Tag Archives: Damon Albarn

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

On November 12, 2021, “Transgressive” label released “The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows”, the second Damon Albarn studio album. It was recorded in 2021, at “Studio 13” in London, “Staðahverfi” in Reykjavík, “Studio 13” in Devon, and was produced by Damon Albarn.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn – acoustic guitar, Elka Space Organ, piano, Wurlitzer, bass guitar, Hammond S100, monochord, drums, Farfisa organ, harmonium, bells, slate marimba, Rhodes Chroma, iPad strings
  • Simon Tong – acoustic and electric guitar, drums
  • Mike Smith – Elka Space Organ, harmonium, saxophone, Farfisa
  • Samuel Egglenton – bass guitar, drum programming
  • Caimin Gilmore – double bass
  • Laura Nygren – double bass
  • Sigrún Jónsdóttir – trombone
  • Sigrún Kristbjörg Jónsdóttir – trombone
  • Carol Jarvis – bass trombone
  • Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir – French horn
  • Romain Bly – French horn, slate marimba
  • Rakel Björn Helgadóttir – French horn
  • André de Ridder – violin
  • Alexina Hawkins – viola
  • Josephine Stephenson – vocals, cello
  • Einar Örn Benediktsson – a Snapchat
  • Árni Benediktsson – field recordings
  • Samuel Egglenton – engineer, additional production
  • Stephen Sedgwick – mixing
  • John Davis – mastering
  • OK-RM – design, art direction
  • Márton Perlaki – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn and Simon Tong, except where noted.

  1. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows – Damon Albarn, André de Ridder, Simon Tong
  2. The Cormorant
  3. Royal Morning Blue
  4. Combustion – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  5. Daft Wader
  6. Darkness to Light
  7. Esja – Damon Albarn, André de Ridder, Simon Tong
  8. The Tower of Montevideo – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  9. Giraffe Trumpet Sea – Damon Albarn
  10. Polaris – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  11. Particles – Damon Albarn

Marianne Faithfull: Before The Poison

On September 28, 2004, “Anti Records” label released “Before the Poison”, the 16th Marianne Faithfull studio album. It was recorded June – October 2003, at “The Fallout Shelter” and “Mayfair Studio” in London, and was produced by PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Hal Willner, Rob Ellis and Head.

Personnel:

  • Marianne Faithfull – lead vocal, handclapping
  • PJ Harvey – vocals, backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, slide bass, piano, synth
  • Diana Gutkind – piano
  • Adrian Utley – synth bass, bass, acoustic and electric guitar, toy piano, sampling
  • Rob Ellis – drums, percussion, glockenspiel, handclapping, piano, vibraphone, sound effects, string arrangements
  • Catherine Browning – violin
  • Andy Nice – cello
  • Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn P. Casey, Jim Sclavunos – musicians
  • Rik Simpson – recording, engineer assistant, mixing
  • Head – recording, mixing
  • Andrew Rugg- engineer assistant
  • John Dent – mastering
  • Jean Baptiste Mondino – photography

Track listing:

  1. The Mystery of Love – PJ Harvey
  2. My Friends Have – PJ Harvey
  3. Crazy Love – Marianne Faithfull, Nick Cave
  4. Last Song – Marianne Faithfull, Damon Albarn
  5. No Child of Mine – PJ Harvey
  6. Before the Poison – Marianne Faithfull, PJ Harvey
  7. There Is a Ghost – Marianne Faithfull, Nick Cave
  8. In the Factory – Marianne Faithfull, PJ Harvey
  9. Desperanto – Marianne Faithfull, Nick Cave
  10. City of Quartz – Marianne Faithfull, Jon Brion

Blur: The Ballad Of Darren

On July 21, 2023, “Parlaphone” label released “The Ballad of Darren”, the ninth Blur studio album. It was recorded January – May 2023, at “Studio 13” in London and Devon, and was produced by James Ford.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, piano
  • Graham Coxon – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Alex James – bass guitar
  • Dave Rowntree – drums, backing vocals
  • James Ford – keyboards
  • Chris Storr – trumpet
  • Danny Marsden – trumpet
  • Alistair White – trombone
  • Nichol Thompson – trombone
  • Kotono Sato – violin
  • Sarah Tuke – violin
  • Ciara Ismail – viola
  • Izzi Dunn – cello
  • Samuel Egglenton – engineer, additional production
  • Mat Bartram – strings engineering, brass engineering
  • Giacomo Vianello – engineering assistant
  • Luke Pickering – engineering assistant
  • David Wrench – mixing
  • Grace Banks – mixing assistant
  • Matt Colton – mastering
  • Martin Parr – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

