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Murdoc Niccals – the animated, leather-jacketed bassist of Gorillaz – sitting cross-legged on the ghats of Varanasi at dawn, listening to the Ganga, isn’t the band’s usual image. But it captures the spirit of The Mountain, their ninth studio album, out February 27 – a record shaped in part by the fact that it was recorded partially in Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Rishikesh and Varanasi.
Ahead of the album's release, Gorillaz are hosting free listening parties in five Indian cities – Bengaluru, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad and Mumbai – among other international locations. Entry is free, but three of these cities are already sold out. Here’s the remaining dates:
Idoru in Mumbai: February 24 at 5.30 pm
Rams Musique Experience in Bengaluru: February 25 at 3 pm
Visit the Skillbox website to RSVP.
The Indian roots
While the India sessions were added after fans made a stir at the original list of locations, The Mountain’s Indian connection itself is far from an afterthought. Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett both made extended trips to India during the album's creation. Albarn scattered some of his late father's ashes in the Ganga at Varanasi; Hewlett rushed to Jaipur after a family emergency.
Collaborations with other artists are regularly in the mix for Gorillaz, given their concept. This album shines a spotlight on India like no other of theirs. Like, say, the legendary Asha Bhosle on The Shadowy Light. Sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar weaves her way through multiple tracks, including the euphoric opener and the heady Orange County (alongside Argentinian DJ Bizarrap and American poet Kara Jackson). Sarod maestros Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash play on the title track.
And flautist Ajay Prasanna, who recorded his contributions in New Delhi using Dhani and Malkauns ragas, appears on no fewer than four songs. Jazz and disco legend Asha Puthli completes the Indian cast.
The title track itself was built around a one-string violin melody that Albarn recorded at Jaipur's spectacular Amber Fort, played by a lone street musician. That single, anonymous melody became the backbone of the entire record.
What else to expect from the album
The record spans 15 tracks and features performances in English, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish and Yoruba. It also features an array of collaborators beyond its Indian cast, including Johnny Marr, IDLES, Yasiin Bey, Black Thought, Omar Souleyman, Paul Simonon, Sparks, Argentine rapper Trueno and, in posthumous appearances, Tony Allen, Bobby Womack, De La Soul's Dave Jolicoeur, Mark E. Smith and Proof. There are even Dennis Hopper vocals in the mix.
In 2000, Gorillaz became synonymous with a rather alien term at the time – ‘virtual band’ – propelling four fictional characters created by musician Damon Albarn and illustrator-artist Jamie Hewlett. They consider themselves mostly hip hop, but some of their best work over the years is found defying genres. In other words: AI, you’re late.