Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien has announced a new solo album, ‘Blue Morpho’, and shared its title track. Listen and find all the details below.
The seven-song project will mark the musician’s second solo record, but the first under his own name. He released his debut LP ‘Earth’ in 2020, using the moniker EOB.
O’Brien’s ‘Blue Morpho’ is set to arrive on May 22 via his new label home, Transgressive. Pre-order/pre-save here.
He has quoted Kentucky poet and farmer Wendell Berry while speaking about the forthcoming album: “To know the dark, go dark.”
This philosophy became “both compass and catalyst” for ‘Blue Morpho’, which is described as “a deeply personal album”. It was produced by Paul Epworth (Paul McCartney, Adele, Florence + The Machine).
The album emerged from “one of the most challenging periods” of O’Brien’s life, and finds him “beginning anew, finally starting to figure out his approach”.
‘Blue Morpho’ is said to contain elements of “hypnotic psych-folk” and “beguiling trip-hop”, as well as boasting some ‘radiant guitars” and “luminous stillness”.
“It reveals an artist moving beyond familiar structures and feels like a map of O’Brien navigating exciting other ways to listen, work and live,” a description adds. “He steps into the dark, and emerges renewed, evident on the stunning and uplifting ‘Blue Morpho’, inspired by the healing effects of nature.”
O’Brien had entered the deepest depression of his life in 2020, and was encouraged by his wife to sit with his emotions: “He began a daily ritual, immersing himself in the breathing and cold-exposure teachings of Wim Hof, then retreating into his small London studio, playing guitar for hours until his brain began to fray.”
An accompanying short film, Blue Morpho: The Three Act Play, is also being released after premiering at SXSW yesterday (Monday March 16). More information on this will follow at a later date. See the trailer above.
He has previewed the LP with the sprawling and atmospheric title track, featuring cinematic strings and tranquil birdsong samples.
Epworth is a key collaborator on the new album. Sessions took place with engineer Riley MacIntyre in Wales, where the record’s foundations took shape. Saxophonist and composer Shabaka Hutchings contributed flutes after discussions at Glastonbury about frequency and natural resonance.
O’Brien teamed up with composer Tõnu Kõrvits, too. The latter arranged strings performed by the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra.
‘Blue Morpho’ was completed between O’Brien’s studio in Wales and The Church Studios in London. Sequencing assistance came from Flood, known for his work with U2, PJ Harvey and Nine Inch Nails. Ben Baptie, meanwhile, was on mixing duties.
The full tracklist for Ed O’Brien’s ‘Blue Morpho’ is:
‘Incantations’
‘Blue Morpho’
‘Sweet Spot’
‘Teachers’
‘Solfeggio’
‘Thin Places’
‘Obrigado’
The guitarist saw in the New Year in 2024 by telling fans that he was “deep into” his next solo effort. “It’s been and continues to be a journey,” he wrote at the time.
In a four-star review of ‘Earth’, NME wrote: “O’Brien’s personality shines through, and it’s a pleasure to get to know him. It’s tempting to conclude he’s Radiohead’s secret weapon.”
Speaking to NME about creating the record, O’Brien explained: “If I don’t do this, a part of me will die.”
He also shared that ‘Earth’ felt like a fitting soundtrack for the trying times in 2020. “A theme on the record is that in spite of the darkness and challenging times that we live in, humanity can do amazing things when they put their mind to it,” he told us.
In other news, O’Brien has revealed plans for Radiohead to hit the road again in 2027 and beyond. “What we’re going to do is, every year we’re going to do a different continent, and we’re going to do 20 shows each year,” he said. “No more, no less.”