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DJ Koze announces first album in 7 years, shares new single featuring Damon Albarn

‘Pure Love’ is available to listen to now, with the album 'Music Can Hear Us' set to be released in April

DJ Koze has announced a new album, 'Music Can Hear Us'.

It will be his first full-length album in seven years, since the release of 'Knock Knock' in 2018 and will come via his own label Pampa Records on April 4.

To go alongside the release announcement, DJ Koze has shared the album’s lead single ‘Pure Love’, which features Gorillaz’ and Blur’s Damon Albarn providing vocals. The track features an accompanying music video, with a hooded figure traversing a snowy forest terrain.

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In a press statement announcing the release seen by Mixmag, DJ Koze said: “In a fashion of proper slow cooking and letting go, we finally came up with this lovely song.

“If you’re in a hurry, go slowly as they say,” he continued. “Thank you, Damon, for walking this path with me.”

Albarn commented: “This tune has been through a profound metamorphosis over the last few years. I loved it as an egg, I loved it as a caterpillar, I loved it as a pupa, and I still love it. Thank you, Koze.”

Read this next: “We do exist”: How virtual band Gorillaz sparked the live music industry back to life

In July, Damon Albarn was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Exeter for his “creativity, innovation and commitment to environmental causes”.

During his speech accepting the achievement, he told student graduates: “My daughter graduated last week, and it’s an amazing day when you see your child walk up there and receive their degree. Congratulations to all the students, may you forge wonderful careers.”

Watch the music video for Pure Love below.

Isaac Muk is a freelance writer, follow him on Bluesky