Dr Dee (EMI)

After a plethora of albums under different guises ranging from being the front man of Blur, the genius behind The Gorillaz and handful of other bands, it’s surprising to see Damon Albarn put out a record under his own name. More surprising it’s a collection of folk fuelled opera based on the life of Elizabeth I’s scientific advisor, but Albarn has always embraced stage turns in his career. At first it’ a rich musical experience, pastoral and symphonic..but by the time you reach halfway through it quickly becomes tiresome and annoying. OK in small doses.

Graeme Watson