Music

Album of the week: "Humanz" by Gorillaz - partying in a twisted world

28/04/2017 written by Annika Hagemann
The fifth Gorillaz album - "Humanz" - proves their versatility.

The band

While watching MTV in their London flat share, Damon Albarn, lead singer of the British band Blur, and Jamie Hewlett, cartoonist and co-author of the comic strip "Tank Girl", came up with the idea of creating a virtual pop band. They were frustrated with the interchangeable music on television and wanted to set a critical accent with the help of cartoon characters.

Album cover: The four Gorillaz figures are in the foreground.
Just three years later, their debut album "Gorillaz" sold over seven million copies and they ended up in the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful virtual band. In 2006, they won a Grammy Award with their song "Feel Good Inc.". The faces of their cartoon characters 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs are now recognized all over the world.

After six years, the new album "Humanz" finally arrives. However, the two Gorillaz creators cannot be accused of taking a break during this time: Albarn has composed an opera, reunited with Blur and also released a solo album. Hewlett opened an art gallery in London, worked on "Tank Girl" again and - last but not least - got married.

Demon Dayz: The Gorillaz have created their own festival.
This year, they are fully dedicated to the Gorillaz project: In addition to the new album, Albarn and Hewlett launched a virtual reality/augmented reality Gorillaz app, arranged the first live Q&A with Murdoc Niccals and 2D, and are even initiating a Gorillaz festival "Demon Dayz" this year, which will take place in the UK on June 10, 2017.

The album

The fifth album "Humanz" is exactly what a Gorillaz fan expects: a surprise. Something that is no longer as easy as it was in 2010 due to today's technological developments. In the first song, they protect themselves from the listener's high expectations with the sentence: "I switched my robot off / And I know more."

For the album promo: Despite their virtual existence, the Gorillaz gave a preview concert in London on March 24, 2017.
The melancholic and critical view of the world that we know so well from Gorillaz is perhaps even more present than on previous albums. Songs like "Hallelujah Money" openly criticize the US president with lyrics like: "I thought the best way to protect our tree"/"Was to build a wall."

With their 20 tracks, Albarn and Hewlett offer the listener a wide range of different genre inspirations, supported by futuristic electro beats. The diversity is also reflected in the artists featured on the album: from Grace Jones to Danny Brown and Kelela to Anthony Hamilton and many others.
The songs are placed in a somewhat chaotic order, which takes the listener back again and again. But the intention is clear from the interludes, which last for seconds and divide the album into four passages. The effect: you perceive each song as a unit.

Verdict

Once again, Gorillaz manage to stay modern and send the listener into a sci-fi world, despite the competition of today's technology. However, the lyrics, with their many dreamy references to today's political climate, keep your feet firmly on the ground.

Recommended tracks

"Momentz feat. De La Soul" - a profound dance song that can be enjoyed in the club as well as at home on the couch.

"Charger feat. Grace Jones" - wild, with industrial sounds. Plus Grace Jones, who laughs dirty and appears as a ghost.

"Busted and Blue" - dreamy and thoughtful about the technological world that connects us as human beings today.

Live

The Gorillaz have not yet announced any dates in Switzerland. Should this change, you will be informed immediately with our ticket alarm.

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Translated with DeepL