This month, Britpop unofficially turned 20 years old. As all sorts of websites look back at why the UK music scene in the mid-'90s was so influential, some of its main players, like Damon Albarn (Blur) and Noel Gallagher (Oasis) are still forging on, making new music without looking back.
At the height of Britpop's popularity, Albarn and Gallagher were sworn enemies and bitter rivals. However, over the last few years, the two buried the hatchet and even became pals. Most recently, Albarn even admitted he and Gallagher have discussed collaborating. Sadly, that may not be the case. In an interview with Exclaim!, Albarn says his words were "distorted."
"Well, I mean that's a classic example of a fragment being amplified and therefore distorted," Albarn explains. "What I did say was we have hung out on several occasions, and in the most sort of light-hearted and casual way, we have talked about working together. But for it to be translated like the way it was is ridiculous. It's as casual as saying we should go out for another drink sometime."
Who knows if Gallagher would even have time, what with all these Oasis reunion rumours spreading like wildfire across the internet. When asked about his new friend possibly reuniting his old band, Albarn was quick to wish "good luck to them."
"I know exactly what it's like," Albarn says. "I'm sure it will be a triumphant return. I think it might be more [Liam] hoping. But yeah, I don't know. I wouldn't want to get involved between the two of them."
Albarn himself will definitely be busy for the next while. His debut solo album, Everyday Robots, hits stores tomorrow (April 29) on Parlophone, but Albarn tells Exclaim! he wasn't initially sold on the idea of going solo.
"Why would I? It's kind of the last thing I'd consider doing," he says. "I love collaborating. That's the beginning and end of it. It's a rewarding experience, but it's a very different world when it's about yourself, I'm finding. Everything is excruciatingly on the individual, and it's way beyond anything I've done before. But I'm old enough and ugly enough to deal with what comes my way."
While it's not even out yet, Albarn says he's already expecting his next album will be a complete 180 to the mellow, contemplative mood of Everyday Robots. It may even morph into a new Gorillaz album.
"I'm determined that my next record will be very upbeat, and I will try to set myself the benchmark of 125 bpm and nothing underneath that," he says. "If I did [invite any guests to appear] it would inevitably turn into the next Gorillaz album. Which it may well do."
Read our full interview with Albarn here.
At the height of Britpop's popularity, Albarn and Gallagher were sworn enemies and bitter rivals. However, over the last few years, the two buried the hatchet and even became pals. Most recently, Albarn even admitted he and Gallagher have discussed collaborating. Sadly, that may not be the case. In an interview with Exclaim!, Albarn says his words were "distorted."
"Well, I mean that's a classic example of a fragment being amplified and therefore distorted," Albarn explains. "What I did say was we have hung out on several occasions, and in the most sort of light-hearted and casual way, we have talked about working together. But for it to be translated like the way it was is ridiculous. It's as casual as saying we should go out for another drink sometime."
Who knows if Gallagher would even have time, what with all these Oasis reunion rumours spreading like wildfire across the internet. When asked about his new friend possibly reuniting his old band, Albarn was quick to wish "good luck to them."
"I know exactly what it's like," Albarn says. "I'm sure it will be a triumphant return. I think it might be more [Liam] hoping. But yeah, I don't know. I wouldn't want to get involved between the two of them."
Albarn himself will definitely be busy for the next while. His debut solo album, Everyday Robots, hits stores tomorrow (April 29) on Parlophone, but Albarn tells Exclaim! he wasn't initially sold on the idea of going solo.
"Why would I? It's kind of the last thing I'd consider doing," he says. "I love collaborating. That's the beginning and end of it. It's a rewarding experience, but it's a very different world when it's about yourself, I'm finding. Everything is excruciatingly on the individual, and it's way beyond anything I've done before. But I'm old enough and ugly enough to deal with what comes my way."
While it's not even out yet, Albarn says he's already expecting his next album will be a complete 180 to the mellow, contemplative mood of Everyday Robots. It may even morph into a new Gorillaz album.
"I'm determined that my next record will be very upbeat, and I will try to set myself the benchmark of 125 bpm and nothing underneath that," he says. "If I did [invite any guests to appear] it would inevitably turn into the next Gorillaz album. Which it may well do."
Read our full interview with Albarn here.
