★★★☆☆
No one really knew what to expect from Magic Whip, Blur’s first offering in over a decade aside from the odd single. On top of this, the recording strategy was odd in itself – the album is comprised of material recorded by guitarist Graham Coxon in Hong Kong last year, with Damon Albarn’s lyrics added over the top. It’s certainly unconventional, but perhaps that’s what makes it so alluring. There’s hints of classic Blur in there – whether it be singing about the “5.14 to East Grinsted” in ‘Lonesome Street’, or the general feel of a song like ‘I Broadcast’ which feels as if it could have come straight off the B-side to Parklife.
However, this record has a distinctive mood that sets it aside from the band’s other work. Coxon described it as “sci-fi folk”, and perhaps he’s on to something. Synthesisers, reverb on the guitar and electronic noises generated by Albarn on his iPad give the album a distinctive feel. It has to be said, this isn’t a sing-along album. It’s the haunting, understated riffs, overlaid with Albarn’s melodic vocals which creates an overall ambience. For that reason, you could argue it’s best listened to as an album from top to bottom. Nonetheless, songs like ‘Go Out’ and the album’s opener, ‘Lonesome Street’, do stand up to the test. All in all a solid eff ort by Blur on reforming, but it probably won’t be making them too many headlines.
