It’s always hard to assume what Blur’s next move will be.
After their 2009 appearances one could be forgiven for assuming they would never return as a band.
No better time could they have picked than the closing night of the Olympic games, with a rowdy crowd and a next day release of this live album, the group successfully rode the wave of adrenaline.
The set kicks off with a deafening roar through Hyde Park as the opening drum beat and synth loop for “Girls & Boys” commences, and by Damon Albarn’s first vocal line it’s clear this twenty-one year old band still carry the lovable immaturity of yesteryear.
The daggy sense of the 90s come through in “London Loves” in what is a great rhythmic throwback on the guitar.
“Out Of Time” is a reminder of how creative an album Think Tank was. The harmonies are flawless, that Beatles style that thrust this band into a comparison with Oasis all those years ago is ever-present.
A cocky “Parklife” featuring Phil Daniels speaking his oh-so-famous verses takes place, but it’s in the set’s second half that the crowd becomes truly reflective.
Love The Beatles?
Get the latest The Beatles news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
“Tender” brings out the anthemic nature to some of the band’s biggest songs ending in a an cappella verse and chorus.
The horns in their closing number “The Universal” mark the beginning of the end of a satisfying set, but there is no sense of them overstaying their welcome.
Amid the ongoing rumours and will they won’t they nature of Blur’s life as a band, one can’t help but think and hope that there’s still more to come.