  1. The Ballad
  2. St. Charles Square
  3. Barbaric
  4. Russian Strings
  5. The Everglades (for Leonard)
  6. The Narcissist
  7. Goodbye Albert
  8. Far Away Island
  9. Avalon
  10. The Heights

Marianne Faithfull: Kissin’ Time

On February 19, 2002, “Hut” and “Virgin” labels released “Kissin Time”, the 15th Marianne Faithfull studio album. It was recorded 2001 – 2002, and was produced by Tonny Hoffer, Beck, Billy Corgan, Dave Stewart, Jarvis Cocker, Steve Mackey, Etienne Daho, Les Valentines, Ben Hillier and Barry Reynolds.

Personnel:

  • Marianne Faithfull – lead and backing vocals, synthesizer, percussion, hand-clapping
  • Beck – guitar, synthesizer, percussion, backing vocals, programming
  • Smokey Hormel – guitar
  • Edith Fambuena – guitar
  • Mark Webber – guitar
  • Damon Albarn – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, hand-clapping
  • Graham Coxon – guitar
  • Jarvis Cocker – keyboards
  • Jean Louis Pierot – keyboards
  • Ned Douglas – keyboards, programming
  • Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass
  • David A. Stewart – bass, guitar
  • Barry Reynolds – bass, guitar, programming, mixing
  • Alex James – bass, hand-clapping
  • Steve Mackey – bass
  • Nick Banks – drums
  • Dave Rowntree – drums, hand-clapping
  • Mark Price – drums
  • Gavin Skinner – drums
  • Jon Brion – celeste, Chamberlain, harmonium, drums
  • Billy Corgan – bass, guitar, keyboards, programming, backing vocals, engineer, mixing
  • Matt Walker – drums
  • Shawn Christopher – backing vocals
  • Paris Delane – backing vocals
  • Ben Hillier – engineer, mixing, hand-clapping
  • Tony Hoffer – programming, engineer, mixing
  • Bertrand “Mako” Blais – programming
  • Howard Willing – pre-production
  • Clive Goddard – engineer, mixing
  • Bjorn Thorsrud – engineer, mixing
  • Nick Addison – engineer
  • Jean-Paul Gonnod – engineer
  • Chris Potter – engineer
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Tim Young – mastering
  • Paul Hetherington – graphic design, art direction, design
  • Howard Wakefield – graphic design
  • Nick Knight – photography

Track listing:

  1. Sex with Strangers – Marianne Faithfull, Beck
  2. The Pleasure Song – Marianne Faithfull, Étienne Daho, Edith Fambuena, Jean Louis Pierot
  3. Like Being Born – Marianne Faithfull, Beck
  4. I’m on Fire – Marianne Faithfull, Billy Corgan
  5. Wherever I Go – Billy Corgan
  6. Song for Nico – Marianne Faithfull, Dave Stewart
  7. Sliding Through Life on Charm – Marianne Faithfull, Jarvis Cocker, Steve Mackey, Mark Webber, Nick Banks
  8.   Love & Money – Marianne Faithfull, David Courts
  9. Nobody’s Fault – Beck
  10. Kissin Time – Marianne Faithfull, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree
  11. Something Good – Carole King, Gerry Goffin

Terry Hall

On December 19, 2022, Terence Edward Hall died aged 63. He was singer and song-writer, member of The Coventry Automatics, Terry, Blair & Anouchka, The Colourfield, Vegas and Fun Boy Three, but was best known as member and the lead singer of The Specials. He also collaborated with Dave Stewart, Tricky, D12, Sinead o’Connor, Stephen Duffy, Dub Pistols, Bananarama, The Lightning Seeds, Lily Allen, Shakespears Sisters and Damon Albarn.

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

On November 12, 2021, “Transgressive Records” label released “The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows”, the second Damon Albarn studio album. It was recorded in 2021, at “Studio 13” in London, “Staðahverfi” in Reykjavík, “Studio 13” in Devon, and was produced by Damon Albarn.

