Gorillaz Take Hold of Grief on “The Mountain”
Via the Gorillaz website
Gorillaz has been part of the cultural zeitgeist since their debut in 2001. A fictional band made of four interesting characters, with the project being spearheaded by icon Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett. The world of Gorillaz is vast. There is plenty of lore to find out, songs to listen to, and lyrics to try to learn. I feel like the reason the project seems to live on after all these years is how each album is completely different from the last. Damon Albarn consistently picks new collaborators, upcoming artists, and different musical styles to showcase in the music. With each album, there’s a new world of music to explore, and The Mountain is no different.
When it comes to any Gorillaz work, you have to listen to the music and look at the art to go along with it. I love this necessary visual component that we don’t often get in music. Sure, there’s the viral music video, but there isn’t this necessity to slow down and take it all in. When it comes to The Mountain, I think slowness is important. The album is 15 tracks, over an hour long. It is a lot like taking a hiking trip. There’s a beginning, the scenic view, and the quiet descent back into the real world. The “mountain,” I believe, is a metaphor for the grief that both Damon and Jamie experienced when writing this record. Both lost their dad within ten days of each other. Together, they went on a journey to India to grieve, explore, and understand death in other cultures.
Via Instagram
Damon Albarn never ceases to amaze me with the artists he works with and the sounds he goes for. This album not only takes you to India but across the globe, with five languages being represented. I love all of the instrumental work from harps to sitars to Johnny Marr playing the guitar. (See what I did there.) There are moments that feel big, like on a busy street corner, and others where you feel like you’re listening to a piano while walking around the woods. Everyone who appears on this album feels like they’re meant to be there; they are all pulling their weight. Some of my favorite collaborators are IDLES, Mark E. Smith, Yasiin Bey, Trueno, and Proof. They all add some magic to the songs. This is an album you need to listen to at full volume with headphones on to experience all the layers of sound, instruments, and voices.
Art is a huge part of the Gorillaz experience that cannot be overlooked. Jamie Hewlett puts so much life and character into the band. The art style and stylistic choices made for The Mountain have been beautiful. There have been a combination of mediums that Jamie has chosen to use for this album, including stills for songs, a short film, and building a room in the Kong Studios website game. The stills have been mixed with the characters in real photos along with whole illustrations. The short film for three of the tracks is stunning! It is reminiscent of classic Disney, with a hand-drawn background and cell animation. Jamie has worked hard to immerse the characters and the fans in this new world.
Via Kong Studios website
The Mountain is an inspiring piece of work by Gorillaz. In a time of the rise of AI artists, mass-produced pop music, and unrest throughout the world, Gorillaz is making something unique. The album is so many things at once, with tons of artists featured. One of the elements I really appreciated was their use of archival recordings of artists now deceased. It only added to the theme of grief and loss. Right now, I know many of us are grieving, family, friends, a world or country that once was. This album hits on all of those emotions while being a celebration of life. Jamie, in a recent interview, talked about how the Western view of death is often a big void, whereas in other cultures it's seen as a new beginning. Through the 15 tracks, it takes you on this journey of grief and loss to a new understanding. This isn’t an album you can pick and choose which songs to listen to in what order, but it's meant to take you on this journey with them. Listen to it all the way through and go on the journey to The Mountain.
