Blur announce The Magic Whip, their first new album for 12 years

The Magic Whip options the complete Blur lineup of Albarn, Coxon, Rowntree and James, and fans can have fun with a June gig in London’s Hyde Park

• 10 of the best: Damon Albarn tracks

Fans of Britpop pioneers Blur had cause to have fun on 19 February, because the group announced details of their first album in 12 years, entitled The Magic Whip.

Describing the follow-up to 2003’s Assume Tank as a return to “the best way we recorded once we started,” Damon Albarn stated that the album was comparable in fashion to the music David Bowie made throughout his mid 70’s Berlin period.