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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New Blur Vinyl released - 2016

Heads up for all Blur fans- a new Blur vinyl is going to be released to celebrate the band's first album Leisure and its 25th anniversary. The band's debut album Leisure was first released in 1991 and contains singles such as "She's So High" and "Bang".

The new vinyl is going to be released on a turquoise vinyl by Parlophone. It will contain a remastered tracklist rendered in Abbey Road, although there any details of bonus content or extra tracks has yet to come. The Britpop band reconvened in 2015 for their first album release in 12 years. Their comeback album 'The Magic Whip' was the first Blur album to feature Coxon since 1999.

‘Leisure’ tracklist: 

Side A 

‘She’s So High’ 
‘Bang’ 
‘Slow Down’ 
‘Repetition’ 
‘Bad Day’ 
‘Sing Side’ 

Side B 

‘There’s No Other Way’ 
‘Fool’ ‘Come Together’ 
‘High Cool’ ‘Birthday’ 
‘Wear Me Down’. 

Damon Albarn Angry over Brexit

In a historic referendum, Britain voted to leave the European Union, leaving a wave of economic uncertainty that has left many musicians and entertainment industry members crestfallen and outraged.

British musicians like Blur's Damon Albarn and British indie pop band Bastille used the stages of Glastonbury Festival as a platform. "Democracy failed us because it was ill-informed," Albarn said Friday morning onstage.

Bastille changed the lyrics of their hit "Pompeii" during a live acoustic set, with frontman Dan Smith singing, "And the pound kept tumbling down on the weekend that we love." The British pound sank to its lowest level in 31 years following the decision.

The "Brexit" vote means that over the next two years, Britain will negotiate its secession plan with the EU, the 28-state economic and political union initiated after World War II and formally established in 1993. Many fear that one of the repercussions of the Brexit will be the secession of Scotland from the U.K. since Scots voted to remain in the EU. British prime minister David Cameron also announced his resignation hours after the vote to leave the EU was determined.

Many members of the music community took to social media to voice dismay over the vote, including Oasis' Noel and Liam Gallagher, Dev Hynes, Disclosure, Ellie Goulding, Johnny Marr, Lily Allen and J.K. Rowling.

Source: Rolling Stones

Top 10 Damon Albarn Quotes - New Blur Quotes 2016

Damon Albarn is known for his short, snappy interviews, mysterious ways and sometimes awkward and outlandish suggestions. This is, of course, bearing in mind that he is one of the greatest musicians in England at the moment. Here are some insightful and beautiful quotes from some of his latest interviews in 2015 and 2016.

1. "Everyone was using the flashes on their cameras, so there was this moment, like a mania, when everyone started flashing-flashing-flashing and you could see it down the coast. In itself, it was kind of a magnificent event" - on the last solar eclipse of the century in 1999.

Albarn always has his way with words. Nostalgic Albarn is even more sentimental.

2. “When I’m lonely, I press play." 

Self-explanatory really, though don't get misled from the sexual innuendo. No, we don't think Albarn means something in another context. Really. Albarn admits it in one of the album's singles, the jet-lagged video for which he shot on his iPad.

3. "Actually, a lot of Gorillaz songs were very personal. I mean, that’s why it was interesting, because it wasn’t music being made for a cartoon. It was something different. It was a much more emotional affair. I wasn't necessarily thinking in the third-person then."

4. "Let’s say I believe in the presence of other things. But have I seen a fairy? I’m not going to tell you ...” - when asked whether he believed in fairies in Hong Kong.

5. “No, nothing about Alex annoys me. He’s one of my dearest friends, but I don’t know what Alex’s political views are. We do music, not politics. We’re not a four-piece political act. So whether we agree or disagree is neither here nor there. Besides, I don’t surround myself with people who agree with me. Where’s the fun in that?” - on Alex James's quirks.

6. "Religiously, 10:30AM-5:00PM. I get anxious if it gets to quarter to six” - on his schedule. We see the perfectionist creeping back out of him.

