Release Date: 27 February 2026
Song Count: 15
Duration: 1 hour, 6 minutes, 22 seconds
Rating: 7.1/10
Description:
Wasn't kidding when I deemed 27 February of this year to be a bit of a blockbuster day for music.
Gorillaz as a project has always been an interesting case in terms of both its origins and found success, being a fictional band of four virtual characters with a whole universe and story surrounding them, all puppeteered by the two (real) Englishmen behind their existence and place in the world: illustrator Jamie Hewlett and musician Damon Albarn. Primarily known for making extremely unique music teetering on the borders of pop, electronic music, indie rock and hip-hop all at once, their flavour of sonical experimentation stands close to unmatched, and with their ninth and most recent full-length LP, The Mountain, another layer of depth is added as folk and world music from several cultures are now implemented and thrown into the already highly complex mixture. Along with a load of previous and new collaborators lending their talents in every song, the two-turned-four group finds themselves back swinging and going wackier and stranger than ever with their creations.
Though the primary force behind the non-Western musical aspects and the framing around the album's feel, including the beginning of the introductory track and the ending of the closer with the solo on a ravanahatha, are stated to stem from Indian classical music, heaps of other influences from all sorts of different corners of the globe are thrown in across the board, and vocal performances in Hindi, Spanish, Arabic, Yoruba and Russian are also featured in the 15 tracks the album has. The usual eccentric and signature style of pop and synth music that makes up Gorillaz's musical identity is still very much there, and if anything serves as just the right foundation that all of the further colourful additions work off of and leap forward from. The overall memorability of each track varies as well, yet steers more in a positive direction through the clear distinctions thrown in by not only the usual creativity of the virtual band, but every other addition piled on specifically for this record, and it overall leads to something that feels busy, intense and full of vitality.
Will this assortment of songs rival their all-timers from years back and go down in well-known alternative music culture in the same way they did? It seems rather unlikely with how especially experimenting of a work The Mountain seems to be even by Gorillaz's own set standards. It is however undeniable that there is plenty of quality and appreciation for the many cultural variations of music to be found in every single track, which as such translates to enjoyment to be found on many fronts, many of which one may not see coming right away. A pleasant surprise overall, even if not to the level of their greatest hits, and most certainly a breath of fresh air with its "anything goes" mentality.