Gorillaz are a virtual band created by musician Damon Alburn and artist Jamie Hewlett in 1998. The band primarily consists of four fictional members and their music has featured collaborations with a wide range of musicians and featured artists, with Albarn as the only permanent musical contributor.The band`s ninth album `The Mountain` will be promoted during The Mountain Tour, with concerts in Europe between March and June 2026.
We are led tenderly into the album via title track `The Mountain` which for the majority of its life is instrumental with sarod, sitar and bansuri flute giving a kind of feel of awakening and shared through the musicianship of Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar, brothers Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash. At the end there`s some spoken word in praise of the Mountain by actor Dennis Hopper. We have a more soul like offering with `The Moon Cave` with contributions on route from Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, and Black Thought. The moon cave being a large, naturally formed underground tunnel or void, likely an empty volcanic lava tube, discovered primarily in the Mare Tranquillitatis region (Sea of Tranquility). The song also enjoys Jalen Ngonda rapping and ends with laughter
`The Happy Dictator` has the glories of my favourite band Sparks and represents the more recent Sparks output being upbeat and dreamy. `The Hardest Thing` features Afrobeat and legendary Jazz drummer Tony Allen and opens with the statement “Oya E Dide Erori” or “We are ready (Let`s Go)” and feels delightfully questioning, the title and lyrics are a kind of eulogy and almost rhetorical as to what we all face when we have lost someone.
`Orange County` has Bizarrap, Kara Jackson and Anoushka Shankar adding their talents to this track that carries on where the `Hardest Thing` ends but with a more cheerful and uplifting ambience although the anguish and sorrow is almost tangible in the vocal delivery. There`s even some whistling in the later part. Bristol post-punkers IDLES join on `The God of Lying` which has an almost dub reggae vibe and creates further questions searching for answers.
`The Empty Dream Machine` has Black Thought, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar on what may be named after a stroboscopic flickering light art device that produces eidetic visual stimuli. It`s rhythmic, contemplative and has a rapped section from rapper, singer, actor, and television host Black Thought after the midpoint. There`s elements of soul come r&b with delightful sitar hues. Argentinian rapper Trueno leads us in on `The Manifesto` which is initially sung in Spanish and after witnessing Bad Bunny`s half time Super Bowl performance this really echoed with me although I sadly cannot understand Spanish. We also have a rolling tempo along with melodic harmonies and shouts throughout. At the halfway mark American rapper Proof steps up and orates an edgier discourse. The final couple on minutes have a kind of imaginary segment before more Spanish rap and Alburn`s vocals lead us out.
`The Plastic Guru` has Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar adding their skills to this ballad like tale of looking to a sage or mentor and being ultimately disappointed. Mark E. Smith`s manic mutterings are sprinkled over a pounding percussive beat on `Delirium` where confusion is reflected in Damon`s additional vocal distribution.
Omar Souleyman adds an Arabic flavour to `Damascus` while American rapper Yasiin Bey trades his rhymes. A track that is wonderfully infectious.
`The Shadowy Light` has the virtuosities of legendary Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle, Welsh musician Gruff Rhys, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash on this superbly iridescent shimmering listen with the title repeated throughout which becomes like a mantra, magnetic and soothing. Two rock superstars Paul Simonon and Johnny Marr are utilised on `Casablanca` an illusional, ethereal peaceful submission.
`The Sweet Prince` enjoys the creative talents of Ajay Prasanna, Johnny Marr, and Anoushka Shankar on this contemplative composition.
Black Thought, Ajay Prasanna, and Anoushka Shankar contribute to the final cut `The Sad God` which is pensive and almost lost in thought, simplistic in presentation but devastatingly captivating.
I read that The Mountain is a playlist for a party on the border between this world and whatever happens next, exploring the journey of life and the thrill of existence with exploration of grief and hope, both central themes on this album. Albarn and Hewlett both experienced the loss of close family members prior to their time in India. Both described the album as a cohesive and conceptual work exploring ideas of death and the afterlife through the band’s fictional characters.
`The Mountain` is an almost overwhelming auditory experience and one of those creations that will allow you to discover something different, new, and exciting each time you return to listen. I`m sure the live performances will be a visual as well as aural delight. This album will be up there when the album of the year plaudits are handed out.
Rating 9.5/10
