Damon Albarn: Blur, The Gorillaz & Other Fables
by Martin Roach & David Nolan

First ever study of Britpop survivor

It’s hard to believe this is the first time anyone has written a book solely about Damon Albarn, king of Britpop, “world music” dabbler, two-dimensional pop guru, narky posho, nu-opera darling that he is. But here it is, yet sadly it only really ticks the “adequate” box.

Much is culled from Roach’s earlier, exhaustive Blur book (1996’s The Whole Story), and one can only assume that Nolan has gone on to fill the gaps, taking in later Blur records, Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad & The Queen and the Monkey opera. Where the book is best, tracing Albarn’s early amateur dramatic ambition or trying to understand what makes TGTB&TQ tick, it is an engaging read. But it too often falls into the trap of just retracing the Blur timeline. Every one of the acts Albarn has been involved in after Blur are squeezed into just the last 50 pages.

A shame then, because the man is clearly one of our finest creatives. But such a hodgepodge feels more like a missed opportunity than someone only scratching at a difficult surface. We well may never get any deeper, but it would have been good if the authors headed in the right direction.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

ISBN 0955282284

Reviewed by Jake Kennedy
<< Back to Issue 346

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