The third Gorillaz album may have been five years in the making, but it was worth the wait. Another brilliantly eclectic electro-toned album with star turns from the likes of Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, Lou Reed and Mos Def.
Damon Albarn has spent the five years since the last Gorillaz album further expanding his musical palate – whether it was writing a beautiful oriental opera (Monkey: Journey to the West), making additional advancements into both production and his beloved African music (having worked with Amadou & Mariam on their last record), or returning to the heady days of Britpop with Blur.
Yet Gorillaz remains his most successful solo project to date, and with good reason. The list of people lining up to collaborate with Albarn and his cartoon-drawing sidekick Jamie Hewlett speaks volumes: album number three is packed with guest musicians drawn from the hip-hop, classical, indie, post-punk, soul and folk genres – a sure indication of 'Plastic Beach''s eclecticism.
Snoop Dogg and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble gets things off to a suitably cool start, the rapper's trademark languorous drawl sprawling across the calculated beats of 'Welcome to the World of Plastic Beach'. Soul crooner Bobby Womack also guests on a number of tracks, his powerful thrum tempering Mos Def's sharp word-slinging on lead single 'Stylo' nicely, while Lou Reed's deadpan delivery suits the bouncy, quirky soundtrack of 'Some Kind of Nature' superbly.
The only problem with 'Plastic Beach' is that while it's undoubtedly an inventive and absorbing album, there's no immediately intoxicating single of 'Dare' or 'Feel Good Inc.''s calibre; contrary to Albarn's claims, it's not the "poppiest album [he's] ever made." It's a relatively inconsequential foible, but one that may prevent you from listening to 'Plastic Beach' in one sitting, especially considering its lengthy running time. Overall, though, another triumph by a very talented musician.