7. "We’re in a moment of extraordinary transition as a species, and what is the outcome of that? Are we going to become closer to ourselves or are we going to become more distant?” - on Everyday Robots and its inspiration. We think Damon is going on a bit of a rant here.

8. "Do you spend all your day talking to everybody as opposed to actually doing something? Is that something that just teenagers do, or will people grow out of it? It only really just occurred to me and it’s probably just a load of old bollocks, but I have been thinking that the reason we had so many big cults back when I was younger is because there was no social media, and that was a way of feeling you were in a community. But now to become part of a community is so much easier." - on questioning the existence of social media.

9. "I have great respect for anyone who makes a fantastic musicial... but I never said that I hate modern musicals." - on BBC Breakfast, defending his hatred for modern musicals.

10. Not a quote- but a little clip:




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Cheap Festival Clothing - Everything5pounds review

For you music lovers, concert fanatics and music-festival goers, nothing is more painful than deciding what to wear and where to buy it. In case you've been living under a rock for the past few years, a cool site called Everything5pounds has the cheapest and coolest clothing in Britain. They sell ex-high street brands (ex meaning that the high street brands like New Look, Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins etc can't sell off their stock) for 5 pounds each.

Yes, everything on their site is exactly 5 pounds! We've chosen a few items for our summer festival outfits, and they're all pretty high quality stuff. All of their stock comes from high street brands, so we got some from Forever 21, Ideal Shoes (sold on Amazon) and more.

Not only do they have mens and women's clothing, but they also sell accessories, bags and shoes. It's just perfect for budget concert goers like the folks here, as the styles are versatile and pretty impressive.

Check their shop out, if you ever need some quick, high quality clothing for your next Gorillaz or Blur concert!

Use the code "MICHELLEFIVE" for 5 pounds off!

Throwback to the 2000s- Blur Photo Gallery

The title says it all- here's a tribute to the greatest band in the world: Blur. These pictures are from around 15 years ago, when the band was still on tour and up and about.

Damon Albarn in 2016 and the 1990s

Here's what the Blur frontman looks like in 2016, compared to his 1990s years. Is he at his prime right now? We can't judge, because he definitely evolved and changed a lot. Damon Albarn has matured in every way possible, including his music endeavours, attitudes and charitable inclination. Hope you enjoy this little recollection.

Now here's the frontman in the 1990s, looking very, very different. But definitely not a charmless man.

Damon Albarn- Wonder.land - Full Album available

Listen to the whole of Damon Albarn's new album Wonder.land below.

Noel Gallagher wants to work on Gorillaz

2 pieces of news: an exhibition's been launched aimed at giving an insight into Birmingham's alternative music scene in the 1980s.

At Birmingham City University's Parkside Gallery, the Is There Anyone Out There? collection features photographs, posters and recordings.

They were collected by Dave Travis when he was a promoter for The Click Club at Burberries, on Broad Street, between 1986 and 1990. He was able to photograph acts including Blur, Primal Scream, Edwyn Collins and The Wonder Stuff.

Secondly, Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher has undoubtedly grown closer in the last few years. With the new Gorillaz album going to be released in 2016/ 2017 the pair has gotten even more intimate.

Noel Gallagher says he is interested in appearing on the new Gorillaz album if Damon Albarn calls him and asks. The former Oasis and Blur enemies have grown closer in the past decade and rumours about a joint project have been floated in the past.

 Albarn is currently working on the next Gorillaz record, the animated band's first project since 'The Fall' in 2011.

Gallagher, in a new interview, said he was aware of this fact and is open to recording for it if he's wanted: “He’s making a new Gorillaz album and he’s got my number, so he’s only got to ask. There is talk of doing something but I’m not sure what it is.”

He told the Daily Star newspaper, however, that their busy schedules may mean this collaboration never gets past the ideas stage: “You can bet your life the minute I finish this tour he’ll go out on his," he said. "I mean trying to get the two of us in the same room would be a fucking miracle. But I’m certainly open to the idea, for sure."

We wonder if he will be on the next Gorillaz album?