When Is the New Gorillaz album out? Speculations in 2016

Fans of Gorillaz who has been anticipating the virtual band’s fifth studio album ever since news that it was coming in 2016 will be excited by recent words from frontman Damon Albarn.

“I’m loving it and it’s getting there,” the Blur frontman and eclectic musician said during a recent interview with BBC Radio 6 Music. The singer says the highly anticipated album “should be ready fairly soon.”

The news that Gorillaz was making a new album came in September last year, but its progress has been stalled by Damon Albarn's various commitments. However, the album's recording process has remained fairly steady. Rumour has it that some of the collaborators include French musician Jean Michel-Jarre, rapper Vic Mensa, songwriter Liam Bailey, and producer Twilite Tone.

Chicago rapper Vic Mensa is known to be part of the collaboration too as photo of him in a studio was posted by producer Remi Kabaka. Mensa was also included in the studio with the animated band.

But despite Albarn’s hopeful 2016 agenda, his Gorillaz partner Jamie Hewlett has told fans that a 2017 release is more realistic, because the album is, “really fucking special,” and, “can’t be rushed.” The pair met when they were roommates in London in the 1990s amidst the heydays of Britpop where Damon was at his peak with Blur.

The new album will also be more catchy and uplifting, says Damon Albarn. "I'm determined that my next record will be very upbeat, and I will try to set myself the benchmark of 125 bpm and nothing underneath that."exclaimed the frontman.

Jamie Hewlett also talked about the band's new visual approach with Rolling Stone. "It's going to change – I can't tell you how. But of course it's going to be different, I can't do what I've already done, that's not interesting to me. In the same way Damon changes with his music and moves forward, I do the same. It's going to be a different look," he said.

Indeed, 2D looks much more larger in size according to pictures posted on Jamie's Instagram feed. The characters also feature new outfits and hairstyles, as seen in some of the newer images. Jamie Hewlett is known for updating his feed with unreleased photos of Gorillaz ahead of the official release of albums.

Gorillaz's last album was The Fall, which was released in early 2010. It's about time that fans of the band should get something new, and it looks like we will hear back from the band anytime soon.

Follow Jamie Hewlett on Instagram HERE.
Read 6 fun facts about Gorillaz HERE 

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Blur's Damon Albarn visits and performs at Banksy's Dismaland

The rumours were rife that someone big was going to make a surprise appearance at Banky's Dismaland for its final night of music after Massive Attack pulled out. And it was Blur frontman Damon Albarn who surprised the crowds a few weeks ago during the last week of Banksy's exhibition.

Wearing a mask over his face, as Banksy requested all guests did on Friday night so that he could attend himself, Albarn ran on stage to join De La Soul for a rendition of The Gorillaz' Feel Good Inc. Last night also saw performance from Pussy Riot, Kate Tempest and Leftfield. De La Soul also performed their "Me, Myself & I" during the "Masked Ball" performance.

According to the Bristol Post, Albarn along with many of the Dismaland guests wore masks so Banksy – himself disguised – could attend the concert and not have his identity revealed. "Dress code – due to the amount of paparazzi staking out the park in recent weeks Banksy has requested people come masked-up so he can attend the event without being photographed," a Dismaland statement said.

Banksy and Albarn previously worked together when the artist designed the cover image of Blur's Think Tank. They joined the likes of Fatboy Slim, Run the Jewels and Savages who have taken it in turns to fill the Friday night music slot during Dismaland's five week run in the former Tropicana site in Weston-super-Mare.

Damon Albarn Jamie Hewlett: "We have a kind of monkey madness" (Vanity Fair)

The August 2013 edition of Vanity Fair magazine features an exclusive interview and photo-shoot with Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, both of whom talked about the relaunch of their opera 'Monkey Journey To The West' in Lincoln Centre, New York this July. 

(Vanity Fair - Aug. 2013 (Click to enlarge. Scan by grahampls)

The production, created by Damon Albarn and his Gorillaz partner Jamie Hewlett, originally premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2007. The new set of productions will be Monkey: Journey To The West's New York debut.

