Blur lead singer, the ever-ambitious Damon Albarn, recorded an 18-track album in the confines of his West London studio with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra at the end of 2011. Now, he plans to release an album of those songs, which were composed for his opera. The album is slated to drop on May 7.

The 'Dr Dee' opera (which ran last summer) and the subsequent album are based on the historical figure John Dee, who was a mathematician and served as an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I in the late 1500s. According to the NME.com, Albarn cited some of the tunes that populate the record as "strange pastoral folk" songs. Sounds interesting, to say the least. We applaud Albarn for thinking so far outside of the box with this project. It pretty much ensures that he will be remembered for more than singing "Woo hoo!" on 'Song 2,' which was Blur's biggest stateside hit.

On April 14, Albarn will perform the opera with both singers and musicians that appear on the album at the OneFest. He is stoked about this particular performance, since the setting is ripe for his compositions "I'm really looking forward to the festival; Wiltshire in spring feels like a perfect setting for Dr Dee songs. Some of my favorite musicians are playing with me, it will be special," he said.

'Dr Dee' Track Listing:

'The Golden Dawn
'Apple Carts'
'Oh Spirit Animate Us'
'The Moon Exalted'
'A Man of England'
'Saturn'
'Coronation'
'The Marvelous Dream'
'A Prayer'
'Edward Kelley'
'Preparation'
'9 Point Star'
'Temptation Comes In the Afternoon'
'Watching the Fire That Waltzed Away'
'Moon (Interlude)'
'Cathedrals'
'Tree of Life'
'The Dancing King'

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