Demo Crazy

Seems like sometimes you should be careful what you wish for. Having put so much effort into manoeuvring Blur into a position of mainstream prominence, Damon Albarn has spent much of the time since trying to undermine that status.
The latest attempt is this album of four-track demos, recorded in various American hotel rooms and only available over two 10” picture discs. ‘Girls & Boys’ it ain’t. The effect – hissy, scratchy recordings of tinny keyboards and vocals – is initially fairly off putting and, to be honest, many of the tracks are nothing more than half baked ideas and snap shots of work in progress with only the odd gem evoking Blu, Gorrilaz funk or his love of African music and culture.
No doubt these songs will surface again in a more complete form over the next few years but for now Demo Crazy is an interesting curio if nothing else.