The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows

Originally conceived as an instrumental orchestral piece inspired heavily by the shifting landscapes of Iceland, the Blur and Gorillaz frontman eventually expanded the project into his second solo studio album. The incredibly mellow, atmospheric record blends vast, cinematic post-rock swells with hushed piano ballads and aquatic field recordings. It is an intensely beautiful, deeply melancholic meditation on grief, nature, and fragility.