In an interview with The Guardian, Damon Albarn set about dutifully dashing any hopes that some of his highest profile projects will continue putting out music. Albarn, who will release his "strange pastoral folk" solo record Dr. Dee next month, says that Blur will be playing its final gig Aug. 12 at London's Hyde Park as part of the closing concert for the Olympics. He also expects the recent single, "Under The Westway," to be the band's final recording. At least that's what he'd like to happen. "One thing I've learned, and I'm sure you're exactly the same, is that everything I think I've got totally sorted out, and I know exactly what's going to happen, it never works out that way," he said.
This comes after reports that Blur was working on a new album and pondering a tour this year. The explanation for the change in plans appears to be creative stasis, at least as far as half of the band is concerned. "I find it very easy to record with [guitarist] Graham [Coxon]," Albarn said. "He's a daily musician. With the other two, it's harder for them to reconnect. You know what I mean? It's fine when we play live—it's really magical still—but actually recording new stuff, and swapping musical influences, it's quite difficult."
The future of Gorillaz seems similarly non-existent except, you know, for the possibility that it's not. At issue is a conflict with artist Jamie Hewlett, Albarn's collaborator in the group who he says was disengaged with providing visuals for 2009's Plastic Beach. "Jamie [thinks Gorillaz is finished], which is fair enough. I think we were at cross purposes somewhat on that last record, which is a shame," he said. "The music and the videos weren't working as well together, but I felt we'd made a really good record, and I was into it. So we went and played it." [via Rolling Stone]