Niki N. Phaser

            Your favorite virtual, animated band of anti-heroes is making an official return. Gorillaz are to release their third album, Plastic Beach, this March. This will be the follow-up to the groudbreaking Demon Days, that had the world shakin’ it to the hit Feel Good, Inc. and pretty much everything else that was on that album. The new 16-tracker will feature an eclectic congregation of guest singers, like Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, of course De La Soul and plenty of other guests (more than ever). Lead single, Stylo, will be available for download in a few days. It’s quite a retro-jem, filled with catchy rollerskate-disconess and a synth bassline which will have 80′s veteran breakdancers, “the Fred Astaires of the street”, dust their tank tops. Listen at Gorillaz’s:

OFFICIAL SITE

        With 2005′s Demon Days, Gorillaz evolved from a corky-but-cool experiment of Damon Albarn’s to a mainstream, chart topping venture. And it’s no wonder, considering that Feel Good Inc. became such an anthem of this decade. So did Dare. It was a bit of a surprise that the album’s second track, Last Living Souls, was disregarded as a single. It’s not as bassline infectious as Feel Good Inc., but there are plenty of catchy synths to make you love the song at first contact. Albarn’s vocals have that brit boredom in them, that should be familiar to Gorillaz fans. There is also an interesting 70′s American folk moment in the middle. The lyrics, well, they complete what Feel Good Inc.‘s video started — the song gives you the impression that someone is discovering a new world (but takes the time to smoke a fag before exploring). You might not get the urge to dance to this tune, but you will want to walk in a really cool way while it’s whispering in your headphones…

LAST LIVING SONG

             The unbearable lightness of waiting for a new Massive Attack LP has come to a halt. The band announced through their official website that February 8th 2010 is the date when the abstinence ceases. Except for the four track EP Splitting the Atom, released this fall, it has been seven years since a full MA studio album pleased our trip hop senses.

              The new album, Heligoland (it’s still unclear whether the boys are fans of Shena Mackay or of geography), will feature guest vocalists on most of the tracks and the these guests are all ‘cat’s meow’ material. Damon Albarn finds one more project to attach his name to, as well as Elbow’s Guy Garvey. A bit of yankee edge is provided by TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe. On the female side, you have tour buddy Martina Topley-Bird and also the wonderful voice of Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star fame. Old friend, Horace Andy is not forgotten either — he contributes to two tracks, including first single, Splitting the Atom. Check the band’s official site for complete tracklisting and artwork.

P.S. This picture is not the cover, but one fascinating painting by Robert del Naja.