Between tuning a person’s voice to drum machines imitating the sound of a drum kit, the ever-flowing tide of technology has given musical artists new tools to put smiles on the faces of their fans. Technology has even led to the creation of virtual bands, where animated characters serve as the faces of the group rather than actual people. One of the most popular virtual bands is the English group Gorillaz, which consists of four fictional characters: Staurt “2D” Pot, Noodle, Russell Hobbs, and Murdoc Niccals.
In reality, musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, who founded the group in 1998, are the masterminds of the band. While releasing music as a typical band, the songs, alongside music videos, short films, and interviews, tell the stories of the fictional members. Along with that, the Gorillaz collaborate with musical artists ranging from Snoop Dog to De La Soul that feature in their songs; expanding upon the ideas and concepts that are present in the respective album. After a six-year hiatus where no music was released, the Gorillaz finally released their fifth studio album, Humanz, on the 28 April, 2017.
As with every prior phase of the group, this latest album was creatively inspired by a new concept: an emotional response to an unexpected, world-altering event that brings about a depressing, almost apocalyptic, aftermath. More specifically, the new record was inspired by the potential future of Donald Trump winning the presidential election in the United States. And when that potential became a reality, all references to them, along with another individual, were edited out from the record.
Honestly, the blatant name drops on songs such as “Let Me Out” come across as a little lazy to me. Gorillaz has tackled issues such as the Iraq War and global warming more subtly before in songs such as “Dirty Harry” or even in albums such as Plastic Beach respectively, which leads me to believe that it could’ve been better handled here. And even with the name drops on songs being edited out, the very fact that they are edited out is going to result in the curiosity of listeners drawing them to look up what they names are. And obviously, with the internet, that isn’t exactly a hard thing to do.
That being said, “Let Me Out” is by far one of my favorite songs as the album. The threatening whisper of “let me out” that is present in the background of the vast majority of the track is intimidating and adds to the dark atmosphere that is inescapable in this song. I didn’t even notice the whisper in the song until the vocals dropped out a minute in, but when I did, I thought it added to the apocalyptic mood. Not only that, but one of the reasons this song does its job so well is thanks to the featured artists on the track, rapper Pusha T and gospel singer Mavis Staples, who complement each other very well with their strong vocals.
Another track I love is “Andromeda,” which feels so timeless with this electric fuzz present in the beat that makes it so replayable. Despite being a relatively quiet, happy-sounding song, “Andromeda” manages to be both emotionally powerful and somber when it comes to the lyrics. Yet, even with this praise, the featured artist on the track, D.R.A.M., seems to be a mere footnote; barely even having any presence whatsoever. This is a shame, because D.R.A.M. is such a vibrant and colorful rapper that just goes underutilized here.
This is actually one of my biggest issues with the album as a whole: the placement of the featured artists. You have those such as the aforementioned D.R.A.M., who are barely in a song, yet you have those such as the English poet Benjamin Clementine that dominate the song. Clementine, who features in the song “Hallelujah Money,” doesn’t go well against the stiff beat. I understand that they’re trying to go for this deceptive and off-putting vibe in the song, but its execution sadly falls flat.
Ultimately, despite loving songs such as “Let Me Out,” “Andromeda,” “Strobelite,” and “Ascension,” I haven’t enjoyed this album as much as I would’ve hoped. Honestly, those four songs are the only ones that I truly feel strongly about. Featured guests artists such as Clementine, along with Anthony Hamilton, aren’t a good match for the songs that they feature in, with some such as D.R.A.M. barely having any presence on their songs. I still recommend listening to the Humanz, as there are some songs that I’m sure people will gravitate to, but I can’t help but feel a little disappointed with the album as a whole.
Image Courtesy of The Adelaidian