"The Ballad of Darren" is the ninth studio album by the iconic English rock band Blur. Released on 21 July 2023 through Parlophone and Warner Records, the album was produced by James Ford at Studio 13 in London and Devon. Notably, this is the first time since their 2003 album "Think Tank" that Blur did not collaborate with their longtime producer Stephen Street. "The Ballad of Darren" marks Blur's return to the music scene following their 2015 album "The Magic Whip." It stands out as the band's shortest album to date, with a runtime under 50 minutes. The album's creation saw frontman Damon Albarn penning demos during his 2022 tour with Gorillaz.
