Blur

EMI

Pillars of Britpop 'Blur' break away in favor of a more Alternative ethos with their self titled fifth studio album. Celebrating it's 25th anniversary since initial release Blur anchors an important moment in the bands history.

Experimenting with a wider range of avenues Blur's self titled release bridges the gap between the night out and the morning after. Sunken soliloquies buried neath hazey, caffeine quenched breathes radiate feelings of disappointment and residual angst - the need for alone time, the possibility of alone time being out of reach. Yearning for something different, yet not knowing how to approach it.

'Blur' is the album that fans of any band want to hear - taking risks and seemingly having freedom from restraints and restrictions. And the results are apparent. In comparison to previous releases this project is loose in the latches - off the hinges. Blur have always had a slightly deranged facet to their character, and this release accentuates those qualities - amplifying them to 11 in some cases. Coxon's guitar experiments take center stage, permeating a feeling of maniacal wizardry. Playing around the outskirts of your mind usually yields interesting results. Harness these results and what you'll find is something inspiring and special.

Breaking free from the box in which artists become trapped is harder than it seems. Alienating a fan base in the process is easier than it seems at the same time. Balancing new ground and foundational convention seems to have been the bands aim at the time. Opening the doors to a whole other side of their repertoire. A pivotal project in the career of one of Britain's finest exports.

Tea, tea and coffee.....

Notable Tracks: Beetlebum, Death of a Party

February 10th, 1997.