Gorillaz
“Wouldn’t it be nice if we were just normal people?”
Contrary to popular belief, Gorillaz are so much more than a fictitious four-piece. They may be the most successful virtual band on the planet, but their universe extends to far deeper depths than a discography of critically acclaimed albums. Conceived by scriptwriter (and drummer) Cass Browne and realised by artist and Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett, it is the intricate use of media platforms to realise plots and sub-plots that truly defines their existence; websites, projections, vignettes, games, autobiographies, comic books, animations, holograms, but most significantly, music.
2D, Murdoc, Noodle and Russel exist in a realm which neither allows or affords logic. It is an entirely bendable universe, but a place where the end result is always spectacularly real. While they may indulge in reality so real people can enjoy their work, the sum of their existence is situated very much elsewhere.
In the world of Gorillaz, imagination is king.
Having recently released ‘The Singles Collection’, an album which celebrates their finest moments in music and film over the past decade, the band are back with a brand new collaboration to add to their long list of prestigious allies. This time around Converse have been sucked into the realm and the result is a brand new song, along with a range of wonderfully colourful, yet strikingly wearable Chuck Taylor All Stars.
“I particularly like the camouflage one, that’s the one I’ll be wearing.” - Damon Albarn
While Gorillaz visionary Jamie Hewlett was primed with marrying the classic All Star silhouette with some of the band’s most iconic graphic imagery, it was left to chief protagonist and Gorillaz mainstay Damon Albarn to mastermind the band’s contribution to the Converse 'Three Artists. One Song.’ campaign. As just one of a number of avenues the iconic brand have been foraying down to extend their reach in the world of music; the premise is simple enough, yet the results are often spectacular.
The latest instalment sees Albarn and co. team up with LCD Soundsystem lynchpin James Murphy and Outkast legend Andre 3000 on 12-minute opus titled 'DoYaThing’. Recorded over three days, the track is classic Gorillaz; the playful momentum that has always been present in their musical offerings dominates throughout, and the new work is guaranteed to leave both fans and super-fans wholeheartedly satisfied.
It is the introduction of Andre 3000 that makes the track especially brilliant. Over what Albarn describes as “an MC5 nightmare” Dre spends the best part of the 12 minutes proclaiming one thing and one thing only, that he is 'the shit’.
“He does that very well because he is” Albarn Explains…
“James is also an ideal person to hang out with in the studio cause he likes the tekky side of things and he’s also really gifted musically. But so is Andre, Andre is amazing, he is a phenomenally talented musician. He looks good, dances insanely well, he can rap like a motherfucker, he sings beautifully and he plays about six instruments. So, you know, he’s great.”
“I’m just really happy.” Murphy adds. “I like the entire track, but “I’m the shit” is where my heart is. For the rest of my life, I will remember playing an EMS synth with Damon’s guitar going through it and listening to a loop of my own drums, at the same time as watching Andre scream “I’m the shit!” like two hundred times. It’s fun to make music while you’re laughing.”
Gorillaz projects always expertly combine the audio with the visual and 'DoYaThing’ is no exception. The real beauty of the track is that Hewlett’s visuals reunite the band in a shabby terrace house in an unidentified British town. We suspect London. In this regard, the gang have finally come home.
L to R: James Murphy, 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Andre 3000
“Yeah, well you know, at the end of the day that’s where you retreat to isn’t it?” Albarn proclaims.
Gorillaz collaboration with Converse should be celebrated as it may very well be their last. As one of the hardest working musicians around, and someone who is consistently exploring new terrain, there are no guarantees that Albarn will find the time to revisit his most elaborate brainchild. He explains how Gorillaz, post-Converse, is currently dormant, but is quick to emphasise how he would never “rule out a future eruption.”
Albarn is currently putting the finishing touches to three new albums all set for Spring releases; a masque inspired by Elizabethan mastermind John Dee, soul legend Bobby Womack’s new record, and Rocketjuice And The Moon’s debut album with Afrobeat legend Tony Allen and Flea from The Red Hot Chili Peppers. To cap off his current workload, he also finds himself knee deep in his first solo adventure; an album that is shaping up to be as conceptually ambitious as anything he has released to date.
“I had the image of owning a small club and trying my music out every night but no-one ever coming through the doors. That’s the kind of place I am positioning myself with that record.”
Much like any comic strip, Gorillaz work in episodes. If Gorillaz are always destined to work this way then the recent collaboration with Converse is a timely comma, or maybe even a full stop. It is certainly another standout episode in a wonderful story.