Gorillaz Turn Our Anxieties Into a Masterpiece With ‘Humanz’

Stephanie Hernandez

There is something to be said for those who play well with others, and Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn is arguably the best in the game. The visual hip-hop group’s fifth studio album “Humanz” has been much anticipated, especially as their last release was over seven years ago. This marks our first taste of something concrete, and boy does it taste good. Albarn is nothing if not a visionary; only this time around the ‘vision’ was the state of the world on the night Donald Trump was elected. Completed before Trump was actually elected, Albarn was then faced with the task of going back and removing any specific references to number 45. “Humanz” wanted to focus more on the spirit of the evening than the nitty gritty details, leaving you room for interpretation: how do you keep dancing when the future is so terrifying? Without doubt, a political record, “Humanz” blends equal parts hope, fear and elation – and it’s damn sexy. Coming in at just under fifty minutes, it is a party soundtrack set to play on the eve of Armageddon, and we are definitely staying through the after-party.

Albarn has recruited some new friends while managing to bring back some previous partners in crime for ’Humanz,’ The album features artists from across the spectrum, both in style and tenure, but what they all had in common was that they were asked the same question by the Albarn; “Imagine a night where everything that you believed in was turned on its head. How would you feel?” It was this question that sparked the 13 insanely creative features for “Humanz.” Wanting each effort to convey “pain, joy and urgency,” it’s no surprise that what made it to wax was thoughtfully provocative. “The sky is falling baby / Drop that ass ’fore it crash” are the first words we hear, made all the more enticing when coming from Vince Staples. The journey that transpires continues down a similar rollicking path, broken up by interludes and a ‘non-conformist oath’ that is preaches “I promise to be different / I promise to be unique / I promise not to repeat things other people say,” helping break the record up into more easily-digestible pieces. Everything is touched upon, from synth-washed neo-soul on the Peven Everett featured “Strobelite” to the eerily danceable “Saturnz Barz” featuring Jamaican DJ of the moment Popcaan (also known for Drake’s “Controlla”).

The De La Soul featured track “Momentz” is a standout. Its industrial beats and punchy lyricism provided by the New York rappers demonstrate how much juice Albarn can still squeeze out of this unlikely partnership – one that gave him his first big hit with his new group “Feel Good Inc.” These formidable pairings continue. “Submission” brings together the frantic Danny Brown with the collected Kelela; his wild rhymes quicken the pace while her soulful croons give the track some sex appeal – making lines like “Felt like my soul in handcuffs / got questions with no answers” all the more poignant. From smoothed edges to sharp corners, Grace Jones’ biting contribution on “Charger” is anything but forgettable. A throbbing guitar riff sets the stage for Jones’ knowing laugh to ease into the verse, “I am the ghost / I am the soul / I’m gonna take you for a ride / No antennas.” You’re hooked instantly. Splitting lead vocals with Albarn’s animated personality Murdoc, “Charger” is so out of left field it just inexplicably works. Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine’s anti-Trump contribution, “Hallelujah Money,” is equal parts beautiful and disturbing. A breathtaking farewell to seemingly all human kindness in exchange for monetary gain, this becomes the record’s turning point where you stop dancing. It is sobering, to say the least. “Humanz” isn’t all doom-and-gloom though, providing some light at the end of the tunnel with the record’s final track, “We Got the Power.” Burying the hatchet with former Britpop rival Noel Gallagher (Blur vs. Oasis Anyone?) and bringing the Savages’ Jehnny Beth into the mix, the resulting track is an effervescent pop anthem that delivers a potent dose of genuine hopefulness straight to the heart. “We got the power to be loving each other no matter what happens / We got the power to do that.” This relentless optimism may be our one ticket to surviving tragedy.

It doesn’t ease to amaze us that a cartoon-themed band from England have been the ones to pull off such a committed and fearless look into our nation’s faults and anxieties. The unpredictable danceable nightmare that is “Humanz” proves that the uncertain future presented cannot and must not prevent you from attending the party. It is a record about being present, being able to enjoy the moment while simultaneously not losing sight of where things may be headed. While there are many unknowns right now, the soundtrack we now get to play down this highway to hell is spectacular.

“Humanz” is available via Apple Music on April 28.