Damon Albarn for Monday Lunch – recorded at Gaite Lyrique in Paris on November 5, 2021 by Radio France International.
On the occasion of the release of his then-latest album, “The Nearer The Fountain – More Pure The Stream Flows”, former Blur front-man Damon Albarn in a whole different, more intimate setting. A concert of introspection and melancholy – a sort of tribute to the recent (in 2020) loss of his friend and bandmate Tony Allen. A concert performed in the round, without any special effects – no high-charged songs or ear-piercing sound levels – just something pure and honest and heartfelt.
Luckily, Radio France International was there to capture the vibe and the spirit.
In 2003, Damon Albarn released an EP, Democrazy, a compilation of demos he recorded in various hotel rooms during the United States portion of Think Tank‘s tour.
Albarn collaborated with producers Dan the Automator, XL Recordings, Richard Russell & Rodaidh McDonald, Jneiro Jarel, DJ Darren Cunningham aka Actress, Marc Antoine, Alwest, Remi Kabaka Jr., Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Kwes as part of his week-long visit to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo to record an album, Kinshasa One Two, released in 2011. All proceeds benefit Oxfam‘s work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Maison Des Jeunes, an album for Albarn’s project Africa Express, was released in 2013. In 2014, Albarn appeared in the song “Go Back” in Tony Allen‘s albums Film of Life and The Source.
In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, Albarn announced that a forthcoming solo record would be produced by Richard Russell of XL Recordings. He also said he would be taking his album on tour, and that he would play songs from all of his other bands, including Blur and Gorillaz. Albarn’s debut solo album, Everyday Robots, was released on 25 April 2014 to generally positive reviews. The album peaked at No. 2 on the UK charts and produced five singles: “Everyday Robots“, “Lonely Press Play“, “Hollow Ponds“, “Mr Tembo“, and “Heavy Seas of Love“. It was nominated for the 2014 Mercury Prize for Best Album.
In 2018, Albarn collaborated with Kali Uchis, taking co-writing credits and performing on the song “In My Dreams”, which appears on Uchis’ album Isolation.
In June 2021, Transgressive Records announced that they had signed Albarn and would be releasing his second solo album, after which Albarn revealed the title The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows and 12 November release date alongside the title track’s release.
And that takes us up to the time of this performance.
Enjoy lunch and enjoy the concert – it’s Monday and the week is only starting. Play nice.
