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‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ is set to arrive on February 26, with the band previously explaining how it was inspired by global uncertainty in 2020 and looming threats to the future of mankind.
“This album was me looking at our inability to change to a way of life that would sustain the human race and save the planet,” explained guitarist and songwriter Dan Searle.
“I wanted to look in the mirror and ask ourselves the question of what are
we going to do, as opposed to trying to point the finger at politicians. Change has to start on a personal level. The world has developed a culture of wanting someone else to deal with it, when we need to take our own responsibility. It has to start there.”
Last modified on Tue 23 Feb 2021 07.55 EST
Little about 2020 has been straightforward. So there is something perversely logical in the prospect of Gorillaz â a half-real, half-virtual band who released their best music in ages this year â playing a triumphal pre-Christmas gig with various layers of reality cavorting around them.
As this live stream begins, up pops not Damon Albarn, the musical half of the core Gorillaz partnership, but Robert Smith from the Cure. Backlit, he sings straight to camera, intoning about âstrange timesâ next to a customised Gorillaz golf buggy. A live band plays in the distance; Murdoc Niccals, a cartoon band member, momentarily skulks into view.
Gorillaz, Song Machine: Live from Kong diymag.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from diymag.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
“Is anybody out there? Hello? Can you hear us?”
In a cavernous secret warehouse, there’s a party underway that would bring Matt Hancock to actual tears. Surrounded by motorbikes, horse-headed dummies, mysterious monoliths, shelves of bizarre bric-a-brac and amps and curtains scrawled with slogans – “STAY NEGATIVE”, “INNATE RASHES”, “IT’S BETTER TO SLEEP WITH A SOBER CANNIBAL THAN A DRUNK CHRISTIAN” – a motley crew of soul kings, bovver boys, rappers, indie heroes, druids and holograms are caught up in some wild midday revelry. It’s a miracle that, in almost 90 minutes, there’s absolutely no appearance whatsoever from Rita Ora.