Blue Morpho: The Three Act Play screening poster
Ed O’Brien has just released Blue Morpho, his “hauntingly beautiful” (Vulture) second solo album and first under his own name via Transgressive. Uncut called it “a triumph, personally and creatively” , while Rolling Stone hailed the album’s “strikingly personal tone and daring creative risks make it feel like a debut.” It gets the thumbs up at DeClunk HQ too. We were lucky enough to see Ed and his film a couple of weeks ago.
Ed O’Brien new album Blue Morpho – DeClunk
Today, O’Brien releases the album’s accompanying short film, Blue Morpho: The Three Act Play, via YouTube. The film premiered at SXSW in March before screenings in London, Oxford, Paris, Sydney, Mexico City, Tokyo and Denver. Directed in Wales by Kit Monteith, the film offers an honest and intimate portrait of O’Brien.
Blue Morpho: The Three Act Play
O’Brien often returns to a quote by Kentucky poet and farmer Wendell Berry: “To know the dark, go dark.” That philosophy became both compass and catalyst for Blue Morpho – a deeply personal record produced by Paul Epworth and Riley MacIntyre (Ezra Collective), born from one of the most challenging periods of his life. While O’Brien remains one of rock music’s most celebrated guitarists, Blue Morpho finds him stepping into new creative territory, embracing hypnotic psych-folk, radiant guitars, beguiling trip-hop and moments of luminous stillness.
Written during years of personal reflection and experimentation, the album emerged from long improvisational sessions, where he immersed himself in sound as a way to process emotional upheaval and renewal. The result is a record that navigates transformation, healing and spiritual connection, shaped by both introspection and collaboration.
A series of serendipitous encounters helped bring Blue Morpho to life. Paul Epworth became a central creative partner, while saxophonist and composer Shabaka Hutchings contributed flutes following conversations around resonance and frequency at Glastonbury. Dave Okumu weaves radiant, intricate guitar work throughout the record, ESKA lends additional vocals, and acclaimed Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits arranged the album’s string parts, performed by the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, deepening the record’s rich and expansive emotional landscape.
The record was completed between O’Brien’s studio in Wales and The Church Studios in London, with sequencing assistance from Flood and mixing by Ben Baptie.
Ed O’ Brien Tour Dates:
Sun. Oct. 4 – Amsterdam, NL @ Royal Theatre Carre
Tue. Oct. 6 – Milan, IT @ Teatro Lirico
Thu. Oct. 8 – Paris, FR @ Salle Pleyel
Sat. Oct. 10 – Berlin, DE @ Admiralspalast
Mon. Oct. 12 – Hamburg, DE @ Laeiszhalle
Wed. Oct. 14 – Groningen, NL @ Oosterpoort Main Hall
Fri. Oct. 16 – London, UK @ Barbican – [SOLD OUT]
Mon. Oct. 19 – Belfast, IE @ Ulster Hall, Belfast International Arts Festival
DeClunk 