News: April

12 April

DAMON & DAN GET IT IN THE CAN

DAMON ALBARN is working on new material with producer DAN THE AUTOMATOR.

A spokesperson for Damon told nme.com that the collaboration had taken place in the last couple of weeks, but it was unclear what the recordings were for, though speculation is mounting that it's for the singer's first solo album.

The spokesperson said: "I don't really have any idea what it sounds like, I wish I did! Damon has Studio 13 where Blur recorded most of their last album, and he has been in there for a while working on a number of different projects. The opportunity came along for the pair to work together and he took it."

Dan The Automator, aka, Dan Nakamura is perhaps most well known for his production work on the 1996 Dr Octagon album 'Dr Octagonecologyst'. He also worked as an engineer on the 1997 Prince Paul album 'Psychoanalysis: What Is It?' and on 'Pills from the current Primal Scream album 'Exterminator'.

Blur have been enjoying some free time since the completion of their 'Singles Night' shows last December. Guitarist Graham Coxon has just become a father, and is also working on solo material with a view to releasing the follow-up to his 1997 debut solo album 'The Sky Is Too High' in the summer.

Bassist Alex James has been back in the studio with Fat Les 2000, who have recorded a song for this summer's Euro 2000 football championships. The track is a cover of the hymn 'Jerusalem'.

Dave Rowntree has not been working on any musical projects, but sources close to the drummer have revealed that he has been working on a series of animations for MTV and the Channel 4 program 'The 11 O'Clock Show'.

Blur's next confirmed live performance is at Scott Walker's Meltdown Festival on July 2.
-nme.com