Gorillaz debut new album at secret show
Gorillaz/Press

Gorillaz debut new album at secret show

For the past few weeks, Gorillaz have been revisiting their discography for their House of Kong exhibition show, a four-night concert series dedicated to performing one album in full. The band played Gorillaz, Demon Days, and Plastic Beach, but last night in London's Copper Box Arena, they diverted from the sequential order of records completely.

Their final show — distinct with its strict no-phone policy — debuted a whole new album for the audience, complete with special guest performances by artists on the record.

Here's a rundown with no spoilers:

Dubbed "The Mystery Show", last night's performance revealed a few things about the upcoming, new record. First, its monumental guest lineup: alongside front man Damon Albarn and touring band members, the album reportedly features performances from Johnny Marr, Joe Talbot (IDLES), Sparks, Anoushka Shankar, and more. The London Arab Orchestra is also billed as one of many featured musical guests who contributed to the record, and "voices from elsewhere" — or deceased musicians who are still regarded as part of the album — include among others Mark E. Smith (The Fall), Dave Jolicoeur from De La Soul, and Dennis Hopper, according to a credit sheet posted online after the concert.

Based on previous statements, the lineup, released visuals, and fans' reactions, the upcoming Gorillaz album looks East for its sonic inspiration. Fans described some of the music as inspired by Arabic orchestration, with loads of strings sections and backing vocals, according to NME. Johnny Marr, who was also at last night's performance, posted a photo of the stage, featuring original artwork by Gorillaz co-founder Jamie Hewlett that takes from Hindu and Indian iconogrpahy.

But perhaps the reach of the new album's international inspirations goes broader. Earlier this year, Albarn told the Times that, while writing the album, he rarely listened to any English language music. He then added, "My new Gorillaz record is in four languages!"

Gorillaz have yet to announce a tracklist, album title, or cover for this upcoming album. We also don't know when it's coming out. In his Times interview, Albarn stated it wouldn't be released until 2026 but didn't provide a more specific timeline.

Victoria Borlando

New York, NY

freelance music journalist and critic

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