Gorillaz- Always a Surprise

Where are my Gorillaz fans at? If you’re as excited and intrigued as I am about their new on-going album Song Machine, keep reading for my unsolicited opinion! At the start of 2020, the band announced a new album: an “episodic series following the creation of brand new songs.” Just like the unconventional nature of every Gorillaz song, the album’s production process goes in “opposition to the usual traditional recording style.” They announced that throughout the entire year, they will periodically release tracks along with cartoon videos and other sound bytes- sorry- “machine bitez.” The album focuses heavily on collaboration with other producers and artists, and those conversations are highlighted in short, 30 second audios that are also included in the record.

Its name, Song Machine, is like their music generator. It makes the album interactive and a digital, audio story, which will make sense later in the blog. Gorillaz combines a cartoon storyline with music to create a one of a kind audio story. Basically, a podcast through music. They plug in their sound, other artist’s verses, and out comes a track. The beginning of each video has Murdoc Niccals tuning the volume of their newest production. It’s a moving machine, meaning it’s ongoing and always being updated. The band is almost using it as a landing space, the album’s description simply says “Welcome to the Song Machine! Watch out for irregular updates. Add this to your library and don’t miss a thing.” Every other artist’s record descriptions are written by Apple or Spotify writers and might include a quote or two from the artist. However, this is clearly a message straight from 2-D, Murdoc, Noodle (my spirit character, per my Instagram) and Russel Hobbs themselves.

The first single released was in January titled “Momentary Bliss.” After first hearing the track, I wasn’t at all shocked by the typical Gorillaz mashup of rap, slow beats, and unique lyrics all influenced by their British nature. The video is a studio scene recording the production of the song. Noodle is on her guitar, and 2-D is at the mic. Russel plays the guitar while Murdoc does some weird stuff. The videos are meant to be random and based on the meaning in each song, and because Momentary Bliss has so many moving parts, the video casts the production and random as well: slowthai wandering and Murdoc smoking per usual. Noodle is even dancing with Slaves- it’s just an awesome juxtaposition of cartooning and live music production.

While these videos each seem to have a story, “Friday the 13th” for example, has little to no plot line whatsoever. Trippy colors and visuals surround a close up on each character’s face as Octavian sings his verses. The only meaning we can conjure up is something sad based on their beat up faces. Reddit bloggers believe they’re portraying a fight within the band? I, however, think they’re making a point about the current state of our country. ‘Rona, the Black Lives Matter Movement, our president… which makes it all interesting considering they’re british. At the end of “Aries,” 2-D wears a bandana mask and tells everyone to be safe and wash their hands! The album is being made in light of confusion and anger.

The best part of this record, however, are the guest appearances. They’re not revealed until a few days before the song’s releases, and the videos include the features surrounded by Gorillaz. The video production is incredible between the physical quality of the film and the ways they interact with the singers. In their new track, PAC-MAN, Schoolboy Q has moving LED lights all over him while Noodle is dazed by his rapping. The cartoons give so much more character to a music video, especially when it’s stationed in a real-life studio. Not to mention, no other band does anything like this. Their ability to create unique videos with rappers and singers from other countries makes the videos compelling and keeps me waiting for the next. And, the machine bytes are actual audio footage from their time in the studio with the featured artists which just makes it that much more authentic.

All this to say, nothing has changed with Gorillaz. They’ve always been unique and strange and unlike anyone else. I have yet to discover the fictitious ways these videos all work together, but I suppose that’s the excitement of waiting to hear the next track.