In The Studio Exchanging creative juices with the Gorillaz
Q, March 2005
“It sounds like someone has taken the first record and coloured it in,” says 2D, frontman and mouthpiece with Gorillaz, of the band’s second album, the surrealy titled We Are Happy Landfill. Recorded at the band’s Kong Studios complex in deepest Essex, it’s both bolder and darker than its acclaimed predecessor.
“Kong was built on an old burial site,” says 2D. “There were odd sounds and smells. That ambience ended up on the LP.”
The world might not have heard anything from the Gorillaz since the end of 2002’s US tour, but life inside their cartoon universe has been anything but quiet.
“We spent a lot of time in negotiations to do a film,” says guitarist / producer Noodle. “We moved to Hollywood to make it. Things went downhill from there.”
They won’t go into specifics, but there are mutterings of arrests (bassist Murdoc) and breakdowns (man-mountain Russel Hobbs). The events of the past two years had an effect on their real-life counterparts – Blur’s Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett remain the driving forces behind Gorillaz, but partner-in-crime Dan The Automator is no longer involved.
“The curse of Kong Studios ate Dan’s Soul,” says Russel. “he passed the producer’s crown over to Danger Mouse [the DJ behind the infamous Beatles-meets-Jay-Z mash-up The Grey Album].”
With We Are Happy Landfill out in May, Gorillaz are gearing up for a multi-media blitzkrieg - there’s talk of a series of live shows next summer. And that film? It’s still on the cards.
“It’s an Ealing comedy,” says 2D. “Based on four madcap characters on a milk round.”
SLEEVENOTES
Working Title: We Are Happy Landfill
Due: May
Completed Tracks: Dirty Harry, Feel Good Inc, One Red Herring, White Light
Producers: Danger Mouse, Damon Albarn, Noodle
Recorded At: Kong Studios, Essex
Strange But True: The band recently launched a talent search for new collaborators via their website, www.gorillaz.com
“Kong was built on an old burial site,” says 2D. “There were odd sounds and smells. That ambience ended up on the LP.”
The world might not have heard anything from the Gorillaz since the end of 2002’s US tour, but life inside their cartoon universe has been anything but quiet.
“We spent a lot of time in negotiations to do a film,” says guitarist / producer Noodle. “We moved to Hollywood to make it. Things went downhill from there.”
They won’t go into specifics, but there are mutterings of arrests (bassist Murdoc) and breakdowns (man-mountain Russel Hobbs). The events of the past two years had an effect on their real-life counterparts – Blur’s Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett remain the driving forces behind Gorillaz, but partner-in-crime Dan The Automator is no longer involved.
“The curse of Kong Studios ate Dan’s Soul,” says Russel. “he passed the producer’s crown over to Danger Mouse [the DJ behind the infamous Beatles-meets-Jay-Z mash-up The Grey Album].”
With We Are Happy Landfill out in May, Gorillaz are gearing up for a multi-media blitzkrieg - there’s talk of a series of live shows next summer. And that film? It’s still on the cards.
“It’s an Ealing comedy,” says 2D. “Based on four madcap characters on a milk round.”
SLEEVENOTES
Working Title: We Are Happy Landfill
Due: May
Completed Tracks: Dirty Harry, Feel Good Inc, One Red Herring, White Light
Producers: Danger Mouse, Damon Albarn, Noodle
Recorded At: Kong Studios, Essex
Strange But True: The band recently launched a talent search for new collaborators via their website, www.gorillaz.com