Photo Credit: NME
Phase 4: commenced.
In a recent flurry of posts on the band’s social media, the famed digital musical group Gorillaz recently dropped their first four official singles off of their highly anticipated album HUMANZ, which has been set for release on April 28 of this year. The tracks are titled ‘Andromeda’, ‘Ascension’, ‘We Got The Power’, and ‘Saturnz Barz’ – they can be found on the band’s Spotify profile. Radio networks BBC Radio 1, Radio X, and Beats 1 aired the tracks for the first time on March 23. While these songs are the latest update in the world of Gorillaz and the road to Humanz’ release, Gorillaz made their comeback with their anti-Trump, politically electric track entitled ‘Hallelujah Money,’ which was dropped on the eve of Trump’s inauguration.
Ever since the band’s self-titled debut album dropped back in 2005, it has been obvious that the group’s unique blend of electronica, hip-hop, and rock is impossible to imitate. However, the tracks revealed to us yesterday are perhaps some of the most hip-hop influenced songs we have ever heard from the band. A leaked tracklist reveals a slew of well-known hip-hop artists featuring on the album, from Kali Uchis to De La Soul to D.R.A.M. While this certainly reveals that the music of HUMANZ will be a definite change in the band’s sound from previous albums, we can still expect it to be as original, diverse, and unpredictable as has become characteristic of Gorillaz.
One aspect of Gorillaz’ new music I am personally excited and intrigued by are the politically charged lyrics that have surfaced in songs like ‘We Got the Power’, ‘Ascension’, and of course the previously released track ‘Hallelujah Money.’ Featured artist Vince Staples makes a pointed verse in ‘Ascension’ that takes a stab at the ironic inequality and hypocrisy that exists in a Western world that is supposed to be advanced in terms of human rights:
All these liberated women sitting in my lap
I’m finna catch a body like I got a gun and badge
I’m finna turn Obama to my patna ‘fore he dash
Pull up to his pad, wipe my ass with the flag
I’m just playing, baby, this the land of the free
Where you can get a Glock and a gram for the cheap
Where you can live your dreams long as you don’t look like me
Be a puppet on a string, hanging from a fucking tree
The music isn’t the only part of Gorillaz’ new releases that have gotten fans excited – the new artwork for the album stars virtual band members 2D, Noodle, Russel and Murdoc in a revamped, modern art style. Images on the band’s Instagram and Twitter, new music videos and even sports car promos have showcased the members’ new looks.
