Sam Murphy
The Backstory
Gorillaz albums are rare. They’ve released five albums in 16 years and so every year they decide to finally drop an album, it feels special. The wait in between The Fall and Humanz, is the longest they’ve ever made us endure. In that time Damon Albarn released his first solo record and returned to Blur to tour and release a record. Frequent collaborator Bobby Womack also died, Justin Bieber managed to kill a career and revive a career, streaming became the way most people devour music and Tupac played Coachella as a hologram. Yep, Gorillaz are re-entering a very different music world in 2017 but they seem to have adapted. Albarn and co. worked on this album for three years and was said to be, “an emotional response to politics,” rather than an overtly political record. They released Hallelujah Money on Trump’s inauguration day and then dropped four singles out of the blue the day they announced the album.
At A Glance
This is an album that combines the old and new. De La Soul, Grace Jones and Mavis Staples sit on an album alongside newbies like D.R.A.M. and Popcaan and yet it doesn’t feel like it’s an awkward combination at all. Gorillaz have always been good and adapting to the musical style of the year they’re dropping music in while still retaining their own personal style. Humanz is a far more upbeat affair than Plastic Beach, their last collaboration-heavy record. At times its furious (Hallelujah Money) at others frantic (Ascension). It’s also sensual (Submission) and club-ready (Momentz). Stylistically, it’s all over the place which is so exciting to hear from a band that’s been in operation for almost two decades. There is never a moment where the album doesn’t feel exciting, positioning itself in a thematic place where it acknowledges political and social turmoil but also delivers a much-needed sense of euphoria.
The Best Song
The first four singles that came out are pretty hard to go past particularly the smooth electronica of the D.R.A.M. collaboration Andromeda and the frantic energy of Vince Staples’ Ascension but we’ve spoken enough about those tracks so we’re going to cherry-pick other great tracks from the album and believe us, there are many. Submission is an unexpected, futuristic R&B tune that sees Kelela’s smooth, malleable vocals effortlessly usher in a classic, woozy Danny Brown verse. Charger somehow manages to make reggar, rock ‘n’ roll and soul work with a very rare appearance from Grace Jones while Mavis Staples brings strength to the protesting, hip-hop beats of Let Me Out. The weirder dancefloor moments have also always been highlights on Gorillaz records from Dare to XX and Sex Murder Party effortlessly occupies that space on Humanz.
The Worst Song
Aside from interludes, Busted and Blue is the only song on the album that doesn’t feature any collaborators and it feels like a bit of a comedown. It’s the slowest and most melancholic track on the album and while it’s definitely a necessary addition to counteract the chaos that surrounds it, it won’t be garnering repeat listens from many because there are so many other triumphant moments on the record.
Overall
If you’re not digging into a Gorillaz album for the weird and wild then what are you doing? For those that found Plastic Beach and The Fall a little too melancholic then you’re going to be delighted by Humanz. It’s bonkers in the best way possible. It opens with Vince Staples telling you to, “drop that ass to the floor,” while the apocalypse seemingly unfolds around and ends with Jenny Beth from Savages leading a Rolling Stones-esque protest song. It’s the perfect party record for 2017 because it acknowledges that there is a lot that needs fixing but it also understands that no human can live comfortably without the occasional dose of escapism. It activates this generation to do their best to fight for what they believe in but also provides a soundtrack for the moments that you just want to forget what’s going on and enjoy yourself. That’s a weird juxtaposition but it’s also a wonderful one. Only Gorillaz could deliver a protest, party record with the most eclectic roster of features.
9/10
