Monkeying around
Gorillaz: They’re coming after you
GORILLAZ
Demon Days
Every time a new Gorillaz track is announced on the radio and slowly works itself into my psyche, I cannot help but inwardly groan. Who wouldn't trade Gorillaz’ ‘virtual hip-hop’ for more Blur-vision? However, once viewed in its own light the long-awaited new album Demon Days brings its own surprises to the fore.
The melodic, optimistic outlook of their selftitled debut has not completely disappeared but producer Dangermouse, best known for last year’s splicing of Jay-Z’s Black Album with The Beatles’ White Album, gives the work a more subtle, dark and intense vibe. An impressive line-up of collaborating artists including MF Doom, De La Soul and Ike Turner provide everything from soft rap to spoken monologue.
This support gives the album greater variety but it is the heavy bass, strings and eclectic, electronic beeps which give it cohesion. The rhythms are clean but focused on portraying a darker vision, especially in tracks such as ‘Kids with Guns’ where a sample of Salt N Pepa’s ‘Push It’ adds menace to the mix.
Perhaps the most memorable track begins with Shaun ‘sixty fags a day’ Ryder’s asthmatic yelp of “It’s dare” on the surprisingly named ‘DARE’, where the combination of Tetris-inspired beeps and synthesized falsetto works to create a diamond in the rough. Other gems include single ‘Feel Good Inc.’ and the sublime ‘All Alone’, featuring the not inconsiderable talents of Roots Manuva.
However, between some killer hooks and hip-hop beats, the 15- track album falls down on several occasions lowering the excellent standard of the single-worthy tracks. Overall you get the feeling that behind the cartoon façade, Damon Albarn is smirking at us whilst counting the profits of another successful ego-trip. As the Gorillaz themselves say, “Reject False Icons.” It’s up to you to decide whether or not to do so.
26th May 2005