For Blur fans, "Tender," a track that bassist Alex James described as "one of the best things we've ever done, the one that's going to f-cking knock people out," may be a bit underwhelming. But the simple Ray Davies-meets-Queen (or is it the Edwin Hawkins Singers?) arrangement sets a deceptive tone for a record that skitters about (no surprise there), and is as rich with well-executed sonic adventures as any disc you're likely to find this year (thanks in no small part to producer William Orbit's cut-and-paste panache).
Next, equal parts hi- and lo-fi, "Bugman" sports some speaker-shredding effects and all-but-obliterated vocals. Beyond those extremes, things are more consistent--but no less interesting. A searing 12-string slide kicks off "Swamp Song," "Caramel" is pure drug music--a swirling, intoxicating melange of sounds--while, in "Trailerpark," frontman Damon Albarn dryly chants, "I lost my gal to the Rolling Stones" over a slinky, undulating groove. One of the best tracks, the Robert Wyatt-ish "1992," is an aural showcase that winds down with an extended guitar solo cascading into outer space. If there's a downside, it's that 13 may sound more like a sampler of ideas than a single-minded effort. No matter, this is some challenging stuff that will bring the folks with brains back for 14.
