De La Soul, Little Simz and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are their guests for the Humanz tour Dublin date.
The Humanz Tour will see Murdoc Niccals (bass), Noodle (guitar), Russel Hobbs (drums) and 2D (vocals) joined on stage by the Gorillaz live band – Damon Albarn, Gabriel Wallace, Mike Smith, Jesse Hackett, Jeff Wootton, Karl Vanden Bossche and Seye Adelekan – as well as selected performers from the stellar roll-call of Gorillaz’ family of featured artists.
Tickets €69.50 + fees on sale now. Subject to licence.
Now officially a duo of Merril Garbus and Nate Brenner, tune-yards will release a fourth record called I can feel you creep into my private life on January 19th. The sound of this song ‘Look At Your Hands’ is a nice taster, it’s more focused, danceable and electronic-leaning while retaining some of that Afro looped pop exuberance that is a key part of the Tune-yards identity.
“Thematically, the twelve new songs tackle race, politics, intersectional feminism and environmental prophecies head on. But in the billows of intense subject matter, the album arrives as Tune-Yards’ most immediate and upbeat music yet – this is music to dance to.|
2.
Pink Kink – ‘Munchie Magic’
A Liverpool band whose second single equates a desire for fast food with oral sex, ‘Munchie Magic’ is a gang-shouting slice of glittering shouty neon pop.
3.
Lankum – Déanta In Eireann
From one of my albums of the past week (and a band who announced a Vicar Street show this morning) comes this standout from Between The Earth & The Sky about Ireland. The 8-minute ‘Deanta in Eireann’ that could be about nearly any time in Irish history but are applicable to the now – migration, a government who doesn’t care about the little people and using your Irish charm abroad but it turns the song’s gaze back on the homeland – “if the Dáil are the pimps, then we are the whores” and in the end, you’ll want to stand up and declare the song our new antagonistic national anthem.
4.
Marcus Marr – High Times
THE DFA producer that brought us the absolute dancefloor riproar of ‘Rocketship’ brings the funk and house on this new track. Reminds me of early Daft Punk.
5.
Gorillaz & Little Simz – Garage Palace
An uncharacteristic banger from Gorillaz with UK rapper Little Simz on vocals. This is a fresh thing.
6.
Bibio – ‘Phantom Brickworks III’
Bibio has a new album out Friday called Phantom Brickworks and it’s a collection of mostly improvised ambient pieces that are quite evocative.
Phantom Brickworks is a collection of mostly improvised musical pieces, that for some years now, have provided me with a mental portal into places and times – some real, some imaginary, some a combination of both. Human beings are highly sensitive to the atmospheres of places, which can be enhanced or dramatically altered when you learn about the context of their history. Echoes and voices can sometimes be heard, in some way or another. Places sometimes have things to say.” Bibio
7.
The Cyclist – When We All Break Down
Derry producer Andrew Morrison dropped his new album Sapa Inca Delirium last Friday and his stated aim was to bring some warmth into electronic music. On one of the album highlights, he hooks up with Joni, who recorded her vocals in one take over some percussive synth dance music with a nod to garage and drum ‘n’ bass.
8.
Hamilton Leithauser & Angel Olsen – Wild Hunger
Olsen’s been on fire on the collaboration front lately and here, her turn with the Walkmen singer is a great match as his retro singing style is reinforced when she appears.
9.
Young Fathers – Lord
Glasgow trio Young Fathers have finished recording their third album and so they’ve shared the closing cut from it to coincide with some UK dates. You can’t dance to it they want you to know. It is a slow alt-gospel ballad in their unique style.
10.
Teen Ravine – Steady On
Toronto act Teen Ravine bring the crystallised dream pop vibes from an upcoming album.
“With Precession, Ships have taken all that guardianship, heart and knowledge and have made one of my favourite albums of the year. Songs for the mind and body. The album is one of the most beautiful and dynamic sounding records you’ll hear this year. Its production is detailed with lots of little sonic treats that easy to pick up on but hard to create.”
Favourite tracks: ‘Where We Are’, ‘All Will Be’, ‘I Can Never’.
2.
