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Damon Albarn is spotted on the MTR in 2013. Graham Coxon can be seen in the background in purple glasses. Photo: Marian Joy Hernandez

Blur ditch album recorded in Hong Kong after city proved ‘too hot’ to finish writing songs

When Blur played a stunning gig in Hong Kong a year ago thousands of fans wet berserk when frontman Damon Albarn announced that the band would be recording their first album since 2003 in the city.

Alex Millson

When Blur played a stunning gig in Hong Kong a year ago thousands of fans went berserk when frontman Damon Albarn announced that the band would be recording their first album since 2003 in the city.

But their hopes of an eighth record having an Asian flavour have been dashed after Damon revealed that it had been ‘too hot’ in the city to finish writing the songs – and that the record ‘“may never come out’”.

During the gig last May, Damon said that the next leg of their tour in Japan had been cancelled, adding: “So we have a week in Hong Kong and we thought it would be a good time to try to record another record, so we’re going to make one here in Hong Kong.”

In an interview with UK music magazine this week, Albarn said that while in Hong Kong the foursome had recorded the music for about 15 songs, but that they had laid untouched since.

“The annoying thing is, if I’d been able to write the lyrics there and then about being there, we’d have finished the record,” he told the music paper.

“But sometimes if you can’t do it all at once, it dissipates really and I don’t know what I’d sing about now with that record.

“There’s some great tunes on there, but it may just be one of those records that never comes out.”

Blaming the sticky heat of a sticky May, he added: “There was too much commuting between where we were staying and where we were recording and it was a bit too hot. I think that’s why we didn’t get it finished.”

The news will come as a blow to the fans who packed the Asia-World Expo arena and watched the quartet storm through a triumphant “best of” set.

Following the concert the band was pictured slumming it with their fans, taking the MTR home.

In April this year Albarn released his debut solo album, to critical acclaim.

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