Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn has announced a release date for his forthcoming solo album, Dr Dee, due out from the Virgin Records impress on May 8. A full tracklist and details about the accompanying stage play are available after the jump.
As previously reported, the album was created alongside the Albarn/Rufus Norris penned stage play by the same name. The play took its inspiration from the famed comic book writer, Alan Moore of Watchmen and V for Vendetta fame. This will mark Albarn’s second venture into musical theater since the he lent his hand alongside British comic designer and Gorillaz virtual band creator Jamie Hewlett on the critically acclaimed stage adaptation, Monkey: Journey to the West.
As for sound, the Dr Dee album will feature what Albarn describes as “strange pastoral folk” inspired by the life of Elizabethan philosopher and alchemist John Dee. The 18-track collection combines Albarn’s vocals with early English choral instrumentation and modern West African and Renaissance sounds.
Albarn will perform from the Dr Dee album at the UK’s OneFest on April 14. He will play alongside singers and musicians featured on the album, including famed Mali kora player Mamadou Diabaté. Check out a trailer and full stage performance dates below, and look out for the CD, vinyl and digital release of Dr Dee on May 8.
Dr Dee stage play performance dates are as follows:
June 25, 26, 28, 29 | and | July 4, 6, 7 — London, England — London Coliseum
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