Avalon

Blur frontman Damon Albarn wrote "Avalon" after he made the decision to relocate from the bustling city of London to the serene countryside of Devon, England. The song is about coming to terms with a quieter life of solitude and the introspection that such a move brings. Speaking to Consequence in July 2023, Albarn elaborated: "'Avalon' is the most relatable to where I live now, in the deep countryside, but near the sea. Just this whole idea that you make that decision to relocate and once you find yourself there on a dark night where there's no light whatsoever and nobody in a two-mile radius, you have to be at peace with yourself. You created this fantasy world, so you have to be at peace within it. Otherwise, what's the point?"

Avalon is a mythical island from the legend of King Arthur. It's believed to be the place where the sword of Excalibur was forged. It's also said to be the destination where Arthur was taken to recover after being gravely wounded at the Battle of Camlann. Other artists who have visited Avalon in their songs: Roxy Music, Kenny Loggins, and Bad Religion!

The hand-drawn official visualizer for "Avalon" was directed by Los Angeles-based filmmaker Fons Schiedon. The illustration depicts a majestic castle with warplanes soaring overhead, intricately referencing the verse: Then gray-painted airplanes fly over On their way to war And I'm dialing in, I'm dialing out There's darkness at the door