London ( CNN ) -- `` It 's terrifying coming here but we 've decided it 's just a big pub , '' Damon Albarn tells the audience at a packed Royal Albert Hall , assembled for the Blur and Gorillaz star 's first concert in his own right at London 's most prestigious music venue . He may be showing false nerves -- over the past 25 years he has developed into one of the most innovative musicians of his generation , has collaborated with the cream of the music world in a bewildering range of genres , and has the experience of headlining the world 's biggest music festival , Glastonbury , twice -- but he seems genuinely humbled tonight in such grand Victorian surroundings , paying tribute to this `` ridiculously incredible , spiritual place . '' Albarn is showcasing his new album , `` Everyday Robots , '' his first as a solo artist . A more stripped-back work than usual for him , the songs look back on his 46 years . `` Hollow Ponds , '' for instance , recalls various dates that define his life , including the drought of 1976 and the year 1993 when `` Modern Life '' ( a reference to Blur 's second album ) was spray-painted around the city . Reflective though his new solo work is , Albarn is in playful mood and shows his love of performing and collaborating : he willingly shares the limelight with other musicians , such as Mali 's Afel Bocoum and Madou Diabete , Blur guitarist Graham Coxon , rappers De La Soul and legendary producer Brian Eno . The concert is about far more than just promoting his new record though : effectively it revisits many of the many musical moments of his long and varied career , from his foray into world music with Africa Express , his animation side-project Gorillaz , supergroup The Good , the Bad and the Queen , and of course his first band , Blur . Despite his comments , Albarn is such a seasoned performer that he 's totally at ease in the Albert Hall 's vast space . Spontaneous , engaging and funny : holding hands with female members of the audience , singing directly to their faces . At one point he climbs up into the aisles to hug an adoring male fan -- it 's a poignant moment . He 's a master of pacing : stripped of the machismo of a Blur concert , or the graphical wizardry of Gorillaz , the music is the star . He and his band are superbly tight , as we get one highlight to the next , from `` Kids with Guns , '' and `` Do n't Get Lost in Heaven , '' to the spine-tingling experience of Albarn alone at the piano singing Blur 's `` Out of Time . '' Just when it can get no better , guitarist Coxon bounces onto the stage to join Albarn . The pair , who had a painful estrangement as they battled their demons after the Blur years rollercoaster , roll back the years as they play `` End of the Century , '' accompanied with just a trumpet player . Albarn visibly marvels at Coxon 's guitar heroics on `` Tender , '' but acknowledges their split as they struggle to recall which year obscure B-side `` The man who left himself '' was from . `` Ah the late 90s -- our difficult years , '' Albarn half-jokes . As we wipe away the tears of nostalgia , Albarn rallies us again : `` It 's pure sing-a-long from now , '' he bellows . The show is building like a cabaret , with quieter moments followed by crowd-pleasing anthems like his solo hit `` Mr. Tembo , '' performed with London 's Leytonstone City Mission Choir . Then on come veteran New York hip hop trio De La Soul who tear manically into the Gorillaz hit `` Feel Good Inc , '' swaggering around with dramatic menace , before Kano joins Albarn for a superb , skanking `` Clint Eastwood . '' How could he top this ? Easy , as Albarn announces -- only half-believing it himself -- the arrival of Brian Eno , the legendary musician , composer and record producer , to sing the wonderful `` Heavy Seas of Love , '' from this year 's album , with the Leytonstone choir and Madou . It 's an unforgettable experience , as indeed is the whole concert : few others could attract such diverse and entertaining stars to appear for one night ; few others have such wonderful songs to perform , and few can engage with an audience like Albarn . No one else can do all three . Albarn no longer needs to be in awe of the musical legends who 've performed at the Albert Hall over the decades -- he 's now one of them .
Damon Albarn performs at Albert Hall , showcasing solo album `` Everyday Robots '' A more stripped-back work than usual for him , the songs look back on his 46 years . Concert revisits many of the many musical moments of his long and varied career . Various collaborators join Albarn : Graham Coxon , De La Soul and Brian Eno .