Gorillaz's Demonic Return
NME, March 2005
An exclusive track-by-track guide to the new album by Damon's cartoon crew...
Gorillaz have finally completed their long-awaited second album 'Demon Days'. To be released on May 23, Damon Albarn's cartoon creations flex their musical muscles once again, with 'The Grey Album''s Danger Mouse behind the desk as producer. Guests include Roots Manuva, De La Soul and veteran film star Dennis Hopper. "Dennis has been a spokesman for free creativity and ignoring rules," drummer Russel told NME. "Therefore a natural Gorillaz cohort"
01 Intro
Noodle: "The album opens with an ominous soundscape sampling George Romero's 'Dawn Of The Dead'. It expresses a similar sense of forboding we feel about the world."
NME says: A chaotic cacophony to terrorise your senses.
02: Last Living Souls
Russel: "Sometimes the climate we live in can make you feel like the last living soul on earth. The sense of introspection is reflected in the acoustic and on the piano."
NME says: Tick-tock beats, scything synths and angry isolation - a 21st-century 'Ghost Town'.
03: Kids With Guns
Russel: "This is more of a downtempo track. Likem night-time manoeuvres. The equivalent of creeping up on an enemy."
NME says: Brutal dub with a pop heart. Like getting duffed up by Joe Strummer and Salt N Pepper.
04: O Green World
Noodle: "This song is the sound of someone's train coming off its coasters. We gave 2D's vocals a distorted megaphone effect to make them seem like... a distant memory from the past."
NME says: Sounds a bit like - whisper it - a well-hard version of White Town's one-hit-wonder 'Your Woman'.
05: Dirty Harry
Noodle: "This evolved from a tape recording of an old Gorillaz jam. Danger Mouse added the kids choir, the San Fernandez Youth Chorus."
NME says: Rap-rock's answer to Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'
06: Feel Good Inc
Russel: "Part 'Billie Jean', part Rockwell. The beat on this tune is as infectious as influenza. And our friends De La Soul delivered this gooning, fun-filled rap."
NME says: The first single. The tune is borrowed from U2, the rapping is smooth - potentially Gorillaz's biggest tune yet.
07: El Manana
Russel: "This was the very last to be written. It arrived like a winning goal in the last few seconds of a match. It sounds like a digital soul record."
NME says: Downbeat keyboards, the track most reminiscent of Gorillaz's human masters, Blur.
08: Every Planet We Reach Is Dead
Russel: "There's a Charles Bukowski quote: 'If you're losing your sould and you know it, then you've still got a soul left to lose'. You can kinda hear this sentiment in this track."
NME says: Sleazy, Japanese-infused funk. Like porn film and kung fu movie soundtracks colliding in mid-air.
09: November Has Come
2D: "The beginning sounds like an old Wham! song, and features a rap supplied by London-born rapper MF Doom."
NME says: Straight-ahead electronic hip hop. Could have found a home on Gorillaz's first album.
10: All Alone
Russel: "Features a machine-gunning rap from Roots Manuva, we've talked about a collaboration with him for a long time."
NME says: Sounds like Roots is rapping over an '80s computer game, but swerves Nathan Barley-esque cliches.
11: White Light
Russel: "The most punk rock track. It's relentless."
NME says: A ram-raiding sinister rock blowout. Lock up your daughters... and your sons.
12: DARE
Russel: "This is a hefty track. 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. Shaun, eh! He's a scallywag, isn't he?"
NME says: The Happy Mondays' man is tag teamed with teeny boppers. Curiously, he sounds like The Streets' unusual 'uncle'.
13: Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head
Russel: "Narrated by Mr Dennis Hopper. Noodle ran into him at some award show and it turns out he knew some Gorillaz tracks already.
NME says: Dennis Hopper reads us a story, but soul-stealing monkeys ensure 'Harry Potter' this ain't.
14: Don't Get Lost In Heaven
Russel: "This is a little slice of West Coast, sun-soaked harmony. Like coming up for air."
NME says: If Danger Mouse's remixing went near The Beach Boys, it'd sound like this.
15: Demon Days
2D: "You remember when you were a little kid and you would look at the clouds and something that simple would make you feel a part of everything and all alone at the same time? As creative entities, we look for signs of life outside ourselves. That's why we all do what we do."
Murdoc: "Er... nope. It's for the birds after the show. Anyone who says different is just spinning a yarn."
