Critics have been less than enthusiastic about Dr. Dee, the first solo album of Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn. But, at the very least, one has to acknowledge Albarn’s bold efforts to immerse his music in the obscure history of the album’s namesake. John Dee, an enigmatic figure of the Elizabethan court, a brilliant mathematician and ardent occultist. Appropriately, Albarn infuses his lyrics with dark, celestial tropes, particularly in songs like “The Moon Exalted,” “Edward Kelley,” and “Saturn”. The instrumentals on the album are often symphonic; an operatic choir is featured on several tracks, and and a haunting organ resonates in “O Spirit Animate Us.” While the album’s sound evokes the powerful-but-shadowy persona of John Dee, the overall effect of the showy, instrumental flourishes is overwhelming. “A Prayer” is easily the best track on the album because it is so minimal, allowing the music to flow without being interrupted by a surging of symphonic melodies. Albarn occasionally tries to temper Dr. Dee’s over-the-top, operatic sound, but the result is usually awkward. “The Dancing King,” for example, is interrupted by sounds of waterfalls and chirruping birds, but this only detracts from the song’s coherence.
