The lyrics on Damon Albarn's debut album, Everyday Robots, are some of his most persona in a long and celebrated back-catalogue. But Albarn says it isn't the most personal album he's done, rightfully pointing to Blur's second last album, 1999's 13, which painfully documented his break-up with long-time partner, Elastica singer Justine Frischmann.

Earlier this year, the British music press seized on the lyrics to Everyday Robot's You & Me ("Tin foil and a lighter, the ship across, five days on, two days off") which Albarn has consequently admitted referred to dabblings he had with heroin some 15 years ago. Did he say too much on Everyday Robots?

Bionic man: Damon Albarn explores introspective, melancholic lyrics detailed human relationships with technology on his debut solo record.

"No, I think it only enriches the whole record," the 46-year-old Albarn says, speaking from his West London studio. "The press picked up on my one oblique reference to heroin and made it into a f---ing great big headline, but that's the British press for you. That's part of the price of living in this country. They were very personal songs, 100 per cent. At the time, it was a bit painful and I felt a little bit exposed, but I never have to talk about that ever again now. I had to take a bit of stick for it, and I did".

After years of hiding behind 'virtual' bands (Gorillaz), operas (Monkey: Journey to the West, Dr Dee), collaborative ensemble outfits (The Good, the Bad & The Queen, Rocket Juice & the Moon), and world music projects (Mali Music, Africa Express), Everyday Robots saw a solo Albarn stepping out from behind the curtain.