In February 2012 , Blur were awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Music award at the 2012 Brit Awards . Later that month , Albarn and Coxon premiered a new track together live , " Under the Westway " . Blur entered the studio early that year to record material for a new album , but in May producer William Orbit told the '' NME '' that Albarn had halted recording . Blur released two singles " The Puritan " and " Under the Westway " on 2 July . That August , Blur headlined a show at Hyde Park for the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony which was followed by a world tour the very next year . On 19 February 2015 , Blur announced on social media that they would be releasing their eighth studio album on 27 April , titled '' The Magic Whip '' , Blur 's first album in 12 years and first in 16 years in their original line-up
2012 Brit Awards
2012 Brit Awards
Damon Albarn