Personnel:
• Damon Albarn – acoustic guitar, Elka Space Organ, piano, Wurlitzer, bass guitar, Hammond S100, monochord, drums, Farfisa organ, harmonium, bells, slate marimba, Rhodes Chroma, iPad strings
• Simon Tong – acoustic and electric guitar, drums
• Mike Smith – Elka Space Organ, harmonium, saxophone, Farfisa
• Samuel Egglenton – bass guitar, drum programming
• Caimin Gilmore – double bass
• Laura Nygren – double bass
• Romain Bly – French horn, slate marimba
• Rakel Björn Helgadóttir – French horn
• Bergrún Snæbjörnsdóttir – French horn
• Sigrún Jónsdóttir – trombone
• Sigrún Kristbjörg Jónsdóttir – trombone
• André de Ridder – violin
• Alexina Hawkins – viola
• Shelley Sörensen – viola
• Josephine Stephenson – vocals, cello
• Árni Benediktsson – field recordings
• Carol Jarvis – bass trombone
• Einar Örn Benediktsson – Snapchat
• Samuel Egglenton – engineer, additional production
• Stephen Sedgwick – mixing
• John Davis – mastering
• OK-RM – design, art direction
• Márton Perlaki – photography
Track listing:

  1. The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows – Damon Albarn, Andre de Ridder, Simon Tong
  2. The Cormorant – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  3. Royal Morning Blue – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  4. Combustion – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith. Simon Tong
  5. Daft Wader – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  6. Darkness to Light – Damon Albarn, Simon Tong
  7. Esja – Damon Albarn, André de Ridder, Simon Tong
  8. The Tower of Montevideo – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  9. Giraffe Trumpet Sea – Damon Albarn
  10. Polaris – Damon Albarn, Mike Smith, Simon Tong
  11. Particles – Damon Albarn

Rocket Juice & the Moon: Same

On March 26, 2012, “Honest Jon’s” label released the self-titled, debut and only Rocket Juice & the Moon album. It was recorded 2008 – 2011, at “Studio 13” in London, in Chicago, New York City and Paris.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn – vocals, guitar, keyboard
  • Flea – bass guitar
  • Tony Allen – drums, percussion
  • Erykah Badu – vocals
  • Thundercat – vocals
  • Fatoumata Diawara – vocals
  • M.anifest – vocals
  • M3nsa – vocals
  • Cheick Tidiane Seck
  • Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – horns
  • Stephen Sedgwick – recording, engineer
  • Jason Cox – recording
  • John Foyle – recording assistant
  • Boris Persikoff – recording
  • Abel Garibaldi – recording
  • Jimi Bowman – recording
  • Mark Ernestus – mixing
  • Demola Ogunajo – artwork

Track listing:

  1. 1-2-3-4-5-6
  2. Hey, Shooter
  3. Lolo
  4. Night Watch
  5. Forward Sweep
  6. Follow-Fashion
  7. Chop-Up
  8. Poison
  9. Extinguished
  10. Rotary Connection
  11. Check Out
  12. There
  13. Worries
  14. Benko
  15. The Unfadable
  16. Dam(n)
  17. Fatherless
  18. Leave-Taking

The Good, The Bad & The Queen: Merrie Land

On November 16, 2018, “Studio 13” label released “Merrie Land”, the second and final studio The Good, the Bad & the Queen studio album. It was recorded 2017 – 2018, at “Studio 13” in London, and was produced by Tony Visconti, Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Paul Simonon, and Simon Tong.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn – lead vocals, ARP synthesizer, Farfisa organ, keyboards, mellotron, organ, piano, theremin, percussion, engineer
  • Paul Simonon – lead and backing vocals, bass, percussion, creative director, artwork
  • Simon Tong – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Tony Allen – guitar, drums
  • Tony Visconti – vocals, engineer
  • The Demon Strings – strings
  • Antonia Pagulatos – violin
  • Kotono Sato – violin
  • Stella Page – viola
  • Isabelle Dunn – cello
  • Kate St. John – oboe, Cor Anglais
  • Michael “Bami” Rose – saxophone
  • Lucas Petter – trombone
  • Chris Storr – trumpet
  • Eddie “Tan Tan” Thornton – trumpet
  • Gareth Humphreys – bassoon
  • Gerry Diver – tin whistle
  • Owain Arwel Davies – choir arrangements, conductor
  • Stephen Sedgwick – engineer, mixing
  • John Davis – mastering
  • Robert Gordon McHarg III – art direction
  • Chris Musto – layout
  • Herbert Mason – cover photography

Track listing:

All lyrics by Damon Albarn, all music by Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Visconti.