Gorillaz – Humanz
An all-star cast is Gorillaz thing but still the cast on this is ridiculous. Grace Jones, Kelela, Popcaan, DRAM, Danny Brown, Mavis Staples, De La Soul, Kali Uchis, Zebra Katz, Vince Staples, Savages, Rag ‘n’Bone Man, , Noel Gallagher (yes), Carly Simon, Ray Blk, Kilo Kish, Peven Everett. I could go on. It’s hard to weave so many disparate guests into a coherent whole but Damon Albarn is a dab hand at it. It may not be the best Gorillaz album (Plastic Beach reigns supreme) but Humanz provides many moments of kaleidoscopic pleasure, even while the formula feels a little tired on occasion. Standouts include Kelela’s vocal on the bouncy ‘Submission’, the Bobby-Womack tribute of ‘Andromeda’, Vince Staples sharp politically-charged verses on ‘Ascension’ and having Pusha T and Mavis Staples on the same track on ‘Let me Out’.
Favourite tracks: ‘Ascension’, ‘Submission’, ‘Andromeda’, ‘Let Me Out’.
The second album from the North Carolina duo frees up the band’s electro with looser pop textures (‘The Glow’) and a near acoustic singalong (‘Song’). It’s still very much the duo who gave us ‘Coffee’ and Play It Right’ and that’s down to Nick Sanborn’s production which at its core is percussive electro-pop and vocally, the warm earthiness of Amelia Meath.
The latest release from the vault of one of hip-hop’s great – maybe the greatest – producer. Dilla’s mother Ma Dukes has released this album of 20 varied instrumental cuts. J Rocc provides a single mix of the album too.
Leslie Feist’s first album in six years makes clear that we are far away from the bright guitar pop of 2007’s The Reminder and the silky textures of 2004’s Let It Die. Continuing the plaintive style of 2011’s Metals, Pleasure is a stripped back low-key album for quiet moments. Jarvis Cocker appears for some spoken word on ‘Century’, ‘Any Party’ feels like dropping in to a live band in the studio, and the title track brandishes a PJ Harvey-style intensity but Pleasure in this case, is very understated.
The New Gorillaz album Humanz is released on April 28th but if you want to hear it first in person Vinyl & Wine are hosting a premiere listening party on April 27th.
At the event, ‘Humanz’, will be played from start-to-finish on vinyl on a high-end sound system, brought in specially for the event by audio specialists, Cloney Audio.
The event will also feature an in-depth panel discussion about the Gorillaz story to date and a Q&A with the audience.
Humanz will be premiered in The Blue Room at the Dean at 8pm on April 27th. Tickets are limited and come with a copy of the album on vinyl, they are available on Eventbrite.
Another new Gorillaz song featuring Pusha T and Mavis Staples dropped yesterday.
Gorillaz returned last night with news of a new album Humanz and as promised, a slew of guest spots for the likes of Grace Jones, De La Soul, Kali Uchia, Kelela, Danny Brown, Jamie Principle, Mavis Staples, Zebra Katz and Pusha T among others listed below.
Four new Gorillaz songs were premiered including ‘Saturnz Barz’ feat. Popcaan, of ‘Ascension’ feat. Vince Staples, ‘Andromeda’ feat. DRAM and ‘We Got The Power’ feat. Jehnny Beth of Savages.
They arrived first via this Jamie Hewlett-directed video (with a 360 version) featuring ‘Saturnz Barz’ and highlights of the other three.
They then arrived in full on streaming and download services.
Humanz is released by Parlophone on 28th April. Gorillaz play the complete album live for fans for the first time, at a secret London location tonight. Ticket info here.
