Iced Milk Tea on a Hot Day and UK Rock
Billy said.
"The deliciousness of iced milk tea on a hot day is just... No more unicorns."
Hello, comrades. Man, it's getting hot, isn't it? The coming... wait, has summer already started? It's still June, technically, but it's hot. With the long days and the humidity, I'm dreading the full-blown sweltering heat. The media is stoking public anxiety with talk of super El Niños and whatnot, but I won't be fooled by that. Still, the summer festival lineups aren't really to my taste, and with ticket prices and the cost of living skyrocketing, it's just too much, isn't it? I wonder if some festivals have lost their way; the lineups just aren't that appealing. Is it just the times? Still, I do find myself wanting to go see Fuji Rock and The Strokes at Summer Sonic.
And this time, an album perfect for blowing away that hot summer has been released. A long-awaited new album from our own Graham Coxon of Blur.
Graham has finally released "Castle Park," a solo studio album consisting of unreleased tracks he recorded in 2011, on June 19th.
This is such a stylish sound, with Graham's signature style in full force. The guitar tone is irresistible. To me, the whole album has the scent of a masterpiece with no filler tracks.
Moreover, this album is produced by Ben Hillier, who also worked on Blur's "Think Tank." The lead single, "Billy Says," is a familiar track for those who know Graham. However, it hadn't been officially released, and since I rarely have the chance to hear it live—partly because he doesn't come to Japan often—I'd only ever thought, "Wow, this song is amazing," on YouTube. For me, this is a long-awaited physical release.
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1. Billy Says
2. Alright
3. When You Find Out
4. Isn't It Funny
5. There's A Little House
6. Easy
7. Dripping Soul
8. Forget Today
9. Melodie Pour Christine
10. All The Rage
In summary, this is an album I want to listen to while sitting on a cafe terrace, clutching a sweet, chilled iced milk tea, and munching on a biscuit or shortbread. I have no plans to go to London this year, so during the humid Japanese summer, I'll take it easy and enjoy this wonderful album in an air-conditioned room. It might also be perfect for a drive.
Furthermore, taking this opportunity, it seems they are reissuing his past solo albums, including soundtracks. Whether you've never heard them before or you're already a fan, this might be a chance to immerse yourself in Graham's world once again.
◾️Main albums being reissued
"Crow Sit On Blood Tree" (2001)
"The Kiss Of Morning" (2002)
"Happiness In Magazines" (2004)
"Love Travels At Illegal Speeds" (2006)
"The Spinning Top" (2009)
"A+E" (2012)
"The End Of The F***ing World 1" (2018)
"The End of The F***ing World 2" (2019)
"Superstate" (2021)
Thank you for reading.
See you again.