Go For The Blogular

I am aware my camera is shit, but if I bought a new one then I would have to admit I am also a rubbish photographer. I apologise that this doesn't do Gillings' work justice.

What you see above is the promotional package which EMI have sent out to accompany the release of Plastic Beach. It seems fitting that the quintessential virtual band, Gorillaz would be the band used in conjunction with such an audacious and aggressive marketing campaign. It appears that thankfully the Record Label number crunchers were for once over powered by the creative-types Good or Bad, a campaign this brazen will always be blogged about and I’m certain that was EMI’s intention.

Accompanying the album Plastic Beach was a USB crammed with Gorillaz extras, an abrupt yet hilarious note from Murdoc and most notably a recycled plastic artefact from the world of Plastic Beach created by Sydney artist Jane Gillings who I can only assume has left Sydney for residency in Plastic Beach. I remember everyone buzzing over Gillings work from Sculptures by the Sea and while I myself only saw photos, it was indeed quite a special moment to receive my first piece of art. That’s right, a little bit of refined culture is alive in the West of Sydney.
I thought to give myself a truly authentic experience I would listen to the album whilst staring at the ‘assemblage’ as I think they term it in the art world.

Like with any Gorillaz release there are so many guest appearances on Plastic Beach that really to this day I find it a challenge to clearly define them. Personally I take his list of collaborators as a community register of sorts with Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Mos Def and countless others joining Albarn and Gillings in the land of the Plastic Beach. I won’t sit here and tell you I understand the conceptual vision of Albarn but through his collaborations you can see others who share the vision with him. And who better to welcome you to the world of the Plastic Beach than one of my favourite human beings, Snoop Dogg.

The term gets thrown around a fair bit and I am one of the biggest culprits but this album is definitely dream pop, dreamy in the sense that clearly the land of the Plastic Beach exists somewhere beyond you and I. In saying that I’m sure it will turn out Albarn is referring to a place on earth that we can’t get to unless we free our minds...blah blah blah.

First single ‘Stylo’ is a quality album track but certainly no single, rather the insansely addictive advertising jingle ‘Superfast Jellyfish’ feat Gruff Rhys and De La Soul is definitely the track which should produce the most mainstream success and is arguably one of their finest to date; apparently the combination of Gorillaz and De La Soul is a deliciously sell-able proposition. Third Single ‘On Melancoly Hill’ features a superb vocal melody however I think this is one track where the gentle buzz curdles in the background and overshadows what should be a slice of heaven’s jukebox. Honourable mentions go to the electro magic carpet ride of ‘Empire Ants’ feat Little Dragon and the soundtrack to any evil political rally (I was going to say Nazi... I can I say Nazi without alluding to the song being about white supremacy?) ‘Glitter Freeze’ featuring Mark E Smith but my personal winner is 'Some Kind of Nature' which unifies the bouncy sonic foundation of Gorillaz with Lou Reed’s unmistakable Lou Reedness, for me this represents perfect harmony.

Albarn said himself that Plastic Beach would be his most out and out pop release yet and he’s unashamedly delivered in high volumes. While I’m confident this release won’t reach the heights of previous efforts due to a lack of a 'Feel Good Inc' or 'Clint Eastwood', I am certain that in Plastic Beach, the diverse styles of the residents living in Plastic Beach who feature on the album come together perfectly under the Gorillaz banner, something Albarn has always been magnificent at achieving.

Plastic Beach is out now through EMI [BUY]



Website: Discover Plastic Beach

Link: See Pedestrian's Sculpture from Jane Gillings

Blog: This Bower My Prison (Gillings' Blog)