Humanz (2017)
2016 was a crazy year. The US Election, Brexit, countless beloved celebrities dropping like flies and in 2017 we were all still trying to get our heads round what had just happened. However one 2016’s most shocking events (the election of Donald Trump as the American President) spawned the basis of one of my favourite Gorillaz albums.
Before Humanz was announced I had no idea who or what Gorillaz was, but when a YouTuber I watch posted a link to a video on his Twitter, I was very intrigued by the song that the link sent me to. I delved deeper into the bands discography and the lore of all the cartoon band members and by the time it came to the announcement of the next project I was eager to jump on board the hype train.
So perhaps because this album was the first Gorillaz project I was excited for, it may make my opinions on this album a little bit biased but.. I’m in love with this album and here’s why:
When promoting the album Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett described it as a “party for the apocalypse” and I don’t think there’s a better way to sum this album up. The album is kicked off by Ascension which features an outstanding performance from Vince Staples that really sets the tone for the whole album. The following songs all continue with the same upbeat and party-popping feel but there is no track that feels the same as the other. Strobelite has a killer baseline, Momentz has its thumping drum beat, Submission has the angelic Kelela and the insane Danny Brown who perfectly contrast each other and Charger has its repeating guitar riff, not to mention freaking Grace Jones!!!
The album then switches tempo at its midpoint with the songs Andromeda and Busted and Blue setting a more sombre and reflective tone. This switch in mood then leads on to the next section of the album featuring more biting and spooky songs like Let Me Out, Sex Murder Party and Hallelujah Money. Humanz the rounds off with a triumphant rejection of the negativity and pessimism in the song We’ve Got the Power. Of course there is also the Deluxe version of the album which continues with stellar songs, most Out Of Body and Ticker Tape.
After listening through the album and realising I was in love with it I decided to check the Gorillaz Subreddit to see what other fans thought of the album and the response was not what I expected. A full on war had broken out between people (like myself) saying it was a masterpiece and people saying it was “worse than The Fall”. The people on the opposing side of the argument argued that “there were to many collaborators and not enough Damon”. “It’s so disjointed, not enough cohesion”. “This is the worst Gorillaz album!!!”.I was shocked to see this reaction to something I held in such high praise. To me none of these criticisms held any merit.
The abundance of collaborators only enhances the message and theming of the album. Reportedly,when recording with the collaborators, Damon asked each featuring artist what they would do if a world changing event was to happen (using the then preposterous idea of Trump being elected). The collection of differing ideas and reactions to this event provides multiple points of view and allows the album to showcase the collaborators to great effect.
As for cohesion, I believe that the album should be seen more as a movie than a TV episode. whilst in a film the mood ebbs and flows, a television episode mainly stays at the same tone throughout. The album showcases the different emotional states that a person may go through when experiencing the end of the world as they know it. At first you could feel liberated, empowered to lose the chains that were holding you down, perhaps resorting to sex and violence (Ascension to Charger). But then at some point the full gravity of the situation may hit you and you start to question your life (Andromeda and Busted & Blue). Then you spiral out of control, yo lose yourself in the chaos and madness around you, the looming threat of death building (Carnival to Hallelujah Money). But as the end draws closer and the world seems bleeker maybe your mind comes to terms with your mortality and you reject those thoughts (We’ve Got the Power). This way of viewing the album is further backed up by the inclusion of 6 little 10 second interludes in between sections of the album which act as the glue holding the storyline of the album together.
Humaz is my second favourite Gorillaz album and for good reason. There is not a song I dislike, nor any collaborator I despise. Each song is unique and entertaining in its own way. And whilst I respect that the album may not be for everyone and everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I personally couldn’t be more thankful that Humanz was the album that got me into Gorillaz and the first album I was hyped for.
Music Worth Hearing 