Blur – Page 2 – The Light Appears

blur came back in a big way in 2023. Recent sold out stadium gigs plus a live streamed event where the band played the entirety of new album The Ballad of Darren. Alex James’ bass grooves were a highlight on several tracks, as he lounged on a sofa in short pants. The new release produced by James Ford sees the foursome in introspective mode with mainly slower, atmospheric tracks. Damon’s voice sounds calm and laidback on nearly every track barring the single “St. Charles Square” that shows off the band’s punkier side with shouts and Graham Coxon’s guitar squalls.

First song, “The Ballad” is the reworking of an older Albarn track that his friend Darren encouraged him to go back and finish. The electronic beat compliments the contemplative track. “Russian Strings” claims that “there’s nothing in the end, only dust/so turn the music up”. “Barbaric” is a catchy, jangly guitar track that asks, “now where are we going?”. “The Heights” adds dramatic strings and more of a solid beat from Dave Rowntree that eventually turns to static before shutting down completely.

The highlight of the album is first single, the anthemic “The Narcissist”. Partly based on an acid trip from many years ago, Coxon adds vocals on the verses before the chorus breaks in with the infectious line, “I’ll be shining light in your eyes/you’ll probably shine it back on me”. The deluxe version adds two tracks including the much needed upbeat “The Rabbi” and a better album closer of “The Swan”.

On blur’s return, the tracks on The Ballad of Darren could use an injection of energy which makes the deluxe copy the go to version. Some of the songs can blend into one another but several of the singles will be played in all future reunion gigs to an adoring crowd. Now playing to an aging Britpop crowd, the mature slant to the songs will see many identifying with the messages, leaving behind the cheeky chappy character sketches of the band’s past.

8/10

Trainspotting based on the Irvine Welsh novel follows the lives of several Scottish mates, most of whom are addicted to heroin. The movie depicts the staggering destruction the drug can do in a person’s life but also mixes in plenty of laughs and one of the best film soundtracks ever. Mixing alternative classics, Britpop and techno – the soundtrack was massively successful upon release in 1996. The album starts with the first of two big indie disco night hits with Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life”. Originally released in the late 70s, the song gets a new release on life as a whole new generation discovers the classic drum beat from Hunt Sales.

The album immediately takes it’s foot off the gas for the ambient sounds of Brian Eno and the bubbling dance sounds of Primal Scream. Sleeper performs a very good faithful cover of Blondie’s “Atomic” before the New Order’s “Temptation” sings of “Oh, you’ve got green/blue/grey eyes”. The album then takes one of the highlights from Blur’s underrated first album with “Sing”. Lou Reed soundtracks one of the most powerful scenes in the movie when “Perfect Day” plays while Renton (Ewan McGregor) ODs before being revived in the hospital. The song’s deadpan singing of a wonderful day out perfectly fits the harrowing scene.

Originally a b-side, Pulp makes an appearance with “Mile End”, a fitting track that describes an unlivable flat in London that captures the domestic lives of the characters. Nearly bookending the album, Underworld’s smash techno crossover hit “Born Slippy .NUXX” appears. Playing in the final scenes of the movie, the song with it’s “lager lager lager” lyrics is regarded as a landmark electronic track.

Arriving a few years before Napster and online streaming, the Trainspotting soundtrack plays like an excellent mixtape that people used to pass on to one another. While the segue from Iggy Pop to Brian Eno is an odd one, several of the tracks flow nicely from one track to the next. Like any good mixtape, it has well known favourites and a few unknown gems for listeners to discover. Like the movie, the Trainspotting soundtrack still holds up 25 years later.

9/10

Tag: Blur

blur – The Ballad of Darren (Deluxe) (2023)

Trainspotting: Music from the Motion Picture (1996)