Release date: April 28
Title: Humanz
After a five year hiatus, British virtual band Gorillaz are set to release their fifth studio album in just over two weeks time. The cartoon ensemble of 2-D, Murdoc, Noodle & Russel are back with a powerful record in response to Donald Trump’s surprise election late last year.
When speaking with Q magazine, Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn instructed all of his collaborators “to imagine you’re in America after the inauguration and it’s the worst-case scenario: how would you feel that night? Let’s make a party record about the world going fucking nuts.”
His collaborator include De La Soul, Vince Staples and Pusha T, who were instructed to begin their creative processes with this mindset before Trump’s election, meaning that listeners will be in for a genuine reactionary response from the high profile names on the album.
The duo’s other half, artist and animator for the virtual band, Jamie Hewlett, has said that Humanz is less of a political statement against Trump himself, and more a reflection on the “world in which he could get elected”.
Politics aside, what can we expect? Albarn has personally promised no less than 125 bpm (beats per minute) across the entire album, according to his interview with Canadian website Exclaim.
The full album was played at a secret show in London on the 24th March, though unfortunately no plans to come to Australia have been arranged as of yet.
A select few tracks have been released on Spotify and snippets of others can be heard around the internet. See below for the full tracklist.
Ascension feat. Vince Staples
Strobelite feat. Peven Everett
Saturnz Barz feat. Popcaan
Momentz feat. De La Soul
Submission feat. Danny Brown & Kelela
Charger feat. Grace Jones
Andromeda feat. D.R.A.M.
Busted and Blue
Carnival feat. Anthony Hamilton
Let Me Out feat. Mavis Staples & Pusha T
Sex Murder Party feat. Jamie Principle & Zebra Katz
She’s My Collar feat. Kali Uchis
Hallelujah Money feat. Benjamin Clementine
We Got The Power feat. Jehnny Beth
Deluxe Version includes:
The Apprentice feat. Rag’n’ Bone Man, Zebra Katz & RAY BLK
Halfway To The Halfway House feat. Peven Everett
Ticker Tape feat. Carly Simon & Kali Uchis
Circle Of Friendz feat. Brandon Markell Holmes
