Fans of Gorillaz who has been anticipating the virtual band’s fifth studio album ever since news that it was coming in 2016 will be excited by recent words from frontman Damon Albarn.
“I’m loving it and it’s getting there,” the Blur frontman and eclectic musician said during a recent interview with BBC Radio 6 Music. The singer says the highly anticipated album “should be ready fairly soon.”
The news that Gorillaz was making a new album came in September last year, but its progress has been stalled by Damon Albarn's various commitments. However, the album's recording process has remained fairly steady. Rumour has it that some of the collaborators include French musician Jean Michel-Jarre, rapper Vic Mensa, songwriter Liam Bailey, and producer Twilite Tone.
Chicago rapper Vic Mensa is known to be part of the collaboration too as photo of him in a studio was posted by producer Remi Kabaka. Mensa was also included in the studio with the animated band.
But despite Albarn’s hopeful 2016 agenda, his Gorillaz partner Jamie Hewlett has told fans that a 2017 release is more realistic, because the album is, “really fucking special,” and, “can’t be rushed.” The pair met when they were roommates in London in the 1990s amidst the heydays of Britpop where Damon was at his peak with Blur.
The new album will also be more catchy and uplifting, says Damon Albarn. "I'm determined that my next record will be very upbeat, and I will try to set myself the benchmark of 125 bpm and nothing underneath that."exclaimed the frontman.
Jamie Hewlett also talked about the band's new visual approach with Rolling Stone. "It's going to change – I can't tell you how. But of course it's going to be different, I can't do what I've already done, that's not interesting to me. In the same way Damon changes with his music and moves forward, I do the same. It's going to be a different look," he said.
Indeed, 2D looks much more larger in size according to pictures posted on Jamie's Instagram feed. The characters also feature new outfits and hairstyles, as seen in some of the newer images. Jamie Hewlett is known for updating his feed with unreleased photos of Gorillaz ahead of the official release of albums.
Gorillaz's last album was The Fall, which was released in early 2010. It's about time that fans of the band should get something new, and it looks like we will hear back from the band anytime soon.
Follow Jamie Hewlett on Instagram HERE.
Read 6 fun facts about Gorillaz HERE