The duo had much to say about the opera and music, as quoted from Vanity Fair: 

“Like all that has folk resonance, something from its past has carried forward and been delivered in a new way,” says Albarn, who composed the score, which sets traditional Chinese instruments against a contemporary electronic backdrop. “The first song inspired my daughter to start learning Mandarin.” Albarn, who is finishing a solo record, co-produced R&B singer Bobby Womack’s 2012 comeback album, The Bravest Man in the Universe, and headlined the Coachella music festival, in Indio, California, in April with Blur, his own award-winning band. 

"We have a kind of monkey madness"

Jamie Hewlett on his relationship with Damon Albarn

Hewlett, who co-created the comic book Tank Girl in 1988 and won Britain’s Designer of the Year award in 2006 for his work on Gorillaz, created both Monkey’s animation and the fantastical costumes. “Suddenly you realize,” he recalls, “that all these costumes you designed have to be worn by somebody who has to leap 10 feet in the air, stand on somebody’s shoulders while he is singing, and do kung fu.”

Jamie has been busy promoting the opera for various media outlets, including conducting live Q&As on Monkey Journey To The West's official Facebook page. He was also recently interviewed by Inside Hook and Flavorwire.

Monkey: Journey to the West is showing at Lincoln Center through Sunday, July 28. Click here for the full timetable. Click HERE to visit their Facebook page and see the latest updates, pictures and rehearsal snapshots from the opera. 

It's monkey business all the way for the duo - but one question that lingers is when will Damon monkey-around and make a new Gorillaz album? Will Damon change his mind yet again? 

Visit THIS page to see more fantastic images of Jamie Hewlett. 

Blur has plans for US Tour in 2013

Damon Albarn and Bobby Womack was at New York's Apple Store Soho last night, and not only did they perform a medley from Womack's latest album (co-produced by the Blur singer), but some new Blur developments were revealed by Damon after the show.

Blur, it turned out, has "plans" for a US Tour for 2013. One of our readers was at the performance, and told us the detailed run down of the meet and greet:  

 "I was at Damon's performance with Bobby Womack at the Apple Store in Soho last night. They opened with a Q&A featuring Womack, Damon and Richard Russell which was moderated by a semi-informed Rolling Stone journalist, took a few questions from the crowd and then played six songs from Bravest Man in the Universe with Damon on piano. Womack was astonishingly good, and while many vocalists seem to lose their range the older they get, such is not the case with the soul legend."

According to the reader, who sent us the news, Damon Albarn said that Blur had been discussing the possibility of playing shows in the USA next year for 2013, but wanted to be sure there would be the demand for it. Another member of the audience noted that Damon was "non-committal" about the prospects of a Blur American tour, but did not seem to dismiss the idea completely. 

Blur always had ambivalent attitudes towards their American 'success' - their first tour in 1991 to promote Leisure and 'There's No Other Way' was short and sweet, just as any first tours would be. But the next one in 1992 was rather close to a disaster - broke, penniless and depressed, Blur had no album to promote and were forced to sell merchandise to pay off their debts. Fast forward many years, and a few more Blur US tours, Damon Albarn finally successfully dominated the American charts by his band Gorillaz. 

Gorillaz success in America - is Damon and Jamie's feud over ? 

Damon Albarn, Richard Russell and Bobby Womack will also appear on the local talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where they will be guests alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Penny Marshall on Friday, September 21st 2012. For all fans currently in US, this is a must watch and a rare chance to see Damon Albarn on American television. 

The Damon Albarn and Bobby Womack Apple Store event was filmed for a podcast series called 'Events at the Apple Store', which will be available for download soon. 

Maybe Damon and Blur will shed more light on their "planned" American tour. Or are they still remaining tight lipped ? 

Meanwhile, stay tuned for more new Blur developments, and watch the footage of a performance below.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

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