NME says: Ends the Gorillaz on a gospel-induced, hymn-like high.
Gorillaz have finally completed their long-awaited second album 'Demon Days'. To be released on May 23, Damon Albarn's cartoon creations flex their musical muscles once again, with 'The Grey Album''s Danger Mouse behind the desk as producer. Guests include Roots Manuva, De La Soul and veteran film star Dennis Hopper. "Dennis has been a spokesman for free creativity and ignoring rules," drummer Russel told NME. "Therefore a natural Gorillaz cohort"
01 Intro
Noodle: "The album opens with an ominous soundscape sampling George Romero's 'Dawn Of The Dead'. It expresses a similar sense of forboding we feel about the world."
NME says: A chaotic cacophony to terrorise your senses.
02: Last Living Souls
Russel: "Sometimes the climate we live in can make you feel like the last living soul on earth. The sense of introspection is reflected in the acoustic and on the piano."
NME says: Tick-tock beats, scything synths and angry isolation - a 21st-century 'Ghost Town'.
03: Kids With Guns
Russel: "This is more of a downtempo track. Likem night-time manoeuvres. The equivalent of creeping up on an enemy."
NME says: Brutal dub with a pop heart. Like getting duffed up by Joe Strummer and Salt N Pepper.
04: O Green World
Noodle: "This song is the sound of someone's train coming off its coasters. We gave 2D's vocals a distorted megaphone effect to make them seem like... a distant memory from the past."
NME says: Sounds a bit like - whisper it - a well-hard version of White Town's one-hit-wonder 'Your Woman'.
05: Dirty Harry
Noodle: "This evolved from a tape recording of an old Gorillaz jam. Danger Mouse added the kids choir, the San Fernandez Youth Chorus."
NME says: Rap-rock's answer to Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'
06: Feel Good Inc
Russel: "Part 'Billie Jean', part Rockwell. The beat on this tune is as infectious as influenza. And our friends De La Soul delivered this gooning, fun-filled rap."
NME says: The first single. The tune is borrowed from U2, the rapping is smooth - potentially Gorillaz's biggest tune yet.
07: El Manana
Russel: "This was the very last to be written. It arrived like a winning goal in the last few seconds of a match. It sounds like a digital soul record."
NME says: Downbeat keyboards, the track most reminiscent of Gorillaz's human masters, Blur.
08: Every Planet We Reach Is Dead
Russel: "There's a Charles Bukowski quote: 'If you're losing your sould and you know it, then you've still got a soul left to lose'. You can kinda hear this sentiment in this track."
NME says: Sleazy, Japanese-infused funk. Like porn film and kung fu movie soundtracks colliding in mid-air.
09: November Has Come
2D: "The beginning sounds like an old Wham! song, and features a rap supplied by London-born rapper MF Doom."
NME says: Straight-ahead electronic hip hop. Could have found a home on Gorillaz's first album.
10: All Alone
Russel: "Features a machine-gunning rap from Roots Manuva, we've talked about a collaboration with him for a long time."
NME says: Sounds like Roots is rapping over an '80s computer game, but swerves Nathan Barley-esque cliches.
11: White Light
Russel: "The most punk rock track. It's relentless."
NME says: A ram-raiding sinister rock blowout. Lock up your daughters... and your sons.
12: DARE
Russel: "This is a hefty track. 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. Shaun, eh! He's a scallywag, isn't he?"
NME says: The Happy Mondays' man is tag teamed with teeny boppers. Curiously, he sounds like The Streets' unusual 'uncle'.
13: Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head
Russel: "Narrated by Mr Dennis Hopper. Noodle ran into him at some award show and it turns out he knew some Gorillaz tracks already.
NME says: Dennis Hopper reads us a story, but soul-stealing monkeys ensure 'Harry Potter' this ain't.
14: Don't Get Lost In Heaven
Russel: "This is a little slice of West Coast, sun-soaked harmony. Like coming up for air."
NME says: If Danger Mouse's remixing went near The Beach Boys, it'd sound like this.
15: Demon Days
2D: "You remember when you were a little kid and you would look at the clouds and something that simple would make you feel a part of everything and all alone at the same time? As creative entities, we look for signs of life outside ourselves. That's why we all do what we do."
Murdoc: "Er... nope. It's for the birds after the show. Anyone who says different is just spinning a yarn."
NME says: Ends the Gorillaz on a gospel-induced, hymn-like high.