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

[rich]

see below ...

[rich]

Well, I managed to take a short clip of the last part of Sweet Song last night at Union Chapel. I was so gobsmacked when Damon played it that I forgot to press record until about three quarters of the way in. What a fucking pillock

here it is anyway - enjoy! https://vimeo.com/657020396

[aldamasta]

Nice view you had rich! Can't blame you for being too gobsmacked to function! ha.

Got a ticket for LA! It was quite the treat for me. Wasn't sure it would be worth it. But they really sold it with the whole "only US solo date in 2022" thing, so... going to California for the first time! Anyone else here grab a ticket? Venue looks like a Frank Ghery beauty

[Neal Zeal]

Anyone spotted 'Nearer the Fountain' in any end of year best-album lists?
Guessing it must have made one or two given its considerable critical acclaim (over 80% on Metacritic).
www.metacritic.com/music/nearer-the-fou ... mon-albarn

[lumaka]

Anyone spotted 'Nearer the Fountain' in any end of year best-album lists?

I collected some, we're sharing these on Damon Albarn Unofficial twitter

RoughTrade, top 100
MOJO, UK (43/75)
Albumism, USA (37/100)
Louder Than War, UK (39/100)
The Times, UK (4/25)
The Irish Times (top 10)
Irish Independent (3/10)
Rockin’on, Japan (28/50)
Far Out magazine (18/50)
HumoNegro, Chile (35/50)
France Inter (top 10)
Radio Bayern 2, Germany (60/73)
Uncut, UK (41/50)
Internazionale, Italy (3/10)
Impatto Sonoro, Italy (12/40)
Magnet Magazine, USA (20/25)
Sopitas, Mexico (top 35)
Blitz, Portugal (13/20)
Polityka, Poland (9/10)
Rolling Stone Italy (8/25)
News 24/7, Greece (20/21)
Les Inrocks, France (25/50)


+ 7.3 Pitchfork review: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/da ... eam-flows/

[Neal Zeal]

Anyone spotted 'Nearer the Fountain' in any end of year best-album lists?

I collected some, we're sharing these on Damon Albarn Unofficial twitter

RoughTrade, top 100
MOJO, UK (43/75)
Albumism, USA (37/100)
Louder Than War, UK (39/100)
The Times, UK (4/25)
The Irish Times (top 10)
Irish Independent (3/10)
Rockin’on, Japan (28/50)
Far Out magazine (18/50)
HumoNegro, Chile (35/50)
France Inter (top 10)
Radio Bayern 2, Germany (60/73)
Uncut, UK (41/50)
Internazionale, Italy (3/10)
Impatto Sonoro, Italy (12/40)
Magnet Magazine, USA (20/25)
Sopitas, Mexico (top 35)
Blitz, Portugal (13/20)
Polityka, Poland (9/10)
Rolling Stone Italy (8/25)
News 24/7, Greece (20/21)
Les Inrocks, France (25/50)

+ 7.3 Pitchfork review: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/da ... eam-flows/

Thanks - that's an impressive list!

[tom_cas1]

I'm yet to listen to the album. How do people like it so far?

[bugman]

it's good. 8/10 for me but its the album of the year

[idreamofpikas]

+ 7.3 Pitchfork review: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/da ... eam-flows/

Pitchfork finally got around to reviewing it. Awesome! I was worried they had ignored it.

I'm yet to listen to the album. How do people like it so far?

I really like it, but recognize it is very niche and if you are not a fan of melancholy Damon then it is not going to be for you.

[Mali]

Compositions from the boiler room for me had elements of strings and brass phrases which should have remained on the album. Similar to some of plastic beach demos in their simplicity frame an essence of raw texture. The true sense of the emotion Damon provides when his songs are in their earlier days are so much more. Behind the sun is a perfect example at the John Peel night which comes to mind.

Question I have is whether the up and coming tour will have a larger orchestra. I thought I read that this was to be the case?

[Mallard No. 22]

I really like it, but recognize it is very niche and if you are not a fan of melancholy Damon then it is not going to be for you.

Yes I agree, it is a nice listen, and best if you are needing to relax, or doing something where you need concentration.

It is not a party album that would impress friends.

[Pavlich]

I really like it, but recognize it is very niche and if you are not a fan of melancholy Damon then it is not going to be for you.

Yes I agree, it is a nice listen, and best if you are needing to relax, or doing something where you need concentration.

It is not a party album that would impress friends.

I chuck on Aphex Twin or that two-sided fuckead Eno on at work. they're celebrated artists with lauded releases and seen as massively influential. probably deserve all that pile-on love-in, too.

There's plenty of shit I'll heat a plate up in the microwave for but it's not going to last much longer than a 'hah, I remember' memory in 10 years' time for me.

I don't think it's even that niche either – lots of melodies, Royal Morning Blue would have done very well as a Gorillaz single ten years ago (as in, proper pop charting territory) and it's still made by a dude who knows about hooks and atmosphere that resonate. I think it's being undersold. if Damon was still young and pretty I think this'd be a pretty big album.

[Mallard No. 22]

Yes, I don't disagree Pavlich, if he was in his chart prime the album would gain greater prominence.

Though the Blur-hinterland is now past the immediacy of the youth audience.

[John_d]

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-a ... r-gorillaz

Somebody has jetlag

I expect Damon is fairly pleased with the reception this album has received. He has worked hard to promote it.

It appears Damon has been consistently well advised on this promotional round e.g. Royal Morning Blue is the most "commercial" song on it and has been wheeled out on all the major appearances.

Asides - I watched again Lonesome Street on Graham Nortons BBC show, from 2015. It's a poor song, like a MLIR album track.) I noticed him mentioning Tik Tok in a couple of interviews - probably confirms what's been observed on here, Song Machine didn't do the numbers they wanted on YouTube.

[rich]

^^ well found John!