More about: Gorillaz

Gorillaz have had a long, creative, and varied career so far. The brainchild of Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlitt, the project has been running for over 20 years, 7 albums, and their influence on artists across the industry is palpable. The last few albums, including 2017’s exhaustive record Humanz, 2018’s relatively restrained and guest-light The Now Now, and 2020’s episodic experiment Song Machine Vol.1 have all provided solid additions to the Gorillaz catalogue, but also efforts that feel underwhelming.

Cracker Island is here to fix that - with their most streamlined, and pop-leaning record yet. Their 7th album is full of starry guests, sleek pop tunes, and a critique of the digital age we live in. Damon Albarn and co.’s take on technology lyrically through the voice of 2D and the rest of Gorillaz is clever, witty and refreshing – when it could have been seen as an older person slagging off social media and technology for the sake of it, Damon actually as something to say.

Partnering with mega-hit maker Greg Kurstin, who has produced such hits as ‘Hello’ for Adele and ‘Chandelier’ by Sia – comes to round off the edges, trim off the fat, and deliver the most accessible Gorillaz record ever. The title track ‘Cracker Island’ bursts out the gate with a danceable mix of synth and guitars along with Thundercat’s signature bass, along with the refrain “forever cult” that will be stuck in your head for an eternity. That moves swiftly into the psychedelic synth world of ‘Oil,’ featuring the vocals of the legend that is Stevie Nicks. The track shimmers while also realising a nightmarish world of being sucked into the vortex that is the modern information age. This is perhaps one of the best songs on the project, with Stevie’s dreamy vocals interwoven with Damon’s in a sea of synths that transport you to another world.

‘The Tired Influencer’ and ‘Silent Running’ both manage to carry the technology theme well, with the former being the most outward tech centric song on the project. The themes of technology, social media and the way it infiltrates and takes over our lives is very timely, and yet Albarn manages to explore these issues with playful and poetic wordplay. ‘Silent Running’ does this perfectly, with lyrics like , "I feel like I've been Silent Running (Silent Running)/ Through the infinite pages I scroll out searching/For a new world/That waits on the sunrise." These lyrics are about being sent into a trance like state through social media and endlessly scrolling, trying to find something new. 

"Doing it all without losing any of the substance - this is what makes Gorillaz one of the most respected projects in music."

The album hits a strong run of tracks, including the single 'New Gold' with Tame Impala and Bootie Brown, along with deep cuts like the melancholic  Baby Queen and the quirky Tarantula. The main noticeable thing about Cracker Island is the commercial aspects to it. The album is concise and to the point without feeling rushed. The production on each song is consistent and doesn't veer off dramatically like 2020's Song Machine, but always attempts to change the pace from track to track while keeping the tone it has established. Kurstin has obviously worked his magic in putting a pop sheen on the album, but hasn't drowned out Albarn’s voice. In fact, this feels like a nice balance of the two styles they both bring to the table.

Other highlights include the reggae influenced ‘Tormenta', featuring Bad Bunny. Tormenta is the biggest left turn on the album and proves why he is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, with a flow and wordplay that are envious to many. What is admirable about the project is that Albarn doesn’t overstuff the guest spots. This plagued 2017 effort Humanz, and can make an album feel like more of a playlist than a cohesive whole. The guests here are used sparingly and to great effect.

Cracker Island proves that Gorillaz can make a commercial record while not losing the creativity that has always been a part of the project. The album can take its place proudly against Demon Days and Plastic Beach as one of their greatest achievements. Albarn has kept his flair, but combined with the pop know-how of Kurstin, manages to surprise us and give us the most outwardly fun Gorillaz record to date.

Doing it all without losing any of the substance - this is what makes Gorillaz one of the most respected projects in music.

Cracker Island arrives February 24th.

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More about: Gorillaz