Albarn and company may be the first artist/band to comment on Brexit, and what it means to them as well as to British culture. The song and title "Merrie Land" is ironic because it deals with the thought of nostalgia, but in fact, it's fantasy. "Merrie Land" deals with England as a concept, as well as an illusion. For some reason, whenever I hear or think of Brexit, I think of Jonathan Swift's book "Gulliver's Travels." England is not only an island, but it thinks culturally like an island as well. Part of the world, yet separated by water, and again in fantasy likes to think of itself as mental fort set aside by the thought of Britain first. Nationalism is an ugly neighbor, and I suspect that Albarn and company are exploring the disillusion of a place and time.
Musically the album reminds me of Madness, who also sung of British characters, and maybe even a cousin to The Kinks' "Village Green Preservation Society." "Merrie Land" and "Village Green" deal with the concept of England that's partly cinematic but also being thrust to the present, and the feeling of insecurity that goes with change. Michael Redgrave on the cover of the album is a perfect visual for the sounds inside the jacket, which is theatrical in a British music hall manner.
The band itself is restrained and working together to make mood that's dread, with a touch of The Specials' "Ghost Town" thrown in the mix. Tony Visconti co-produced the album, and there are traces of the vibe from David Bowie's "Blackstar." "Merrie Land" has great beauty, like all things sad. I feel that there should be a Criterion DVD added to the package, as if "Merrie Land" was already a film or book. It feels like a classic work, and I think people will listen to this album thinking what was the beginning of the Brexit years were like? Art is giving an impression of a feeling or writing something down on the sand before the tide takes it away.
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