Lots going on in the musical world of Damon Albarn. Besides the handful of Blur summer shows and the debut of new material, D is set to release his Dr Dee album in the U.S. on Virgin Records on May 8th. As a quick primer, Dr Dee was a opera that he composed for the 2011 Manchester International Festival.
John Dee (13 July 1527–1608 or 1609) was an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator, imperialist and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination and Hermetic philosophy.
Dee straddled the worlds of science and magic just as they were becoming distinguishable. One of the most learned men of his age, he had been invited to lecture on advanced algebra at the University of Paris while still in his early twenties. Dee was an ardent promoter of mathematics and a respected astronomer, as well as a leading expert in navigation, having trained many of those who would conduct England's voyages of discovery.
Albarn recorded the material in his London home studio, as well as in Salford with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. The music is very much in line with his Mali Music and Monkey: Journey to the West projects -- eclectic, avant garde and fitting for his passion of world music.
This is a trailer for the album:
Previously:
- Blur @ London Hyde Park, July 3rd
- My Time with Damon Albarn in 2006
- Damon Albarn's Honest Jon's Revue @ Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center
- The Good, The Bad and The Queen @ The Roundhouse
I love it! Hope he actually comes to Loughborough I'll be there! I think Dr Dee was John Dee some kind of Illuminati fednuor from 17th Century could do with some alchemy and magick around Loughborough there is of course the Ashby Road ghost girl that people have seen coming back from town to campus.
Posted by: Sai | June 15, 2012 at 09:24 AM