Dr Dee by Damon Albarn - Uhune

ALBUM

Officially, Dr. Dee is Damon Albarn's first solo album but that's the tiniest misnomer. Ever since Graham Coxon left Blur during the recording of Think Tank, Albarn has been the unquestioned director of his projects, his authoritative stamp evident on Think Tank, all three Gorillaz albums, Mali Music, the Good, the Bad & the Queen, and Rocket Juice & the Moon, so Dr. Dee doesn't exactly have the shock of the new even though it's certainly willfully odd. An opera -- not a rock opera, or the first opera Albarn has written, as he has 2007's Monkey: Journey to the West under his belt -- Dr. Dee concerns itself with the story of John Dee, the 16th century mathematician and occultist who was an advisor to Elizabeth I and is said to be the inspiration for Marlowe's Faustus and Shakespeare's Prospero. Rich material for an opera, in other words, and Dr. Dee is certainly thick with ideas, Albarn not running away from his signature tropes so much as using them as a launching pad for a stately, lugubrious collection of minor-key instrumentals, skeletal pop songs, plainsongs, and madrigals. Much of this is intriguing, yet as an album if not a production, Dr. Dee stays just this side of compelling, always threatening to veer into surprising, dangerous territory yet never quite succumbing to the risk. And that is where Dr. Dee's roots in the stage show: perhaps it is a bit stuffy and hidebound for art rock, but taken as a theatrical production, it's adventurously cerebral, an album to ponder if not quite embrace.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo

1. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 1, The Golden Dawn

by Damon Albarn

Hurdy-gurdy: Arngeir Hauksson; Performer
Orchestra: Bbc Philharmonic Orchestra
Bbc Philharmonic; Ensemble
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Alexander Overington
Einar Stefansson; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Hurdy-gurdy: Arngeir Hauksson; Performer
Organ: Mike Smith; Performer
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Production Consultant: Paul Arditti; Production
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production

2. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 2, Apple Carts

by Damon Albarn

Guitar: Simon Tong; Performer
Musician: Bill Lyons; Performer
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Theorbo Lute: Arngeir Hauksson; Performer
Viol: Liam Byrne
Caroline Ritchie; Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

3. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 3, O Spirit, Animate Us

by Damon Albarn

Guitar: Simon Tong; Performer
Harmonium: Damon Albarn; Performer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Musician: Anne Allen
Bill Lyons
David Hatcher; Performer
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Organ: Mike Smith; Performer
Viol: Caroline Ritchie
Liam Byrne; Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn
Anna Dennis; Performer
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Theorbo Lute: Arngeir Hauksson; Performer
Assistant Additional Recording Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Orchestra: Bbc Philharmonic Orchestra
Bbc Philharmonic; Ensemble
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

4. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 4, The Moon Exalted

by Damon Albarn

Guitar: Simon Tong; Performer
Keyboard: Mike Smith; Performer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Kora Guitar: Madou Diabate; Other
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Orchestra: Bbc Philharmonic Orchestra
Bbc Philharmonic; Ensemble
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Theorbo Lute: Arngeir Hauksson; Performer
Viol: Caroline Ritchie
Liam Byrne; Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn
Victoria Couper; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

5. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 5, A Man of England

by Damon Albarn

Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Vocals: Damon Albarn
Bbc Philharmonic Orchestra
Steven Page; Performer
Composer: Rufus Norris
Damon Albarn; Composer
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

6. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 6, Saturn

by Damon Albarn

Harmonium: Damon Albarn; Performer
Musician: David Hatcher
Bill Lyons; Performer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Paul Evans
Valgeir Sigurdsson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Kora Guitar: Madou Diabate; Other
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Organ: Mike Smith; Performer
Theorbo Lute: Arngeir Hauksson; Performer
Viol: Liam Byrne
Caroline Ritchie; Performer
Vocals: Anna Dennis
Damon Albarn; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

7. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 7, Coronation

by Damon Albarn

Bass: Philip Tebb
Russell Matthews
Edward Grint
Alastair Merry; Performer
Mezzo-soprano: Ruth Gibbins
Leanie Lodge
Amy Payne
Claire Barnett-jones; Performer
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Soprano: Emma Smith
Belinda Evans
Elinor Moran
Nicola Wydenbach; Performer
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Alexander Overington
Einar Stefansson; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Tenor: Benedict Quirke
Ashley Catling
Andrew Walters
Simon Wall; Performer
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production
Theorbo Lute: Arngeir Hauksson; Performer
Vocals: Steven Page
Victoria Couper
Anna Dennis
Melanie Pappenheim
Damon Albarn
Christopher Robson
Palace Voices; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn
Rufus Norris; Composer
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Kora Guitar: Madou Diabate; Other

8. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 8, The Marvelous Dream

by Damon Albarn

Acoustic Guitar: Damon Albarn; Performer
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Keyboard: Damon Albarn; Performer
Various Instruments: Damon Albarn; Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Paul Evans
Valgeir Sigurdsson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Sedgwick; Production

9. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 9, A Prayer

by Damon Albarn

Bass: Philip Tebb
Russell Matthews
Edward Grint
Alastair Merry; Performer
Mezzo-soprano: Ruth Gibbins
Amy Payne
Leanie Lodge
Claire Barnett-jones; Performer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Alexander Overington
Einar Stefansson; Production
Kora Guitar: Madou Diabate; Other
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Soprano: Emma Smith
Belinda Evans
Elinor Moran
Nicola Wydenbach; Performer
Tenor: Benedict Quirke
Ashley Catling
Andrew Walters
Simon Wall; Performer
Vocals: Steven Page
Victoria Couper
Anna Dennis
Melanie Pappenheim
Damon Albarn
Christopher Robson
Palace Voices; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn
Rufus Norris; Composer
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

10. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 10, Edward Kelley

by Damon Albarn

Viol: Liam Byrne
Caroline Ritchie; Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn
Christopher Robson; Performer
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Musician: David Hatcher
Bill Lyons; Performer
Orchestra: Bbc Philharmonic Orchestra
Bbc Philharmonic; Ensemble
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Paul Evans
Valgeir Sigurdsson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Alexander Overington
Einar Stefansson; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Organ: Mike Smith; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn
Rufus Norris
Christopher Robson; Composer
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

11. Damon Albarn: Dr Dee, an English Opera: No. 11, Preparation

by Damon Albarn

Drums: Tony Allen; Performer
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Alexander Overington
Einar Stefansson; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Vocals: Damon Albarn; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

12. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 12, 9 Point Star

by Damon Albarn

Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Various Instruments: Damon Albarn; Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Paul Evans
Valgeir Sigurdsson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Sedgwick; Production

13. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 13, Temptation Comes in the Afternoon

by Damon Albarn

Bass: Philip Tebb
Alastair Merry
Edward Grint
Russell Matthews; Performer
Mezzo-soprano: Ruth Gibbins
Amy Payne
Claire Barnett-jones
Leanie Lodge; Performer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Alexander Overington
Einar Stefansson; Production
Musician: Bill Lyons
Anne Allen
David Hatcher; Performer
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Organ: Mike Smith; Performer
Soprano: Elinor Moran
Emma Smith
Belinda Evans
Nicola Wydenbach; Performer
Tenor: Simon Wall
Andrew Walters
Ashley Catling
Benedict Quirke; Performer
Vocals: Palace Voices
Christopher Robson
Anna Dennis
Steven Page
Melanie Pappenheim
Damon Albarn
Victoria Couper; Performer
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Orchestra: Bbc Philharmonic Orchestra
Bbc Philharmonic; Ensemble
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

14. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 14, Watching the Fire That Waltzed Away

by Damon Albarn

Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Drums: Tony Allen; Performer
Harmonium: Damon Albarn; Performer
Organ: Mike Smith; Performer
Orchestra: Bbc Philharmonic Orchestra
Bbc Philharmonic; Ensemble
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Musician: Anne Allen
Bill Lyons
David Hatcher; Performer
Viol: Caroline Ritchie
Liam Byrne; Performer
Vocals: Anna Dennis
Melanie Pappenheim
Damon Albarn
Christopher Robson
Steven Page
Victoria Couper; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

15. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 15, Moon (Interlude)

by Damon Albarn

Theorbo Lute: Arngeir Hauksson; Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Paul Evans
Valgeir Sigurdsson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Alexander Overington
Einar Stefansson; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Kora Guitar: Madou Diabate; Other
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

16. Dr Dee, An English Opera: No. 16, Cathedrals

by Damon Albarn

Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Musician: Anne Allen
David Hatcher
Bill Lyons; Performer
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Paul Evans
Valgeir Sigurdsson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Alexander Overington
Einar Stefansson; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Theorbo Lute: Arngeir Hauksson; Performer
Viol: Caroline Ritchie
Liam Byrne; Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other

17. Damon Albarn: Dr Dee, an English Opera: No. 17, Tree of Beauty

by Damon Albarn

Bass: Russell Matthews
Edward Grint
Philip Tebb
Alastair Merry; Performer
Mezzo-soprano: Leanie Lodge
Ruth Gibbins
Amy Payne
Claire Barnett-jones; Performer
Orchestration: André De Ridder; Composer
Conductor: André De Ridder; Conductor
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Valgeir Sigurdsson
Paul Evans; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Music Supervisor: Stevie Higgins; Production
Soprano: Belinda Evans
Elinor Moran
Nicola Wydenbach
Emma Smith; Performer
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Additional Engineer: Stephen Sedgwick; Other
Tenor: Benedict Quirke
Ashley Catling
Andrew Walters
Simon Wall; Performer
Vocals: Steven Page
Victoria Couper
Anna Dennis
Melanie Pappenheim
Damon Albarn
Christopher Robson
Palace Voices; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Recording: Stephen Rinker; Production
Recording Assistant: Paul Arditti; Production

18. Damon Albarn: Dr Dee, an English Opera: No. 18, the Dancing King

by Damon Albarn

Primary Artist: Damon Albarn; Main Performer
Viol: Liam Byrne; Performer
Vocals: Damon Albarn; Performer
Composer: Damon Albarn; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Tim Young; Production
Mixing: Paul Evans
Valgeir Sigurdsson; Production
Mixing Assistant: Einar Stefansson
Alexander Overington; Production
Producer: Damon Albarn; Production
Recording: Stephen Sedgwick; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

18 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

48 minutes and 9 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1500x1500 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

13/18 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

7/18 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Classical, Opera, Brit Pop, Brit Rock

Label

Parlophone UK

Music Distribution Service

Warner

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

May 6, 2012

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

5099995389356