Blur showcased two songs, 'Ong Ong' and 'I Broadcast', from their forthcoming album Magic Whip, which is their first in 12 years and is due for release on 27 April 2015. The new songs form part of their new album's "Hong Kong" theme.
Damon Albarn looked like he's in great condition, showing off his signature British menswear and a leather jacket. Alex James looks his usual best in a white shirt and hair shaking, and the other two members of the band Graham Coxon and Dave Rowntree was in their usual form. The show also featured other bands such as The Vaccines performing new upcoming singles.
Watch Blur live on Jools Holland (BBC Two) - I Broadcast
Blur performing Ong Ong
April 15, 2015
Blur premier new songs Ong Ong and I Broadcast- Jools Holland
April 8, 2015
Designing the perfect room to enjoy your music when living in a flat
Whether the sheer orchestral beauty
of Beethoven or the grungy kaleidoscope of psychedelic rock draws you in,
cranking up the stereo and giving in to complete aural surrender is nothing
short of bliss. If music doesn’t immortalise our memories, captivate our minds
and souls, then what does? Music gives us that happy place we can escape to,
whether it’s on the go or relaxing after a long day at work.
Sound and
space
If you covet your sound system, you
will most likely arrange your space to accommodate your musical passion. If
you’re a musician or DJ, you’ll no doubt have your own room or corner studio
set up. How can you construct the perfect musical space?
Many of us are fairly limited in our
possibilities, partly because we tend to live in small accommodation. A massive
stereo system will not have optimal sound in a small space because it requires
specific physical measurements and characteristics to work acoustically. That
isn’t to say you can’t soak up the modal goodness of the jazz greats, however. Wooden
floors, panelled walls and limited objects and clutter allow better sound, but
it’s also important to consider what happens on the exterior of the room as well.
If you’re living in a quiet
neighbourhood – or even a noisy one – keeping your sound system contained is a
courtesy you owe all your neighbours who may not share your affection for Adam
Ant at 3 in the morning. Soundproofing is not only about being kind but also about
getting to enjoy your greatest hits albums with peace of mind. Here’s what you
need to do:
· Make sure floors are well
insulated. Carpets and thick underlay do an excellent job of absorbing sound. You
can also purchase special acoustic sealant to use around floors and walls.
· Walls can be soundproofed
by cavity wall insulation, or for smaller budgets, blown mineral fibre
insulation. You can also find soundproof panels to install directly on the
walls.
· Acoustic mineral wool,
acoustic plasterboard and soundproofing mats can also be used to reduce
“flanking noise” (the indirect path of sound waves which escape into nooks and
crannies).
Windows are another big issue with
soundproofing, and should also be sealed properly. Ideally, homes should be
fitted with double-glazed windows, which also offer the added bonus of keeping
the heat in during winter and saving on energy. When properly installed,
sealed, and shut, with the help of solid shutters, sound will remain contained.
Comfort
Just as importantly, optimising your
music experience also means setting up a layout that is comfortable and
welcoming – a cosy seating area, storage for your CDs, vinyls, tapes, and other
media as well as the entertainment system you’re using. There are all kinds of
dynamic ways to rearrange a room – with a little incentive; you can bring into
fruition your own little space you can escape to every day. Your ears and your
neighbours will thank you.
March 30, 2015
Blur- Lonesome Street Lyrics
What do you got?
Mass produced in somewhere hot
You'll have to go on the Underground
To get things done here
And then you have
[?] service done
This is a place to come to, or, well, it was
I know a hot spot
Crossing on the guillotine
[Chorus]And if you have nobody left to rely on
I'll hold you in my arms and let you drift
It's got to be that time again
And you, you will be over soon again
So get yourself up, get past on your way
There's nothing to be ashamed of
Taking off again
The 514 to East Grinstead
You've set me off
And talking types will let us down
Talk, talk on your arse all night
You wanna be there
[Bridge]
Step inside the tarmac ride
To the land that time forgot
Oh, we're just gonna go there
Cracks inside the tarmac ride
To the land that crime forgot, oh no
And if you have nobody left to rely on
I'll hold you in my arms and let you drift
Going down to Lonesome Street
Going down to Lonesome Street
Lonesome Street
Going down to Lonesome Street
Lonesome Street
Going down to Lonesome Street
Lonesome Street
March 27, 2015
Lonesome Street by Blur- Song Review
Rating:
Blur's new single Lonesome Street is another hit, not because it's the greatest song of all time, but because it manages to capture the essence of Blur's 90s sound and merge it with new tinges of their album 'The Magic Whip', due out in the middle of this year.
