Damon Albarn - The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows ALBUM REVIEW

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You know what? I might buy this on vinyl for the cover alone.


Damon Albarn is a musician I’ve admired for a long time now. He ended up being a gateway to some of my favorite artists ever because of Gorillaz and I’ve always liked his work for Blur, but he hasn’t truly had much of a solo career. He’s released one solo album, 2014’s Everyday Robots, and he confirmed that he has another Gorillaz album planned for some time next year. In the meantime, he’s recorded The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, announced back in 2019 as a tribute to Iceland. I’ve been excited for this for a while now, so let’s not waste time and get into it.

Honestly, there was one album that came to mind when listening to it, and that’s David Bowie’s final album, Blackstar. This album has the oddball, jazzy tone that made Blackstar so beloved and I’m finally glad that there’s a similar album to that. I try not to use direct comparisons like that, but I feel that this was too big to ignore. The production and instrumentals on here are mainly orchestral, and it gives it a very chilly, wintery feel that’s quite unique for Albarn. I also think that this is some of Albarn’s best writing yet, especially paired up with his typical introspection, which seems heightened on this project here. Overall, The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows is a great experience. Damon Albarn’s most ambitious project yet pays off incredibly well.


9/10


Listen here

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The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows is a Transgressive release.

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