In the midst of a global pandemic, Damon Albarn imagines himself adrift, yearning for the Icelandic shore. Water is a recurring motif, as are the invisible particles all around us; both come in waves, both belong to all of us. Tactile, earthly imagery (sand, oak, birds) shares space with the cosmic, just as the acoustic instruments (guitar, organ, horns) are balanced with the electronic.

The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows is in a way testament to what can be achieved when a skilled singer-songwriter is given the freedom of an entire orchestra to explore their ideas.