Despite having reformed six years ago to play occasional live gigs, the prospect of an entire album’s worth of new Blur material appearing any time soon seemed slim, to say the least. So, when the band announced the release of The Magic Whip earlier this year, apparently out of nowhere, it was nothing short of a minor miracle. Which would have been meaningless if this was a tired, hollow retread of past glories. But it most definitely is not. What it is is Blur’s most consistently great album in almost 20 years. It’s a thrilling reminder of just what the British Isles’ preeminent art-school fops can produce when they’re at the top of their game. It’s a joy to hear Graham Coxon—undisputedly the best guitarist of his generation—make a glorious racket once more. It’s a joy to hear him backed by one of the most criminally underrated rhythm sections of recent times once more; and it’s an utter joy to hear them all blend seamlessly with Damon Albarn’s unerring gift for melody and careworn melancholy. It’s an irresistible blend that’s smart, vibrant and frequently gorgeous, and it’s just great to have them together again. Who knows what the future holds? For now, it’s onward and upward. —Neil Ferguson