The song begins with a small tune from a keyboard, and launches into Dave Rowntree's signature repetitive drumming- energetic, simple and well, Blur-like. The drumming must be applauded in this song as it forms the baseline of the track. It gives the song a Brit-pop vibe, which will definitely make it different from other songs in the charts these days.
Some say Lonesome Street sounds like a mixture of an early Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett. Indeed this is true. This song could fit right into the early pop tracks, as Damon Albarn sings about "cracks inside the tarmac ride" , "crossing the street" to taking a train to East Grinstead.
Sounding somewhat like a track that could fit right into either "Leisure", "Modern Life is Rubbish" or The Great Escape, this track can fit right in somewhere between "Charmless Man" and "One Born Every Minute". Indeed it could even be a b-side to their earlier 90s albums, because it has the raw energy and touch to the tune.
The only criticism that one can give is that the song sounds slightly repetitive towards the end. Damon Albarn repeats "Lonesome Street" increasingly towards the end, and the lyrics are limited by this phrase. Even so, the song still gives us happy vibes because it does not disappoint.
Again, the release of this track preludes their eagerly awaited album, which should be even bigger, better and will not fail to impress fans.
Check out the lyrics for Lonesome Street and stay tune for more Blur updates, right here on our site.
What would you rate it?
New Blur interview about their new album Magic Whip and 2015 tour
Listen to a new Blur interview featuring Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree talking about their new album The Magic Whip and its makings, and the role Graham Coxon played in shaping their new direction.
February 20, 2015
New Blur Single- Go Out lyrics
Blur- Go Out lyrics
Oh, oh, oh,oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I get this stand alone
Dancing with myself
We go get a gong
Luxury of style
I've seen you in the hall
Dancing with myself
I get into my bed
I'll do it to myself
To the local
oh oh oh oh
To the lo-oh-oh-cal
To the lo-oh-oh-oh-oh-cal
I get into my head
There's nothing to be addressed now
There's nothing to get up about
Cos you do it all the time
For shepherd this untouch
Done it all again
I get ready to go
he going to the local
He going to the lo-cal
He going to the lo-oh-oh-oh oh local
He going to the lo-oh-oh-oh oh local
To many western men
Took part and left undone
Imperious desire
The feathers of luxury
A go-getter in the sky bar
She on a roll
She get ready to go
She does it with herself
She does it with herself
She does it with herself
She does it on her o-o-o-o-o-own
She does it on her o-o-o-o-o-own
'Go Out' - New Blur Single of 2015 released
Review- Go Out by Blur
The new Blur single 'Go Out' sounds like something right out of Blur's earlier album. The song, featuring a single repetitive drum beat signature of Dave Rowntree's style, is similar to the earlier, younger Blur of the 1990s when they were still in the hey-days of Britpop.
Fans will instantly recognise the sound of Blur in 'Go Out', where Damon Albarn sings "We go into the local... We go into the local, oh oh" and chants his "oh oh oh"s similar to their earlier songs in the album "Blur" and "Think Tank". The lyrics include references to Hong Kong and the band's outings around the city in China, one of the biggest destinations for experiencing the East and West mix.
Interestingly, the music video also features a women making homemade-ice cream. The song reminds us of "Advert" in Modern life is Rubbish, where Damon sings about the disillusionments with modern TV advertisements and commercialism. We can't help thinking Damon is trying to recreate some of the social critiques that his earlier songs have going on, only with a different sound. It's a very multicultural video, reflecting perhaps what's to come in the album The Magic Whip, due to be released on the 27th April 2015.
