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Blur – The Ballad Of Darren
Words: Elena Katrina

Time is short and so I’ve decided to give this whole album review lark a little shakeup – I’m only going to listen to this once and I’m going to type up my initial thoughts on just one listen. I may or may not go back over a few parts after I’ve finished but let’s take this review as a bit of a practice run. I’m saying this while I psych myself up to hit play on the latest Blur album; “The Ballad of Darren“.

I think I’ve managed to only hear a snippet of one of the singles so far and so as a teen of the 90s I have both trepidation and excitement to hear this new album. But first, some weird Elena and Blur anecdotes that I’ve saved up my sleeve for many years, clearly waiting for such an opportunity to get them off my chest; I once (accidentally) threw a lighter at the back of Graham Coxon’s head, Alex James once fell into me off of a small stage where he steadied himself by accidentally grabbing my bum (always good to have something sizable to grab when a rockstar is falling I’d say) then more recently I got to work (all too briefly) with Damon Albarn and help ready the most anxiety-ridden front-person I’ve ever met, to take to the stage at a festival. I’m still waiting on meeting Dave Rowntree – I wonder what on earth fate has in mind for us on that first meeting.

I am fully aware that I am waffling – I’ve still not hit “play” and I think it’s in-part because I’m nervous! I want this to be the best thing since “Modern Life Is Rubbish“, “Parklife” at a push but I don’t want them to sound like that. I don’t know what I want really so maybe should just STFU and get it in my ears!

I don’t know what on earth to expect from this album going off of “The Ballad“. It’s at first a gentle caress, I suppose as a ballad should be but then it is so unexpected, musically I mean. It’s un-ballardly. Blur are redefining the ballad in 2023 and I’m so here for it.

St Charles Square has an uneasy undercurrent which I both love and also puts me somewhat on edge. The guitars are really early Blur sounding but also there’s a proper 70s Glam Rock vibe and combined that’s putting a massive smile on my face. I love edgy Blur (written down that sounds like a bit of an oxymoron). It’s an interesting vibe to follow with from “The Ballad“, that’s for sure.

“Barbaric” gives us a gorgeous dose of on off shoegaze and for the first time in my life I find Damon’s vocals strangely hypnotic. I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a Blur track or album, at least not as an adult. I’d like to stick my noise cancelling headphones on and block out every other sound that is polluting this. I’m skipping along in my mind to the bass line – it’s again a classic Alex James sound. It can’t really just be me who listens to this and can visualise him swaying, hair swishing across his eyes a-la Park Life era?

Not really feeling “Russian Strings” – I got distracted when listening to it – it’s the first time I’ve got distracted so far when listening to “The Ballad of Darren“. Musically it’s just not really going anywhere. It’s a pretty ditty. A breather.(EDIT – on the second listen I’ve just stated out loud that I want to listen to this track on my headphones and let it soothe me to sleep! how a repeat listen can change something!) I’m still feeling a bit distracted and disinterested with “The Everglades (For Leonard)” but there’s something about it that reminds me of something that Tim Burgess would do and then right at the end I felt a lean toward Radiohead – very random.

“The Narcissit“- is probably, like most people, the track I’ve heard before. I didn’t pay a huge amount of attention to it though but in the context of The Ballard of Darren it’s a warm welcome. I enjoy the fast paced toe-tapping drums that pace it so relentlessly – only giving way for the bass to have a moment before coming back. It’s not a loud track it’s got some really beautiful swirls of guitar – again, I want to say in almost a Coxon classic manner. This is definitely my favourite track so far on the album but “St.Charles Square” coming up right around the bend wanting to take the top spot.

“Goodbye Albert” is screaming Bowie vibes to me – everything in its styling and its presentation is screaming it. It’s absolutely bloody beautiful. It’s made me feel really emotional and If I’m honest I don’t think I’ve ever connected quite so much with a blur track on an emotional level before. I mean “Popscene” is one of my favourite Blur tracks to date, so you can probably see where I’m coming from. I don’t want to listen to “Far Away Island” now, I want to listen to this one again. But this too has a hauting tinge of Bowie to it, but nothing like “Goodbye Albert”.

“Avalon” – hello Blur of old again. There’s just hints of it. This track has some jazz moments to it but it ends too quickly somehow. It’s still over three minutes long but that ending – give me an extended album version and give me another minute of that ending let it fade out let me have more. It’s delicious.

“The Heights” feels like it should be named “the attack of the bees”. I adore the guitar at the start and Is that strings? oh god please yes let it be. But I’m left feeling somewhat annoyed by the end just cutting out (seems to be a recurring annoyance on this album). Does it feel like the closing of an album? Yes and No. I’ve had to cheat and listen to it again going back into the opening track – that’s my test. I am a purist when it comes to albums. They have to be listened to in their intended order and on repeat. If you’re at all curious – after that little experiment I’m now at peace with the ending and “The Ballad“on second listen feels so perfect an opener. I think I might fall in love with this album over the next few days (I can’t see that I’m going to want to turn it off at this point).

As a collection of songs presented on an album “The Ballad Of Darren” isn’t quite taking the top spot of favourite Blur album but there are some truly exceptional and magical moments on it. You know what too, that despite having lived during the ultimate Blur hayday, I’ve never seen them live. Yup I have haphazardly crossed paths with three quarters of the band but I’ve never seen them live. This has reignited a desire to do that. Please let this dream come true. I need to see these songs performed live I want to feel the energy of them pulsate through me.