Damon Albarn | Boiler Room: Streaming from Isolation

Damon Albarn performing music from his latest project "The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows" live on Boiler Room.

The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows is the new project from singer, songwriter and composer Damon Albarn, inspired by the landscapes of Iceland. Albarn has been a frequent visitor to Iceland for almost three decades and has in this time found musical inspiration in its nature and landscapes.

This broadcast is the first performance of a selection of this new music and comes on the day Albarn was due to start a sold-out 15-date European tour which would have featured conductor André de Ridder and an ensemble of 14 musicians and 4 singers. The selection from The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows will be performed by Albarn alone with materials from workshops which were interrupted by the global lockdown. The performance takes place in Albarn’s home studio The Barn and is his first live appearance this year.

Credits:
André de Ridder : Violin, Music Director and Conductor
Alexina Hawkins : Viola
Shelley Soerensen : Viola
Joséphine Stephenson : Cello, Voice
Caimin Gilmore : Double Bass
Laura Nygren : Double Bass
Rakel Björt Helgadóttir : Horn
Bergrún Snaebjörnsdóttir : Horn
Romain Bly : Horn, Percussions
Sigrún Jónsdóttir : Trombone
Sigrún Kristbjörg Jónsdóttir : Trombone
Carol Jarvis : Bass trombone
Simon Tong : Guitar

Visual Creative Director Nathan Prince
Iceland Footage by  Snorri Bros and Matt Cronin.
Artwork by Einar Örn Benediktsson.
Edited by Matt Cronin and Nathan Prince
Performance Filmed by Missy Albarn
Recorded by Samuel Egglenton

Special Thanks to George Ruthledge , Ishah Joseph and Stephen Sedgwick at Studio 13.
Marc Cardonnel, Fanny Deroff at Rain dog productions and Bryn Ormrod.
Niamh Byrne, Regine Moylett, Tanyel Vahdettin and Gaby Power at Eleven Mgmt.

Damon Albarn is managed by Eleven Mgmt.

#StayHome #WithMe

[simonsylvie]

It finally happened, Albarn in a barn!

[HansDayal]

In the future, people will wonder how it was possible that so much melancholic beauty could have been made in one lifetime - Damon will be the source of that wonder...so much of the aural beauty of the last 30 years has come from him...

[tezzingtonsir]

Best UK muscian alive at the moment. No one comes close to his love and mastery of music.

[DonBurroni]

He lives in a house
A very big house in the country

[TNGRY]

Ok what deal with the devil did Damon sign? He's just an endless stream of beautiful tunes.

[MarkMathewsMusic]

Damon Albarn is just a walking, talking song in a cap. He can turn his hand to any genre and it just flows out of him. I bore myself being so staggered by his sheer breadth of talent. The world of music is so lucky to have someone like him creating what he creates.

[AgosArg]

When I am absolutely losing my hope in humanity and all, I come to listen / watch this and I realise I live in the same planet as Damon Albarn and the fact that I met him, and it all feels alright again...

[BloodyArmourKnight]

It's amazing how this wonderful man never loses his creativity and even after years he still gives us these magnificent pieces of art.

[cronchyfeathers]

He has the most beautiful soul and no one can change my mind

[shnappyfowler]

Damon makes me so emotional, listening to him since a child, i grew listening to everything damon. Sad theres no tickets left for the Dublin concert, seeing damon live is a whole new experience, makes me cry everytime, so talented i love him ❤

[prixz]

Growing up listening to damon's music is the best highlight of my life.

[AgosArg]

pissed off w/myself as I totally missed watching this! Looking forward to the album's release . Damon, you're truly a gift.

[rattyren]

8:00 The Tower of Montevideo
12:20 Royal Morning Blue
15:10 Polaris
RMB Lyrics:
Rain turning into snow, She puts on her ropes and disappears...
Into new realities, thoughts and memories will disappear
Royal Morning Blue you are saved, but nothing like this had ever happened, before...
(Running out of the face set to give..?)
Royal Morning Blue, you are saved but nothing like this had ever happened before...

[billyjoe]

15.20, utterly beautiful


See the birds, they have been taken by the waves
They are not together now
They must wait until tomorrow
To see each other again

[trimmtrabb]

I love everything about this man! Since 1993 Now and Forever♥️

[noursarhan]

So I just watched this once again and only now I notice how much solemn this sounds. When Damon said that the verse taken from the poem feels poignant to him now, I remembered that he had such a close friendship with Tony Allen, who has recently passed away. It's actually very sad...you can see that he's still heartbroken, and it's totally understandable.
So thank you Damon, for sharing this with all of us, despite what you're going through now. As a stranger from the Internet, I can't say much, and you most likely won't see this...but it feels like we're interacting with you through your music, as if you're sharing something very personal and intimate with all of us...which is what every art form is about, after all.
I've been a fan since only recently, and I can see that you're really passionate about what you do, your music speaks to me like very few in the current music scene...it's earnest, genuine and thought-provoking, as well as interesting, no matter the project or band you're involved in.
So, really, I appreciate this, thanks to you and everyone who worked with you and made this happen! And I hope to see Iceland someday, it seems like a truly magical place...

[scottsmithofficial]

He is the most talented person I've seen in my life.

[catasegovia]

HERMOSO, PERFECTO, MARAVILLOSO, MAGNÍFICO, INSUPERABLE, INTACHABLE, SUPERIOR, ESPECIAL, SOBRESALIENTE, ETC.

[daveytoomuch]

this must be the first time ive seen a you tube post where i struggle to find hate and trolls in the comments, what a nice day it is, genius from Albarn once again... thanks...

[Liz.]

Can't believe YT took so long to put this in my recommended, I've lost precious time admiring this piece of art from god Damon himself