in important part of our lives, but they aren't obsessed with reviving ghosts, unless they're relevant to the band at present.
I think their fans are of the same mentality (from what I've noticed); although, I'm sure they'll get new fans who will be exposed to their earlier catalogue after experiencing the new stuff. So many bands these days seem fixated on creating a product, creating something that represents an almost "brand" approach to the association of their band name; so if they established one sound, one unified perspective and one set of muses, they stick with it for the long haul, even if the inspiration changes. Not so with "Blur". I have complete confidence that whatever they create, it will feel right and interesting. "Fool's Day" gave off that vibe. It was like a breath of fresh air in a mass of same-sounding, not particularily evocative or emotive music. It's about time for them to emerge full-force and shake things up.
Rose:
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have. But I get the impression the band was designed for that; to be put on a shelf, taken down and dusted off for a renewal, whenever relevant. I think "Gorillaz", as it was in 2010, is done, but I don't think "Gorillaz" is done, as a concept, for good. I think they will go back to it another time. Like magicians, they created that little world together and they can revive it whenever they feel like it.
The culmination was the group fully materializing in flesh and blood. It was like a creative idea finally merged with reality, like the concept reached a resolution. If you think about where Albarn, in particular, started with the project, and what he was emerging from - intense and distorting fame and the danger of plastic celebrity - it's almost like "Gorillaz" was this safety zone, a kind of creative dream bank for multiple artists to tinker around in, even a form of transitional therapy; like a place where artists would go when they needed total creativity and believed there was no place for music or art to go in the 2000's; especially during (particularily controversial) wartime, mass commercialization and rapidly shifting culture. A lot has happened over the past decade. In 2000, the internet was just seriously lifting-off, becoming the primary vehicle for trading and communication in business and for the masses, unlike the mid-late 90's, where the internet was primarily geared towards businesses and hard-core techies, with everyone else just dipping their feet into the technology. After 2000 and upward, residential internet soared and online communication grew. It's hard to believe, but sites like "Myspace" (already bloomed and wilted), "Facebook" and portable "apps" are less than 10 years old - some barely five, yet our cultures act like they've been around for an eternity. We've grown accustomed to it, lived through it, but much has changed - everywhere - in ten years time.
"Plastic Beach" and then the "The Fall" was almost like the final stage of a transitional journey, a peaceful limbo that contrasted the intensity of "Demon Days", where artists would finally feel satisfied with an idea, before leaping-off into something else - back into the mainstream. All the "Gorillaz" albums moved like how you would organize one album or one story: The opening, a lift-off of anticipation, energy and activity (self-titled "Gorillaz"), lots of little conflicts leading towards confrontation (the independent B-sides), the anxiety and intensity surrounding climax ("Demon Days"), the resolution ("Plastic Beach") and the calm ofter the storm, back to normality ("The Fall"). I don't know where they could go from there, but it will be interesting if they ever try to find out.
"Blur", on the other hand, is life (a very fangirl-ish line, but bear with me). It's music as a reflection on life, with human limitations and challenges, but more an embracing of and exploration of those limitations than a denial of them. "Blur" is creative realism, "Gorillaz" is creative fantasy. Neither perspective is lesser to the other. They're both "reality", just different windows into it. After deep immersion in the fantasy world of "Gorillaz" and magical operas, I suspect Albarn's ready to resume the laid-back, but in many ways more challenging, creative realism of "Blur". But, who knows. I'm not Albarn, Coxon, James or Rowntree- I could be very wrong. We'll just have to wait and see :).
I totally agree. But nowadays record companies are most concerned with how a band is going to sell, and make a profit. Without a “brand” its hard to target a fan base and make more profit.
ReplyDeleteOf course, being a Blur fan, I respect Damon and Graham’s opinions to keep a diverse profile and being non-traditional, you can say.
Have you heard about how Damon’s calling quits on Gorillaz?