Damon Albarn is one of the busiest men in music. We first met him as frontman for Blur, he kicked off Gorillaz a decade or so after that, and in between collaborated with Malian musicians, wrote operas based on Monkey, and formed supergroups with members of The Clash and Tony Allen. You get the sense that he doesn’t like to sit still, so it was a coup to ask him to do that, for a spell, to Take 5.

On the day he released his new solo album, Damon invited you into his universe across songs. There are not many people that can mention legends like Lou Reed and Bobby Womack as friends, but it’s the reverence he holds these makers in, that makes this truly special.

Ghost Town – The Specials

Trench Town - Bob Marley

Lou Reed – Dirty Blvd.

Bobby Womack – Across 110th Street

The Clash – Rock the Casbah