Gorillaz
The Now Now

It's been only a year since the grand return of Gorillaz with "Humanz," a celebration of styles and collaborations that didn't quite please everyone (even though, ultimately, it is a more than good album).

These very numerous collaborations, which overshadowed the voice of 2-D/Damon Albarn, have been the subject of some criticism; and perhaps it was precisely this criticism that pushed the Blur leader to follow up the album released in 2017 after only fourteen months, even though the official reason would be to have more new material available for the upcoming summer tour.

The Gorillaz, in any case, are not new to such a move; already in 2011, then just a year after the previous "Plastic Beach," they released "The Fall," an intriguing project composed of pieces entirely assembled on tour using various apps. However, it was a raw and incomplete album, not always convincing; here, on the other hand, the music changes.

The new "The Now Now" is a complete, well-polished, and inspired album, perhaps ultimately the best from the cartoon band since "Plastic Beach." It is an album, as Albarn hinted, "practically immersed in the world of 2-D"; collaborations are almost eliminated, reduced to the legendary George Benson (on guitar for the fantastic single "Humility," a splendid jewel between summer pop and subtle jazz fascinations, and co-author of the equally convincing "Magic City," evocative and perfectly interpreted by Albarn) and to Jamie Principle paired with Snoop Dogg for the other extract "Hollywood," not coincidentally the only track that recalls the sound of the previous "Humanz."

In production, we find (together with comrade Remi Kabaka) James Ford, fresh from triumphs with the Arctic Monkeys, who, according to Albarn, gave an enormous hand especially in blending the album's lyrics. But even at the sound level, you can definitely feel his touch, and the sound structures are impeccable in facilitating 2-D's vocal ups and downs ("Kansas," "Fire Flies") and in convincingly moving your feet in the more upbeat episodes, like in the frenzied electro-pop of "Tranz" (one of the best). "Idaho" captivates, a slow expansion that approaches the same Blur (the more evocative ones from "The Universal" and "No Distance Left To Run"); in an album where Damon is the absolute protagonist, comparisons with the parent band are inevitable.

"The Now Now" ultimately convinces and dispels the fears of a hastily patched-together album just to strike while the iron is hot; indeed, in the end, it seems like the true comeback of Gorillaz as we knew them, even though "Humanz" had some excellent arrows in its quiver.

Best track: "Idaho"