Album Review: Gorillaz “Humanz”

Hewlett and Co. deliver a near flawless effort.

For those of you who aren’t aware, Gorillaz is a British multimedia project with the intention to create the idea of a “Virtual Band”. The band Gorillaz is made up of singer 2D, bassist Murdoc, drummer Russel and Guitarist Noodles. The concept was created by Musician/Composer/Singer Damon Albarn and Artist/Animator Jamie Hewlett, who both felt tired of the MTV generation’s shallow contributions to music culture and wanted to shake things up.

Gorillaz creators Jamie Hewlett (Left) and Damon Albarn (Right)

Humanz is the newest Gorillaz album in seven years and the team has been hyping up their latest record for a while now, using the mediums of phone apps and motion capture interviews to further enhance the virtual band feels of the project. I’ve personally been waiting anxiously for Humanz because I’m a dedicated fan and have a nostalgic connection with them. So now that I finally have a copy, has the album lived up to my expectations a fan? Yes, it certainly has.

Gorillaz has often been applauded for their deconstruction of the genre and it’s a talent that hasn’t faded. Humanz bounces between a variety of styles, tones, and moods; including hip-hop, chiptune, electronica, soul, disco, gospel and much more. Every track is very different from each other and while some may complain that this makes the album less coherent, I will argue that helps to give it a sense of surprise as each track changes but it also captures a retro mixtape charm that fits the vintage 70’s/80’s style that many of the songs go for.

Humanz is also packed with a wide variety of guest singers and rappers, including Grace Jones, Popcaan, De Le Soul, Jehnny Beth and loads of other talents. The album is dominated by a gallery of Albarn’s recurring collaborators and emerging stars in the music industry. I feel as if this direction is necessary for a Gorillaz album because the genres adjust so frequently that a change of singing style each time can help the shifts feel natural. Although, I’ll admit that I wish we could have heard Albarn singing more often because he is supposed to be the voice of the virtual band’s frontman.
Thematically, Humanz is Albarn’s soulful response to the world today, from the growth of the internet to Trump’s America and it’s clear that Albarn sees that the world is in some kind of almost dystopian state. Some songs respond to modern culture with a sense of apocalyptic dread (The album starts with a song called Ascension, which features the lyric “The Sky’s falling baby”) but some tracks are joyful celebrations that play like the crazy world-ending party songs in the vein of Prince’s “1999”.


It creates this almost transcendentally ethereal listening experience as if we’re in the middle of the end of civilization and everyone is handling it different ways. The fact that the album features interlude breaks set in elevators and ends with very heavenly gospel songs, indicates that the narrative is building towards a spiritually satisfying close. What makes this celestial climax even more poignant, is the fact that one track called “Andromeda” is a tribute to Albarn’s late mother in law, who was an astronomer and Albarn believes that she’s now living her eternal rest in the constellations.

Humanz is a treat for the ears and a rewarding prize for Gorillaz fans who have had to wait seven years for something new. It’s an adventurous journey that progresses through time, space and dimensions thanks to it’s running cosmic motifs and varied genres. Some fans may be disappointed by the understated use of Albarn’s singing voice but the album is still both joyful and profound to listen to as a whole.

SCORE
9/10