UKNY for May 21
Blur (photo by Reuben Bastienne-Lewis, PR)
Eight years have gone galloping by since Blur released their last album, The Magic Whip, but the band's announcement some months ago of two big shows this July at London's Wembley Stadium (plus other festival dates) indicated that something was afoot. On Thursday, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree dropped not only a new single — which I'll play on tonight's "UKNY" at 11 p.m. — but announced the quick release of their ninth album, The Ballad of Darren, on July 21.
Blur began recording The Ballad of Darren with producer James Ford back in January and finished the record just three weeks ago.
Also in the hour, a brand new single for Galway, Ireland's NewDad, looking ahead to their debut album, and London's Bleach Lab who have announced their first album, Lost in a Rush of Emptiness, due out September 22.
In the mix too: A beautiful new song from the duo Jacana People featuring Manchester's Antony Szmierek and a dreamy bossa nova ballad from Reykjavík's Laufey. More from the electrifying Hastings-Brighton teenage trio HotWax as well, exploring their excellent debut EP, A Thousand Times.
All that and more on "UKNY," Sundays 11p.m.-midnight, on 90.7 FM, streaming online, and in the Archives after broadcast.
Songs played:
1. Bleach Lab, “Indigo,” Lost in a Rush of Emptiness
2. (Gothenburg, SE) Little Dragon, “Slugs of Love,” Slugs of Love
3. HotWax, “Treasure,” A Thousand Times EP
4. bar italia, “changer,” Tracey Denim
5. (Galway, IE) NewDad, “In My Head,” single
6. Jacana People feat. Antony Szmierek, “Twist Forever,” single
7. (Lima, PE-Berlin, DE) Sofia Kourtesis, “Madres,” single
8. Berlioz, “jazz is for ordinary people,” jazz is for ordinary people EP
9. Blur, “The Narcissist,” The Ballad of Darren
10. Gina Birch, “I Play My Bass Loud,” I Play My Bass Loud
11. Underworld, “River of Bass,” dubnobasswithmyheadman
12. (Reykjavík, IS-Los Angeles, US) Laufey, “From the Start,” single
13. (New York, US-Rio de Janeiro, BR) Bebel Gilberto, “É Preciso Perdoar,” João
14. Alfa Mist, “Cycles,” Variables
