Gorillaz: The Album
The Daily Record, May 2005
Back in 2001 when Blur's Damon Albarn released a hip hop album under the pseudonym Gorillaz it was seen as the cartoon doodlings of a bored rock star. But six million copies sold worldwide, an American No.14 and UK No.3 and six Brit Award nominations in 2002 showed he could still write a decent tune. It's no wonder Albarn, who made Blur into a sometimes tuneless World Music band on Think Tank, is back. The Gorillaz's second album Demon Days, out on May 23, is as hotly anticipated as the new Coldplay and Oasis albums. Albarn has teamed up with producer Danger Mouse and brought in a stunning array of collaborators including Neneh Cherry, Roots Manuva, Dennis Hopper, Shaun Ryder, Ike Turner and De La Soul. But at the Gorillaz heart are the four animated band members: 2D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass), Noodle (guitars) and Russel Hobbs (drums, percussion). Here, in their own words, are Gorillaz's thoughts on each track on Demon Days.
INTRO
Noodle: This uses a sample taken from the George Romero Film Dawn of the Dead. The album opens with an ominous swirling soundscape of voodoo-esque percussion, keyboard bassoons and sirens.
Russel: You can tell there's big trouble ahead.
LAST LIVING SOULS
Russel: This is built up around simple rhythm. Sonically there's a nod to the early drum machine sounds that appeared on the second Specials album.
Murdoc: And if you listen really closely there's some old geezer coughing in background.
KIDS WITH GUNS
Russel: Features a guest vocal from Neneh Cherry. I loved her Raw Like Sushi B-girl album, and she's always had a positive collaborative attitude towards music.
O GREEN WORLD
Noodle: Some of the spooky sounds on this track were caught on tape by accident. It is believed that they are the paranormal experiences going on at Kong Studios. You can hear a growling and whispering in the background. This track was almost left off the album, but it was decided it should remain.
DIRTY HARRY
Noodle: This was one of the first tracks I worked on with DJ Danger Mouse. It evolved from a tape recording of an old Gorillaz jam. Danger Mouse added the kids' choir, the San Fernandez Youth Chorus.
FEEL GOOD INC.
Russel: Part Billie Jean, part Rockwell. The beat on this tune is as infectious as influenza. We asked our friends De La Soul to lend a rap to the song, so they delivered this crazy rap.
Murdoc: Sounds like a bunch of kids trapped in a photo booth.
EL MANANA
Noodle: Opens up with the sensation of drifting, as if maybe in a sensory deprivation tank.
Murdoc: Or you've just woken up in a bath.
2D: In ... Spain.
EVERY PLANET WE REACH IS DEAD
Russel: The piano solo on the outro is supplied by Ike Turner. It's real easy to forget the influence that he had on music.
NOVEMBER HAS COME
2D: Beginning sounds like an old Wham! song.
Russel: This features a rap supplied by the London born rapper MF Doom.
ALL ALONE
Russel: This is a massive, swinging bouncing hip-hop track. Featuring a machine-gunning rap from London's own Roots Manuva.
Murdoc: Like a boxer filled up with brandy.
WHITE LIGHT
Russel: This is the most punk rock sounding track on the album. A real pumping powerhouse. The drums really motor along.
DARE
Russel: Part Clash, part Madonna.
Murdoc: That's a rubbish description. It's nothing to do with Madonna. It's got a vocal by my old mate Shaun Ryder. He's a scallywag.
2D: No. He's from Manchester. Scally wags are from Liverpool.
FIRE COMING OUT OF THE MONKEY'S HEAD
Russel: The tale on this track is narrated by Mr. Dennis Hopper. He knew some Gorillaz tracks.
DON'T GET LOST IN HEAVEN
Russel: A little slice of West Coast sun-soaked harmony. The part this plays is as a transition into a more optimistic exit for the album.
DEMON DAYS
2D: As creative entities we look for signs of life outside ourselves, for a connection to alleviate the sense of solitude.
Murdoc: Er ...still not getting you, mate. It is, and will always be, for the birds after the show.
Gorillaz single Feel Good Inc. is out this week - although it's already charted through Download at No. 22.
INTRO
Noodle: This uses a sample taken from the George Romero Film Dawn of the Dead. The album opens with an ominous swirling soundscape of voodoo-esque percussion, keyboard bassoons and sirens.
Russel: You can tell there's big trouble ahead.
LAST LIVING SOULS
Russel: This is built up around simple rhythm. Sonically there's a nod to the early drum machine sounds that appeared on the second Specials album.
Murdoc: And if you listen really closely there's some old geezer coughing in background.
KIDS WITH GUNS
Russel: Features a guest vocal from Neneh Cherry. I loved her Raw Like Sushi B-girl album, and she's always had a positive collaborative attitude towards music.
O GREEN WORLD
Noodle: Some of the spooky sounds on this track were caught on tape by accident. It is believed that they are the paranormal experiences going on at Kong Studios. You can hear a growling and whispering in the background. This track was almost left off the album, but it was decided it should remain.
DIRTY HARRY
Noodle: This was one of the first tracks I worked on with DJ Danger Mouse. It evolved from a tape recording of an old Gorillaz jam. Danger Mouse added the kids' choir, the San Fernandez Youth Chorus.
FEEL GOOD INC.
Russel: Part Billie Jean, part Rockwell. The beat on this tune is as infectious as influenza. We asked our friends De La Soul to lend a rap to the song, so they delivered this crazy rap.
Murdoc: Sounds like a bunch of kids trapped in a photo booth.
EL MANANA
Noodle: Opens up with the sensation of drifting, as if maybe in a sensory deprivation tank.
Murdoc: Or you've just woken up in a bath.
2D: In ... Spain.
EVERY PLANET WE REACH IS DEAD
Russel: The piano solo on the outro is supplied by Ike Turner. It's real easy to forget the influence that he had on music.
NOVEMBER HAS COME
2D: Beginning sounds like an old Wham! song.
Russel: This features a rap supplied by the London born rapper MF Doom.
ALL ALONE
Russel: This is a massive, swinging bouncing hip-hop track. Featuring a machine-gunning rap from London's own Roots Manuva.
Murdoc: Like a boxer filled up with brandy.
WHITE LIGHT
Russel: This is the most punk rock sounding track on the album. A real pumping powerhouse. The drums really motor along.
DARE
Russel: Part Clash, part Madonna.
Murdoc: That's a rubbish description. It's nothing to do with Madonna. It's got a vocal by my old mate Shaun Ryder. He's a scallywag.
2D: No. He's from Manchester. Scally wags are from Liverpool.
FIRE COMING OUT OF THE MONKEY'S HEAD
Russel: The tale on this track is narrated by Mr. Dennis Hopper. He knew some Gorillaz tracks.
DON'T GET LOST IN HEAVEN
Russel: A little slice of West Coast sun-soaked harmony. The part this plays is as a transition into a more optimistic exit for the album.
DEMON DAYS
2D: As creative entities we look for signs of life outside ourselves, for a connection to alleviate the sense of solitude.
Murdoc: Er ...still not getting you, mate. It is, and will always be, for the birds after the show.
Gorillaz single Feel Good Inc. is out this week - although it's already charted through Download at No. 22.