  1. Introduction
  2. Merrie Land
  3. Gun to the Head
  4. Nineteen Seventeen
  5. The Great Fire
  6. Lady Boston
  7. Drifters & Trawlers
  8. The Truce of Twilight
  9. Ribbons
  10. The last Man to Leave
  11. The Poison Tree

Gil Scott-Heron: I’m New Here

On February 8, 2010, “XL Recordings” label released “I’m New Here”, the 13th and final Gil Scott-Heron studio album. It was recorded in 2009, at “XL Studio” in London, and was produced by Richard Russell.

Personnel:

  • Gil Scott-Heron– vocals, piano
  • Damon Albarn– keyboards
  • Pat Sullivan – guitar
  • Chris Cunningham– guitar, synthesizer
  • Kim Jordan – piano, backing vocals
  • Tiona Hall – backing vocals
  • Michelle Hutcherson – backing vocals
  • Tyria Stokes – backing vocals
  • Christiana Liberis – strings
  • Mary Jo Stilp – strings
  • Mike Block – strings
  • Una Tone – strings
  • Lawson White – engineer, string arrangements
  • Ichiho Nishiki – engineer
  • Rodaidh McDonald – mixing
  • Phil Lee – artwork
  • Mischa Richter– artwork
  • Richard Russell– cover photo

Track listing:

  1. On Coming from a Broken Home (Part 1) – Gil Scott – Heron
  2. Me and the Devil – Robert Johnson
  3. I’m New Here – Bill Callahan
  4. Tour Soul and Mine – Richard Russell, Gil Scott – Heron
  5. Parents (interlude) – Gill Scot – Heron
  6. I’ll Take care of You – Brook Benton
  7. Being Blessed (interlude) – Gill Scott – Heron
  8. Where Did the Night Go – Gill Scott – Heron
  9. I Was Guided (interlude) – Gill Scott – Heron
  10. New York Is Killing Me – Gill Scott – Heron
  11. Certain Things (interlude) – Gill Scott – Heron
  12. Running – Richard Russell, Gill Scott – Heron
  13. The Crutch – Richard Russell, Gill Scott – Heron
  14. I’ve Been Me (interlude) – Gill Scott – Heron
  15. On Coming from a Broken Home – Gill Scott – Heron

The Good, The Bad & The Queen: Same

On January 22, 2007, “Parlophone”, “Honest Jon’s”, “EMI” and “Virgin” labels released the self-titled, debut The Good, the Bad & the Queen album. It was recorded 2005 – 2006, at “Studio 13” and “Townhouse Studios” in London, and was produced by Danger Mouse.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– lead vocals, keyboards, back cover
  • Paul Simonon– bass, backing vocals, illustrations
  • Simon Tong– guitar
  • Tony Allen– drums
  • Danger Mouse– percussion, synthesizers, additional drum programming
  • Al Mobbs – double bass
  • Emma Smith – double bass
  • Harry Christophers, Julia Doyle, Grace Davidson, Kirsty Hopkin, Charlotte Mobbs, Andrew Olleson, Ian Aitkenhead, David Clegg, Christopher Royall, Adrian Lowe, Ben Rayfield, Mark Dobell, Simon Berridge, James Holliday, Julian Empett, Sam Evans – choir
  • Eslam Jawaad– additional vocals
  • Antonia Pagulatos – violin
  • Sally Jackson – violin
  • Alice Pratley – violin
  • Gillon Cameron – violin
  • Stella Page – viola
  • Amanda Drummond – viola
  • Emma Owens – viola
  • Izzi Dunn – cello
  • James Dring – drum programming, programming
  • Jason Cox – recording, mixing
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Jamie Hewlett– back cover
  • Thomas Shotter Boys – painting
  • Will Bankhead – design
  • Pennie Smith – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn.

  1. History Song
  2. 80’s Life
  3. Northern Whale
  4. Kingdom of Doom
  5. Herculean
  6. Behind the Sun
  7. The Bunting Song
  8. Nature Springs
  9. A Soldier’s Tale
  10. Three Changes
  11. Green Fields
  12. The Good, the Bad & the Queen

Sample credits

  • “Northern Whale” contains a sample of “As Tears Go By”, written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richardsand Andrew Oldham