For most of us, quarantine has been extremely hard, even pushing some into dark places. However, the Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn claims, “I have been on my own dark journey while making this record, and it led me to believe that a pure source might still exist.”
Around a week ago, Albarn announced the release of his second solo album titled “The Nearer The Fountain, The More Pure The Stream Flows.” An orchestral album inspired by the landscapes of Iceland. The title comes from John Clare’s poem Love and Memory.
You can pre-order the album here and listen to one of the released songs here!
“While staring out of the window in Iceland, the wind was so strong that the windows would start to move. It was so freezing that sometimes you’d be staring at the rain, and while you’re watching it, it suddenly turns to snow. I took some of these real-time, extreme elemental experiences and then tried to develop them into, as you say, more formal pop songs with that as my source,” he said in an interview with NME.
The album uncovers much more ground in Albarn’s career of constant musical shifts and exploration, with massive orchestral nesting with familiar melodies, discordance brushing up against contagious majesty, and all set to some of Albarn’s most captivating vocal performances to date.
“The Nearer The Fountain, The More Pure The Stream Flows” (the song) eloquently captures the emotional ebb and flow of the human experience, in all its extremes, functioning as a soul-enriching document for our times, much like the beauty and chaos of the natural environment it soundtracks.
There will be limited edition color vinyl forms and CD and cassette releases, in addition to the digital distribution. Additionally, a deluxe edition of the album will be released, including a casebound book with additional photography, original scanned lyrics, and artwork by Damon; as well as a clear vinyl version of the album, a high-quality digital file, and a bonus 7″ including an exclusive song from the session.
Tracklist:
01 The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
02 The Cormorant
03 Royal Morning Blue
04 Combustion
05 Daft Wader
06 Darkness to Light
07 Esja
08 The Tower of Montevideo
09 Giraffe Trumpet Sea
10 Polaris
11 Particles
