Preview Damon Albarn’s Dr Dee album with exclusive commentary over on the official website.

The album is due for release on 7th May 2012. Pre-order the album from iTunes, Amazon or HMV now.

Dr Dee is 18 tracks of songs and music inspired by the life of John Dee, mathematician, polymath and advisor to Elizabeth I. Described by Albarn as ‘strange pastoral folk’, Dr Dee is a fitting companion to the end of another Elizabethan age. The album combines Albarn’s voice with early English choral and instrumentation alongside modern, West African and Renaissance sounds.

Dr Dee was recorded late last year in Albarn’s West London studio and also in Salford with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. The album was mixed by Valgeir Sigurðsson in Reykjavík.

Dr Dee will be available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download.

Discover more at the official website http://dr-dee.info

Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon spoke to Jo Whiley backstage at the Brit Awards.

Listen to the interview here:

Damon Albarn has written a new song especially for Sunday’s (28 Oct 2007) “Plague Songs” event being held at London’s Barbican centre.

Acts performing at the event include Imogen Heap, Kenny Anderson (King Creosote), Rufus Wainwright and many more. The show is being curated by David Coulter who was the musical director on Monkey: Journey To The West.

It is still to be confirmed whether Damon will actually perform at the event. For more info and tickets, visit the Barbican website.

Via blur.co.uk

Damon Albarn won the Q Inspiration Award at the Q Awards held in London. The award was presented to Damon by Zane Lowe and Kano. View Damon’s acceptance speech here.

Other winners this year include Paul McCartney, Ian Brown and Kylie Minogue. Tony Wilson was awarded the Q Hero.

The full list of winners can be found at the Q Awards website.