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Rating: Good old Damon Albarn just can't seem to stay still, and he comes to our rescue in these pandemic times with a new collection from the world's most famous cartoon band. A collection because the project was not meant to be a real album, but a "series" called Song Machine, of which this should be the first season. It's well known that the old Damon always surprises, and here we are with a deluxe version album, an expansion of the initial project.
Each track on the list features a different and unheard guest, and as is customary with Gorillaz, the cast is rich and varied: there's Beck, Robert Smith of the Cure, Peter Hook with his bass, Elton John (!!!), and even rappers like slowthai, Schoolboy Q, and Octavian. In short, as usual, a melting pot of genres, artists, and new inventions, all coordinated by the volcanic mind of the Blur frontman.
It starts with the title track, which overlays the typically Gorillaz background with the tremulous and skewed voice of Robert Smith: an interesting experiment followed by the collaboration with Beck in "The Valley of The Pagans," which entertains us with a danceable and vaguely '80s rhythm. As the list progresses, a certain repetitiveness is noticed: there's no big hit like "Clint Eastwood" or "On Melancholy Hill," and the inspiration is not that of the better days (which for me correspond to Demon Days and Plastic Beach, but also The Now Now). Among some less convincing tracks, however, some pieces shine: "Desolè," with the very talented Malian singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara, "Aries," supported by Peter Hook's New Order-style bass, and the song chosen as the first single in February "Momentary Bliss," super cheeky and confusing, reminiscent of the first self-titled album. Also worth mentioning is "How Far?", a tribute to the great drummer Tony Allen. As always, a strong point is the videos for the singles, with our heroes causing all kinds of chaos (worth mentioning is the video of the aforementioned "Aries," where a syringe-wielding Murdoc attacks poor 2D).
In the end, not their best work, but the Gorillaz always know how to keep us company.
Best track: "Aries".
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