After a three-year indefinite hiatus, British alternative rock group known as Gorillaz have finally released some new music. Calling Gorillaz a band or group isn’t exactly an accurate way to describe the collaboration between Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, but no one can argue their immense impact on the music world in the last decade. Gorillaz is more of an extensive musical and visual project that involves a virtual band of cartoon characters in a fictional universe, though their music is far from make-believe.
The four virtual characters, bassist Murdoc Niccals, guitarist and keyboardist Noodle, and drummer Russel Hobbs are all created and animated by Hewlett. The music for Gorillaz comes from roughly 50 contributing artists and has changed significantly since first forming in 1998. Albarn is the only constant musician on the project, but the live band’s current lineup includes half of punk-rock group The Clash. On October 5, Albarn performed as the guest DJ on Dermot O’Leary’s BBC Radio 2 broadcast where he shared a previously unheard track. The track titled “Whirlwind” was intended to be on Gorillaz 2010 album, Plastic Beach, but didn’t make the cut. The most interesting aspect of this single is that it features the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra and features a beautifully produced song with a sound that seems as if it was pulled right out of some Arabian film.
Though Albarn stated in 2012 that the project was not likely to continue due to disagreements with Gorillaz co-founder Hewlett, he later revealed that if he and Hewlett work out their differences, another Gorillaz record was still possible. As an avid fan of classic Gorillaz tracks such as, “Clint Eastwood,” “Rhinestone Eyes,” and “Feel Good Inc,” I doubt I am the only one who is looking forward to seeing more from the minds of Albarn and Hewlett. Let’s hope they work out their differences.
Listen to the previously unreleased track below.
