watch Damon Albarn debut new music on Boiler Room livestream

Blur and Gorillaz leader Damon Albarn was to have started a 15-date European tour on Sunday (5/17) that featured conductor André de Ridder and an ensemble of 14 musicians and 4 singers. The tour was for a new project titled The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows which was inspired by the stunning landscapes of Iceland. With almost all touring on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, Albarn instead debuted songs from the project via a Boiler Room livestream on Sunday.

Albarn performed the 21 minute solo set from his studio, The Barn, using backing tracks from workshops for The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows. Like a lot of music inspired by Iceland, these songs are pretty and tranquil and you can watch an archive of the session, below.

The Boiler Room stream was also launched to help raise money for The Global FoodBanking Network, and you can still donate here.

The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows tour is set to be rescheduled for 2021. Stay tuned for details.

Albarn is also releasing new Gorillaz singles this year.