The song's guitar riff in the middle is reminiscence of the band's latest album Think Tank, where there's a move towards more of a rock style. The song ends abruptly, leaving us wanting more.
Overall, this is a catchy, interesting but simple song by Blur, whose return is much welcome in the world of British pop. They've given us a new single with a unique sound, which reminds us of the 1990s and sounds very much like Britpop, although with less of the fancy instrumentals, xylophones and other instruments which Damon Albarn liked to use before.
The soundtrack for Blur's new 12 song album in 2015 will be:
- Lonesome Street
- New World Towers
- Go Out
- Ice Cream Man
- Thought I Was a Spaceman
- I Broadcast
- My Terracotta Heart
- There are Too Many of Us
- Ghost Ship
- Pyongyang
- Ong Ong
- Mirrorball
Blur announce a new album The Magic Whip in 2015
Blur has officially announced their new album titled "The Magic Whip" to be released on April 27 is available to pre-order from today.
Featuring a distinct Chinese theme, Blur announced their first album as a four-piece in 16 years at a live streamed Facebook event from Chinatown in London.
According to Blur, the recordings began during a five-day break in touring in Spring 2013 at Avon Studios in Hong Kong. Last. November Graham Coxon revisited the tracks and, drafting in blur's early producer Stephen Street, he worked with the band on the material. Damon Albarn completed the songs by adding his lyrics and thus produced this new album.
This is fantastic news for Blur fans, as no one expected a new Blur album to be released at such an early date. Previously, the band announced a comeback but had scheduled it for 2016/2017.
The band also announced they will headline British Summer Time Hyde Park on Saturday 20th June 2015. Tickets go on general sale at 9am, Friday 27 February from www.bst-hydepark.com.
The soundtrack for Blur's new 12 song album in 2015 will be:
- Lonesome Street
- New World Towers
- Go Out
- Ice Cream Man
- Thought I Was a Spaceman
- I Broadcast
- My Terracotta Heart
- There are Too Many of Us
- Ghost Ship
- Pyongyang
- Ong Ong
- Mirrorball
February 4, 2015
6 things you didn't know about Gorillaz
With all the news about a new Gorillaz album in 2015 or 2016, here are 6 facts that you didn't know about the band's tumultuous and interesting history.
- Damon Albarn formed Gorillaz after his last Blur album, having settled down with his girlfriend and even becoming a father. Gorillaz was the first product of Albarn's rebirth, which was the project fronted by four cartoon characters.
- Jamie Hewlett was the artist with whom he shared a house in between the end of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Justine Frischmann and the decisive start of his life with current girlfriend Suzi Winstanley. Essentially this was a roommates' collaboration.
- Jamie Hewlett hated Damon Albarn at first- quoting Jamie: "Damon was very competitive, and I had the whole Tank Girl thing going. Then in the late Nineties I split up with Jane, around the same time Damon broke up with Justine, and for some reason we decided to get a flat together. We'd spend hours watching MTV and wondering why everything on it was so terrible. I think Damon was tired of being the frontman for Blur, and I was just aghast at how boring most pop groups are when they're interviewed. Look at them, on television, all sat on the couch with nothing to say. So we said, "Let's make up a fake band".
- In 2010, the two co-founders had yet another fallout. Jamie stated that he felt that people were starting care more about the music and less about his characters and art. The two creators had many disagreements while on tour in 2010 and were growing apart. Although they didn't split then, it spurred rumours about the split several years later.
- In 2011, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett had an argument, which led to the news that row "basically ended things" for the group. They have been hit with rumours of break-ups and split-ups, with some insiders commenting that Gorillaz are always "dogged with angry rows".
- Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have broken up a few times over 2011-2015, allegedly over personal issues. Damon also once said that he was "less than impressed with Jamie’s party lifestyle."