Humanz tracklist
1. Ascension feat. Vince Staples 2. Strobelite feat. Peven Everett 3. Saturnz Barz feat. Popcaan 4. Momentz feat. De La Soul 5. Submission feat. Danny Brown & Kelela 6. Charger feat. Grace Jones 7. Andromeda feat. D.R.A.M. 8. Busted and Blue 9. Carnival feat. Anthony Hamilton 10. Let Me Out feat. Mavis Staples & Pusha T 11. Sex Murder Party feat. Jamie Principle & Zebra Katz 12. She’s My Collar feat. Kali Uchis 13. Hallelujah Money feat. Benjamin Clementine 14. We Got The Power feat. Jehnny Beth
Bonus material on Deluxe: 15. The Apprentice feat. Rag’n’ Bone Man, Zebra Katz & RAY BLK 16. Halfway To The Halfway House feat. Peven Everett 17. Out Of Body feat. Kilo Kish, Zebra Katz & Imani Vonshà 18. Ticker Tape feat. Carly Simon & Kali Uchis 19. Circle Of Friendz feat. Brandon Markell Holmes
The ape rumblings in recent weeks were indication. Gorillaz are back with their first song in six years, a ballad-style song with crooning vocals Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine (with a spoken word bit), Albarn vocals, electronics, an organ and a choir.
The time of the song was intentional:
Gorillaz returns after six years with the apocalyptic “Hallelujah Money” video, the first taste of their new record which is coming later this year. The band has issued this song on the eve of the Inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump to serve as commentary on a politically-charged, historical moment. #wearestillhumanz
Update: It’s 2016, I found this post and enjoyed it. I’ve now added a Spotify playlist of all of the albums available.
Below is a list of my favourite records of the ten years between the turn of the millenium, the year 2000 and 2010. Ranking these albums was led by a) what the album means to me and b) how often I’d listen to it. Each and every one of these albums blew me away repeatedly at some time between the ages of 18 and 27. Each one has something special going for it, something magical that brings me back to it. For that I can only thank the creators of each.
Without further ado, here are my favourite 50 albums from the decade. And remember, you can’t be wrong if they are your favourites.
Trinity College student band the Trinity Orchestra have put out two versions of the big ensemble performing a medley of Gorillaz’ Demon Days tracks – one in the studio and one live version.
The project was arranged by Éna Brennan and produced by Kevin Bluett, with the help of the committee of Trinity Orchestra, Rob Kearns, and Seamus Sutton.
The orchestra are playing a new setlist at Forbidden Fruit on the Sunday this year and they’re giving away tickets at http://gorillaz.trinityorchestra.com.
You may spot the singer from Spies in there among the performers.
As promised, Damon Albarn released his iPad-recorded Gorillaz album The Fall yesterday. It’s available to stream or to download via the fan club.
Recorded while on tour in North America over 32 days, The Fall is more of a sparse solo Gorillaz album of Albarn instrumentals with occasional vocals with Bobby Womack featuring on ‘Bobby in Phoenix’. Here’s the video featuring the opening tune ‘Phoner to Arizona’.
This tune went down well at the Gorillaz gig last week. The most common sentiment I’ve heard about this tune so far is surprise that Daley is a bloke. This single is out on November 22nd. I wonder was it recorded on an iPad too?
Photos by Danielle Graham from the Gorillaz show last night which featured guests Bobby Womack, Kano, Bashy, Daley, Bootie Brown, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Little Dragon, De La Soul, Roses Gabor and even feckin Mark E Smith’s ramblings. Not to mention Damon Albarn and half of The Clash – Mick Jones and Paul Simonon – are in the band.
Personally, I love Gorillaz’ songs (especially the last two albums) so hearing them live was always something that was going to please me. The tradeoff of using a big venue like The O2, is you miss the nuance of performance and I really wanted to actually see the musicians play (I’m short so that didn’t help) rather than look at the admittedly amazing visuals. Maybe a seated ticket would have been the way to go. Still, Gorillaz remain a beautiful showcase of artistry, music and industry. See the full photo gallery ..»
A list of personally recommended events taking place over the next seven days in Dublin. All times are 7.30pm/8pm unless stated. Feel free to leave your picks in the comments.
This week, I am giving away a pair tickets to Hyperdub’s Cooly G (pictured) courtesy of Ignored Playaz on Friday night. Email me to enter.
Gorillaz did a live at Letterman full-length gig last week after their regular song. It’s 45 minutes long. Click into the more for the aired performance. (more…)
Recorded a few weeks ago and to be released as a new single on November 22nd. Featuring Daley on vocals. Inspiration for the title comes from The Donca Matic – the Japanese-designed drum machine which started the Korg Company in 1963. (more…)
