Gorillaz - Humanz
The whole project around Gorillaz has been around for twenty years. This virtual musical formation consisting of four animated members (2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs) has realized a total of five albums, the most recent of which is Humanz (2017), released last year. Out of the twenty-six tracks, we have to subtract a few inserted interludes (Interlude) and a successful intro (I switched my Robot off) to get the real musical content. As always, it was possible to engage interesting and inventive guests, although Sade, for example, refused to participate in the project. Among the many who contributed to the undeniable success of the album, we can name Anthony Hamilton, Colombian-American Kali Uchis, Noel Gallagher, Graham Coxon, Grace Jones (Charger), and others. In pure pop Submission, it's Danny Brown and Kelela. French musician and vocalist Jehnny Beth makes a guest appearance on the proclamatory We Got the Power, with a problematic post mix, so you can hear some French here, while the hip hop trio De La Soul appear on the marching Momentz by Benjamin Jones. Although Jamie Hewlett says in an interview with Q magazine that Humanz is not a political statement on Trump, it's clear from the lyrics that there is a certain point of view behind the cartoon characters. Damon Albarn (Blur) has been thinking intensely about the need to relaunch the Gorillaz project after a seven-year hiatus, and basically two major events have helped to reconnect him with J Hewlett, who is the visual guru of the project. These were Brexit and the US presidential election. But even the purposefully dismissed agitprop and activism aspect doesn't save the album from a desired and needed sense of specialness. The whole album is neither innovative nor visionary in the way we're used to. Something has gone missing, and apart from some well done production work and a few genuinely good ideas, all that's left is a slightly stale air of eccentricity. The project itself isn't out of breath, even commercially showing very decent results, but inventively it definitely needs an injection. Still, the album is a pleasure to listen to and the final impression is not tragic.
The most commercially successful albums in Gorillaz history are "Demon Days" (2005) and the eponymous "Gorillaz" (2001). In Prague, audiences could see Gorillaz in concert in November 2017. Despite much positive feedback coming from the UK and the US, the show at the O2 Arena was not a sell-out.