Blue Morpho (album)

Last updated

Blue Morpho
Blue Morpho Ed O'Brien Cover.jpg
Studio album by
Ed O'Brien
Released22 May 2026 (2026-05-22)
Recorded2020–2025
Studio The Church Studios
Length38:15
Label Transgressive Records
Producer
[1]
Ed O'Brien chronology
Earth
(2020)		Blue Morpho
(2026)
Singles from Blue Morpho
  1. "Blue Morpho"
    Released: 17 March 2026

Blue Morpho is the upcoming second solo album by the Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien, due for release on 22 May 2026 on Transgressive Records. It was produced by Paul Epworth. O'Brien recorded Blue Morpho in Wales and London following a period of depression. It is accompanied by a short film, Blue Morpho: The Three Act Play.

Contents

Recording

O'Brien began writing Blue Morpho after the release of his debut solo album, Earth , in 2019. The Earth tour was cut short due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. During the lockdown, O'Brien suffered depression. [2] He would lock himself away in the early hours, creating music with no goal until he began to hear the music as a whole piece. [2] He was inspired by the Welsh countryside, the teachings of the athelete Wim Hof, his experiences using magic mushrooms, and advice given to him by the Radiohead songwriter, Thom Yorke, to catalogue and revisit song ideas. [3] [2]

Blue Morpho was produced by Paul Epworth. It was recorded at O'Brien's studio in Wales and Church Studios in London. [4] It features musicians including the guitarist Dave Okumu, the percussionist Crispin "Spry" Robinson, the keyboardist Nick Ramm, and the Radiohead drummer, Philip Selway. The strings were arranged by Tõnu Kõrvits and performed by the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. [2]

Blue Morpho was completed in early 2024. [2] O'Brien said he was initially insecure about his songwriting, fearing comparisons to his work with Radiohead, but was now more relaxed. [2] The title refers to a species of butterfly O'Brien saw while living in Brazil in the early 2010s. [2]

Release

O'Brien announced Blue Morpho on 17 March, 2026, alongside the release of the first single, "Blue Morpho". It is the first album released under his name; he released Earth under the moniker EOB. [3] The album is accompanied by a short film, Blue Morpho: The Three Act Play, which premiered at the American film festival South by Southwest in March. [4]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Ed O'Brien; all music is composed by Ed O'Brien and Paul Epworth.

No.TitleLength
1."Incantations"7:41
2."Blue Morpho"6:18
3."Sweet Spot"4:10
4."Teachers"5:18
5."Solfeggio"2:36
6."Thin Places"2:19
7."Obrigado"9:53
Total length:38:15

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [1]

Musicians

Production

References

  1. 1 2 Ed O'Brien - Blue Morpho, Tidal, 22 May 2026, retrieved 18 March 2026
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vozick-Levinson, Simon (17 March 2026). "'A beautiful journey': Ed O'Brien on his stunningly deep solo album and Radiohead's future". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  3. 1 2 Ragusa, Paolo (17 March 2026). "Ed O'Brien announces new album Blue Morpho, shares title track". Consequence . Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 Chelosky, Danielle; Lapatine, Scott (17 March 2026). "Radiohead's Ed O'Brien announces new album Blue Morpho: hear the title track". Stereogum . Retrieved 17 March 2026.
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