A+E is the eighth studio album by Blur guitarist Graham Coxon. It was released on April 2, 2012 through Parlophone Records.
When Damon Albarn told this newspaper recently that Blur would probably never make another album, the decision had nothing to do with his creative relationship with Blur's guitarist and Albarn's childhood friend, Graham Coxon. No, it seemed to come down to the prosaic fact that drummer Dave Rowntree and bassist Alex James are now too caught up in their respective careers in the law (and local politics) and cheesemaking to be in a regular pop group. There were no such problems with Coxon, whom Albarn described as a "daily musician", and who has now recorded more albums solo than he ever did with Blur.

Promoting his eighth, A+E, the youthful 43-year-old seems to have finally arrived at a position that suits him. Only a decade and a half has elapsed since Coxon was so uncomfortable with superstardom that he attempted to exit a Britpop party via a sixth-floor window. But he is now in a smaller spotlight where he can make the music he wants. His three-minute punky anthems ? a vigorous blend of Syd Barrett whimsy and Wire guitar tension, with dashes of other post-punk styles ? sound as if they could have been cobbled together on the train. (In Advice he even sings, "I wrote a new song, while I was touring ? it was boring.") But behind these anthems lies two decades of songcraft.

An array of guitars and pedals makes sounds that reek of intimate, sweaty clubs. At one point, he places his hand underneath the strings as if he's about to wrench them off, and produces eerie, wailing sounds. The cumulative effect is mesmeric, with many A+E songs adopting a krautrock motorik chug. The songs (all askance, wry glances at love and life) are both good and riotous. What'll It Take ("to make you people dance?") answers its own question, judging by the audience reaction. Running for Your Life depicts youthful beatings in northern towns, but he closes it by admitting: "You're nice people, really."

He enjoys bantering with the crowd ? perhaps owing to being back on the sauce after a well-documented period of abstinence ? and grins like a schoolkid at their shouts of encouragement. As the gig builds to a funny climax, he tries to slow the pace by pleading "Old men!", headbutts the microphone after a song false-starts, plays on one leg, and even attempts a backwards roll while playing guitar above his head. It's hard to avoid the conclusion that, whatever happens with Blur, their formerly reluctant guitar hero is enjoying every minute.
by Dave Simpson, The Guardian UK