IT is 20 years since Britpop and the release of Blur’s seminal album Parklife, and only now, after so many releases by a myriad of side projects, has Blur frontman Damon Albarn released his debut solo album.
Despite his knowledge of so many musical styles, Everyday Robots works to the same fractured hip-hop and soul template as the albums he coproduced with Richard Russell for Gil Scott-Heron and Bobby Womack. It’s his most personal work yet, particularly the autobiographical Hollow Ponds, but it remains to be seen if it will be remembered as his best, as the tone can prove a little monotonous without the voices of Scott-Heron and Womack to push the material.
Rob Barker
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